The process lead up to the Feb. 28, 1997 coup was a virtual massacre. A total of 568 commissioned and non-commissioned officers were discharged from the army. Military officers who loved their jobs and received medals for their successful work were treated like traitors and blacklisted because their wives wore the headscarf or because they prayed five times a day at home. Women had to remove their headscarves to have their photographs taken for their health cards. It was a terrible injustice. The honor, dignity and commitment of the military officers was disregarded.The dismissed military officers were prohibited from working at municipalities. The officers and their families were devastated. Even after they were dismissed, they were closely monitored. Those who attempted to hire them were blacklisted and threatened. What happened now? Why was no one dismissed from the army this year?
This is the first concrete result of the upcoming referendum, even though it has yet to be held. Just the talk of a referendum has been enough to prevent dismissals. That is because, among the articles that will be voted on in the referendum is one that allows military officers who have been dismissed from the army to appeal their dismissal to the judiciary. If the outcome of the referendum is in the affirmative, all military personnel who have been discharged from the TSK are going to go and demand justice from the courts. This is what prevented the dismissals.
Likewise, if the outcome is in the affirmative members of the judiciary who have been barred from the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) will also be able to appeal. We have not forgotten about Prosecutor Ferhat Sarıkaya. Convened at the request of then-Land Forces Commander Gen. Yaşar Büyükanıt, the HSYK expelled Sarıkaya, who was handling the Şemdinli case, and disbarred him. The HSYK will no longer be able to expel prosecutors like Sarıkaya so easily. There is something else. An affirmative outcome will also allow people who have been victimized by YAŞ and HSYK in the past to seek justice as well.
Speaking of the referendum, let me recall two other articles. Judicial oversight will be introduced for disciplinary action taken against all government employees. Government employees who believe they have been punished unfairly will be able to go to court. Another amendment allows any citizen who believes he or she has been subjected to unfair treatment by a state institution to apply to the court. In Turkey the general conviction is that the state never errs. Anyone who files a lawsuit against the state is shamed. When people go to court, they are depleted of all energy. That will come to an end now, as well. Citizens will be able to solve their problems without going to court by way of a public monitoring system (ombudsman) to be set up in affiliation with Parliament.
For those who insist on voting “no,” politicizing the issue and downgrading it to a matter of “getting rid of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party),” there is one question they should ask themselves: Aren’t these four amendments which eliminate unfair treatment against innocent citizens, including military officers, prosecutors and civil servants, enough to vote yes on the referendum? Personally, I would have preferred that, instead of questioning what benefits the referendum will have for apricot producers in Malatya and hazelnut growers in Ordu, Republican People’s Party (CHP) Leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu had talked at least about these four articles. But that will never happen. Anger is sweeter then honey and attacking his political opponent and doing what he knows is best is more appealing to him than anything else. What about Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Leader Devlet Bahçeli, who put aside the amendments in the referendum package and roared to the prime minister, saying, “I am a coward if I don’t send you to the Constitutional Court.” Pal, do you not realize that you are acting like you are the judiciary? Is there going to be a dictatorship when you come to power? I know MHP officials are going to get mad, but I can’t help but ask: Isn’t it disturbing to be on the same “no” front as Kurdistan Workers’ Party [PKK] militants who cut people down on the road in Tunceli and say, “You have to vote no or else you’ll face the consequences?”
Those who have a problem with AK Party can teach it a lesson in next year’s general elections. The referendum is important for democratization to gain strengthen in Turkey. In other words, it is important for the future of our country. If the outcome is in the affirmative, the tutelage system will be weakened for the first time. Turkey will overcome this obstacle. Democracy will gain power and tutelage will be crippled.
