While Erdoğan was flying to Syria the other day he spoke to journalists on the plane about the journals of former Turkish Naval Forces Commander Adm. Özden Örnek, published in Nokta magazine. He made an appeal to the prosecutors’ office asking them to launch a probe. What an upsetting picture; the justice system has yet to take action. It was the same with the memorandum that classified journalists as pro or anti-Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). The TSK launched an investigation that focused on how the memorandum was leaked to the press, rather than its content. They stated the computer theft had originated in Utah, to stir up some commotion, and then they developed an action plan. A few were in charge of carrying rumors and journals to columnists. Those who had attempted to have the military attack the government now wanted to have the public stand in front of the government. But they forgot that by claming the memorandum was stolen they were admitting that such a memorandum existed. Now let’s ask the public prosecutors: Don’t you think that the content of the memorandum is proof of abuse of power? Is it the responsibility of the military to classify journalists as good or bad? Isn’t the justice system disturbed by state institutions that act as independent legal powers?
The presidential elections are constantly used as an excuse. But it’s obvious there is a elite circle that has refused to accept leaders elected by the public, ever since the Democratic Party (DP) came to power. These people see themselves at the top of a covert caste system. Whenever they become upset they agitate the military, university students, youth, unions and semi-official nongovernmental organizations. It’s been that way for a long time in Turkey. Even those who show some respect to the public have used terms like “the man of the leading power,” “the patron of reactionists,” “religious” and “opportunist.” They developed similar labels for former Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Özkök. A few columnists from two newspapers had threatened Özkök by saying, “Be careful, you might turn out like Erdelhun Pasha.” It was the first time ever in 50 years that a general had not been supported by the elite circle. We now know why, thanks to Örnek’s journals. Özkök had not encouraged the would-be coup leaders. I must confess that as a civilian I was extremely distressed and heartbroken that the TSK had not backed Özkök up.
You might ask why I did not write this back then. We were not an accredited newspaper. To support Mr. Özkök would have harmed him. The opposition was so fierce that they would have created chaos, saying, “didn’t we warn you all, now look at who is supporting him?” Now it is time for us to support Prime Minister Erdoğan. The public will can no longer be manipulated. An ideology that does not respect the Constitution or the law is hurting our nation. They’ve made several swift attempts before the presidential elections. Will they claim it was self-defense? Self-defense from what? Will the new president be a foreigner? Will he win that seat with a coup? If justice is scared then there is a problem. Isn’t military intervention against the law? The Nokta administration has said, “We are journalists, we verified the release, we stand by our publication.” So why aren’t prosecutors stepping up? Are there are civilians working with coup leaders in this country? To expose these people would be the greatest service to democracy.
Whether Turkey joins the EU or not, Turkey must reform itself towards democracy, peace and security.
