On Feb. 12, 1999, famous singer Ahmet Kaya was almost lynched because he said at an award ceremony held by the Association of Reporters, "I am making songs in the Kurdish language because I am a Kurd."
Kaya's wife, Gülten Kaya, spoke to Balçiçek Pamir from Habertürk recently and said: "A female journalist was shouting, 'You uncircumcised pimp.' Reha Muhtar offered to chant the 10th Year Anthem. They were just crazy. We barely survived that incident. The next day the Hürriyet daily made a headline criticizing Kaya. They also published a photo, which was supposedly from 1993, showing Ahmet Kaya standing in front of a map of Kurdistan [during a concert abroad]. I checked our passports. We never traveled abroad in 1993. Besides, Hürriyet gave an award to Ahmet Kaya in 1994. Would they have given him such an award if there had actually been such a concert? And why did they keep this photo until 1999?"
Why is it Hürriyet that always starts the process? Why does the chief columnist of this daily say, in reference to his friends, "Let us know the traitors among us."
According to a report in the Taraf daily, retired Capt. Ataman Yıldırım, currently under arrest in connection with the Ergenekon investigation, played the lead role in psychological warfare carried out over the Internet. A civil war is being provoked on 35 Internet sites through references to the alleged dangers posed by terrorism, fundamentalism, the Armenian question and the PKK. It is also reported that retired Gen. Levent Ersöz, who was taken into custody in connection with the Ergenekon case, made shocking statements in hearings before the court. He argued that media bosses Mehmet Emin Karamehmet, Cem Uzan, Bedrettin Dalan and Emin Şirin visited him in his office and that he recorded these meetings.
Ersöz also said: "I invited Mustafa Balbay from the Cumhuriyet daily in order to express our gratitude and appreciation for his column, 'Young military officers are uneasy.' We had dinner with the head of YARSAV [Judges and Prosecutors Association]."
Journalist Nuray Başaran appeared on the ATV station and said: "The gendarmerie intelligence unit tracked me and my 13-year-old daughter. I went to Levent Ersöz. He said: 'Tuncay Özkan is a good friend of mine. I do not want him to move to the Çukurova Holding.' I told him: 'You are doing the wrong thing. Tuncay Özkan stole the archive of the Kanal D TV station and sold it to the Çukurova Group for $500,000.'"
Let me ask again: Why is the Ergenekon case the lawsuit of the century? It is the case of the century because it will help this nation get rid of its chains and deceptions. The time is coming to rid ourselves of the military guardianship instituted to keep the entire nation under control. I am talking about the resolution of longstanding problems.
About half of society is not aware of the importance of the ongoing struggle because media groups exert themselves to make sure that the masses remain uninformed about the developments.
The Ergenekon case is advancing through mutual moves backstage. Those who want to make sure that this case becomes inconclusive rely on every means. It is still uncertain where the judiciary, the bar associations, the media, Encümen-i Daniş, the National Intelligence Organization (MİT), the police and the military stand in this case. There are serious doubts about the Gülhane Military Academy of Medicine (GATA). It is argued that such and such favors us. It is as though YARSAV is involved in a war. There is strong resistance within state institutions against the efforts to eliminate illegal organizations. Every means of psychological warfare is being used.
But you should know that the relations between the media, the bureaucracy, the business world and terror organizations will be revealed someday. Do not be pessimistic. The Ergenekon case cannot be hidden anymore!
