Considering the fact that the coup plotters and those involved in shadowy plans have always escaped punishment throughout the history of Turkey, many interpret the change as one for the better, toward becoming a democratic nation governed by the rule of law and free of military tutelage.Yeni Şafak’s Yasin Doğan questions whether the ongoing transformation process is one headed toward arbitrariness, authoritarianism and certain ideological destinations or to democracy and law. In his view, there is a very evident reality, which is the fact that change is the fate of Turkey and the characteristics of this change are intended to make Turkey a democratic, law-abiding country working to become an EU member. “Turkey wants a democracy in essence, not in words, and one that has universal standards. The ongoing transformation is meant to achieve this. There is no other way that this road will reach,” explains Doğan. He says Turkey has made its decision regarding accession to the EU and is making efforts to raise its democratic standards. With regard to this, everyone has the responsibility to act harmoniously with this transformation process and review themselves according to this vision. According to Doğan, trying to hinder the transformation process in Turkey through illegal formations will give cause problems not only in the frame of the EU standards but also the current legislation. “It is of the utmost importance to respond to the transformation process with common sense instead of anger, hatred and annoyance. A contentious situation will lead to bigger chaos in Turkey, which waill be a total loss for the country,” says Doğan.
From the point that has been reached today, with the detention of senior military officers for involvement in plots against the government, Star’s Nasuhi Güngör concludes that the system of promotions within the Turkish military, which are generally determined far in advance, will need to undergo a radical change. He says the ongoing process which started with the operation into Ergenekon, a shadowy crime network that has alleged links within the state and is suspected of plotting to topple the government, and continued with the probe into the “Sledgehammer” plot has given signals of this change. “Most likely, this change is related to Turkey’s growing power in the region and the world. The questions of who wanted a coup, who set out to achieve this and who made incomprehensible plans are certainly important but the real matter is the change state institutions in Turkey should undergo in line with Turkey’s new vision,” suggests Güngör.
Analyzing the ongoing transformation, Sabah’s Mehmet Barlas says Turkey has to leave behind the “Foundation era” of the Turkish Republic as concepts such as “pluralism” and “democracy” have been added to the basic principles of the republican culture over the years. “The supremacy of law is the overriding value. Cliché statements and slogans have to evaporate along with taboos. Have not we learned from the catastrophe in Iraq that it is not sufficient to have a strong army in order to be a strong nation?” asks Barlas.
