I guess this would be the perfect reward for all their humble efforts to undermine Turkish democracy by cooperating with anti-democratic forces against the current government. Maybe while reading the article, democracy-phobic neocons would realize how their potential partners were busy with their own ambitions and what kind of a catastrophic viewpoint they have toward the world, the West, the EU and the US. I mention the diary reportedly belonging to former commander of Naval Forces Adm. Özden Örnek, in which he talks about how the Turkish Armed Forces’ (TSK) top commanding officers were preparing a coup in 2004 and how they were blocked by the democratic moves of then Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Özkok.
I must confess that while reading the 50-page report in the magazine, I wasn’t sure whether to laugh about the ridiculously simple ideas of such important figures or to cry for their dangerous attempts against democracy. As a result, sometimes I laughed and sometimes I got really frustrated with the ugly intentions shared at the highest level of the Turkish state.
As far as is understood from the notes of generals, they saw universities and unions as their natural allies internally, while they emphasized that they should attract the media as well. In terms of their external relations or their world vision, one can hardly understand with which countries they wished to be closer. However, there is a clear awareness that without the support of Washington, they could neither organize a coup nor could they successfully run the country. “Prior coups were successful thanks to American backing; unfortunately now the US is on the side of the government” they argued with regret.
According to the most energetic coup supporter, Gen. Şener Eruygur, then commander of the gendarmerie and currently head of the Association of Kemalist Thought (ADD), both the EU and the US carry derogatory nametags. The hyena stands for the US and centipede stands for the EU. Eruygur’s reported plan is made up of analysis related to internal affairs, such as how to divide the AK Party, how to send the chief of general staff home and how to cooperate with the president. In addition to these, it has international aspects as well. For instance there are two special sections on how to control the influences of the “hyena” and the “centipede.” Here are the measures against them: Support resistance against the US in Iraq. Use American tactics such as bombing mosques. Mobilize and provoke youths and unions against their imperialism. Increase public awareness of the US’s double standards.
In terms of Turkish foreign policy, it is clear that their priority was not the national interest of Turkey but rather their personal or ideological ambitions. In that sense, they saw the Cyprus problem as the life jacket. They could play the nationalist by arguing that the AK Party had sold Cyprus out. They were against any solution and not interested in the possible losses of the Turkish side in the event of Greek Cyprus’ EU membership. They were almost praying for the EU to make a mistake with Turkey in order to make life difficult for the Erdoğan government. For them the process was important for the best timing of the coup. Although more than 70 percent of Turks were aspiring to receive a positive signal from Brussels at the end of 2004, they did not care. For generals, a good signal like the decision to start negotiations with Turkey was the biggest threat to their interest and to their utopias.
Mr. Örnek noted that they were sharing private and secret letters with the then president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Rauf Denktaş. It is also seen that former Ambassador Onur Öymen, now deputy chairman of Republican People’s Party (CHP) was one of the main figures to cooperate in this sensitive issue. However, they still were discussing the need to warn the CHP to be more cooperative: “The CHP should be reminded that if we intervene, they will also be questioned.”
I hope that all the Turkish people who witnessed military interventions read those ugly details of the coup business. But will the judiciary be able to question those who even dare to question Atatürk’s party?
