They concern constitutional democracy, the rule of law and freedom, as well as Turkey's international relations and its political arena. An extreme, emotional, unlawful or unbalanced response to these events is to be avoided, but to remain indifferent to such crimes and schemes is an abuse of democracy, freedom and human dignity.There is a tale from 13th-century jurist Nasreddin Hodja that illuminates our situation.
One night a thief broke into Nasreddin's stable and stole his donkey. When Nasreddin shared the sad news of his loss with his neighbors in the morning, they started blaming him with a barrage of criticism: He was so careless that he had not replaced the lock with a better one; the stable was already ramshackle; he was not alert enough at night and so on and so forth. Resigned to his fate, Nasreddin bought himself another donkey the next day. At midnight he heard noises and realized that the thief was after his new donkey. Nasreddin went outside and, as he was trying to unlock the stable door, the thief realized that he was standing silently behind him. Quickly, he threw himself to the ground and thrashed about, inflicting some impressive bruises and injuries on himself while moaning and crying loudly. Hearing the racket, the neighbors arrived. Thereupon the burglar asked them to witness in court that Nasreddin had attacked and harmed this innocent passerby whom he falsely suspected. Dumbfounded, Nasreddin could only ask, "Isn't there any guilt for the thief in this?"
Now, in today's Turkey, let's assume that we won't call anyone to account for the assassinations and unresolved murders of the past or for plots to eliminate whoever might oppose the people behind them in the future. Let's imagine we can totally ignore the caches of weapons and ammunition and plans to kill politicians, civic leaders or whoever might be an obstacle to their plots. Let's put aside their wiretapped speeches, interactions and online exchanges about eliminating, blackmailing and threatening particular individuals and state officials. We could ignore their discussions about who to put in state and government positions and about who should be the top judges to prosecute and persecute thousands in their unfolding coups. Never mind, we could say, that they were entrusted with rank and resources to serve the public, but instead exploited these privileges for their own schemes against the people, despite the people. Couldn't we just resign ourselves to our fate and buy a new donkey?
But the remarks by Ergenekon supporters have made it clear that they intend to return at midnight: "Turkey is too valuable to be entrusted to the people"; "We have one presidency and one country left in our hands and cannot afford to lose them to the ordinary people"; "Even if they take 97 percent of the common vote, they cannot have the government and administration"; "We own and rule Turkey, not them"; "You cannot assume the rule and leadership in Turkey with a parliamentary majority, even if it is 97 percent"; "We are the essentials -- the true owners and rulers -- in Turkey. You cannot oppose us. Otherwise, just remember what happened to Menderes in the 1960s" (A military junta hung Prime Minister Adnan Menderes and two other ministers and jailed hundreds of deputies after the 1960 coup in Turkey); "No to the EU, NATO and the US." Retired Gen. Levent Ersöz said: "Release me. Otherwise, if I speak, all the ground will shake and no rock or pebble will remain standing on another in Turkey." And now the very latest from the chairwoman of the Support for Modern Life Association (ÇYDD), someone known more for her anti-democratic activities than her academic work: "I myself and my organization have been targeted by the police because of articles I have written against the March 1, 2003 motion presented to Parliament to allow Turkish troops to join the American invasion of Iraq and permit American forces to use Turkish territory." This minor mantra has been reiterated by many Ergenekon culprits on several occasions.
Isn't this playing the role of the "bold thief"? What is this Ergenekon mantra against American hegemony? Isn't there any guilt for the Ergenekon coup leaders and supporters in all this? Does the clandestine Ergenekon network allegedly plotting to topple democratically elected governments and establish a military regime to remain for the next 25-30 years really have nothing to do with these shady connections, anti-democratic endeavors and ruthless killings?
Turkey, the householder, seems determined to teach a lesson to the bold Ergenekon thief who is trying to win the day with such bluffing. I wonder if anyone from the Turkey table in the US government will tell the Ergenekon thieves: "This is about Turkey's internal affairs on the way to a true constitutional, parliamentary democracy under the rule of law. The US cannot act against or ask the police of a friendly state to act on opinions aired in a couple of daily articles." The suspects may then stop thrashing about and focus on their true crimes.
