These cases are on Ergenekon (a shadowy crime network which has alleged links within the state and is suspected of plotting to topple the government), the Cage plot, the Poyrazköy plot, plots to assassinate admirals as well as the Sledgehammer coup plot. The common feature of the plots is that they all aimed to prepare the ground for a military takeover through attacks, assassinations and provocations and thus threaten the government, Parliament and democracy.We all know that these cases are a first in the history of the Turkish Republic. We are going through a time where the judicial process and supremacy of law need to run very carefully. Unfortunately, the General Staff has managed this process very badly since the beginning of the Ergenekon trial. Among the things that come to mind is Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ repeatedly intervening in ongoing judicial cases, voicing his belief in the innocence of the suspects, claiming that a military action plan to damage the government is “a piece of paper” despite criminal reports proving its authenticity, calling light anti-tank weapons found buried underground “pipes” and holding a news conference on a war ship and hurling threats. And there are some meaningful delays that can only shake the prestige of the TSK. Just think of the latest “shoot down the Herons” case (a request made by a military officer to another officer after observing that the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party [PKK] was suffering too many casualties in an incident that took place in 2007). The National Intelligence Organization (MİT) had forwarded documents regarding this incident to the General Staff two-and-a-half years ago and the incident was covered up. The General Staff points to a conflict of authority as an excuse for its ongoing silence. Who can believe in this? How can the General Staff not resolve such a conflict within two-and-a-half years? Think about the action plan document. The General Staff has done so much to protect Col. Dursun Çiçek, who signed the document, that the emerging picture has not only damaged the prestige of the TSK but also that of the judiciary, which made controversial rulings about Çiçek. What happened next? The military prosecutor’s office ruled that the signature under the controversial action plan belongs to Col. Çiçek and Çiçek prepared this document because he did not get a promotion he was expecting. Is not this sacrificing Çiçek for the TSK to save face?
This bad management further wears down the TSK every passing day and can no longer continue because we are talking about a very crucial institution for our future, homeland and power.
Now, the upcoming YAŞ meeting gives the TSK an opportunity that will save it from being worn down even further. The General Staff has to change course from the mistakes it has made so far. Article 65 in the TSK’s personnel law and other relevant regulations must be practiced at this year’s YAŞ meeting. According to this article, military officers who are suspects in an ongoing case cannot be promoted.
If this is not done, then it will mean the TSK command is challenging the government. This is a crime. It also means challenging the judiciary. Most importantly, it means the complete loss of confidence and trust in the TSK. Nobody has any right to do this.
There is another important issue. Certainly the generals and military officers who are suspects in these cases cannot be declared to be criminals. This would be extrajudicial execution. Similarly, they cannot be declared innocent. The correct thing is the acceleration of the judicial process, waiting for its conclusion and freezing the promotions of these officers during this time. For the fairness of the trials, they should be removed from their positions for a while, as happens with civil servants. If this is not done, it will make us onlookers to a terrible situation. If those officers have committed the crimes mentioned in the indictments, the threat of a coup, junta activities and assassination attempts would continue because they would retain their posts.
The cost of being an onlooker to this may be more than one can guess.
