One of the reasons behind the suspicion felt by some groups and some media outlets regarding Ergenekon lies in whether the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), having Islamic roots, has been using the investigation to silence the country's secular elite. A Turkish engineer who was a university student at the time of clashes among leftist and rightist students that took many lives and culminated in the devastating 1980 military coup told me that the existence of counter guerillas at the time was an open secret. In this sense, he said, he was not surprised by the existence of a deep state involved in illegal acts to destabilize the country. But he also raised concerns that the AK Party may have a secret agenda in wanting to silence the secular elite and democratically minded people through the Ergenekon investigation.
In Turkey there are many people like this Turkish engineer who want to see an end to the illegal acts committed by elements of the deep state but whose suspicion about the AK Party confuses their minds. Some Turkish media organizations share a similar view.
There is also a group of people supported by some media organizations who feel close to military-led staunchly secular bureaucrats who do not believe at all in the existence of a criminal deep state that, a long time ago, encircled Turkey like an octopus creating obstacles to Turkish progress in all spheres.
Another group of people coupled with their supporters in the media, meanwhile, view the Ergenekon investigation and trials as a golden opportunity to take revenge on the staunchly secular elite who they view as a tool to suppress their practice of Islam in this predominantly Muslim but constitutionally secular nation.
The intervention of Feb. 28, 1997, described as a postmodern coup by then-Secretary-General of the Turkish General Staff retired Gen. Erol Özkasnak, forced the then-Islamic-led coalition government to resign. The Feb. 28 process not only left serious and deep wounds among practicing Muslims in Turkey but also among many Turks since coups breed instability. Similarly, other military coups that have taken place in Turkey since that of 1960 have caused deep trauma among many segments of society.
Thus, one of the underlying problems surrounding the Ergenekon investigation and trial is the divergence of opinion among practicing Muslims and leftists, with the latter failing to adapt themselves to the democratic standards that enable the coexistence of people with different beliefs.
That group of practicing Muslims, leftists and those who do not believe at all in the existence of a criminal deep state damage the smooth conduct of the Ergenekon investigation and trials. Emphasis should be put on the supremacy of the rule of law in the Ergenekon trial in order not to play into the hands of those who have been battling fiercely to kill the case. They have been fighting to end the case as it has touched so-called prominent figures such as retired four-star generals, active officers, businessmen, professors, journalists and a union leader who allegedly collaborated with ordinary criminals to achieve their goal of maintaining the power of elements within the state who have long existed to destabilize the country.
On the other hand, the third Ergenekon indictment accepted by an İstanbul court tells us once again that the Ergenekon deep state organization is real and that Turkey should display resolve to allow the court to do its job without pressure.
A former top commander's revelations to the Ergenekon prosecutors, which were made public this past week, as well as his remarks to the Sabah daily on Saturday, should alone be a slap in the face to those who seek to end the case to save themselves. Hilmi Özkök, a retired general and former chief of general staff, stated to Sabah that he has full trust in the prosecutors conducting the probe into Ergenekon. “I also believe in this case [Ergenekon]. If I did not believe in the case I would not have testified to the prosecutors as a witness,” he said.
Özkök testified to the prosecutors over alleged coup plots by his then-senior top commanders, including retired Gen. Şener Eruygur, who is on trial over charges of being one of the masterminds of the Ergenekon organization.
As the Ergenekon investigation gains new momentum, we should help this probe take place within the supremacy of the rule of law.
