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Gölbaşı ammunition may shed light on unsolved murders
Mehmet Elkatmış, who headed a parliamentary commission investigating the mysterious 1996 Susurluk incident, a car accident that revealed shadowy links between a police chief, a politician and the criminal underworld, said the ammunition found in Gölbaşı could be linked to Susurluk.
Yesterday's discovery of a large cache of weapons, ammunition and bombs in Ankara has excited observers, who say the development may shed light on a series of unsolved murders in the country.
The police found a large amount of weapons, ammunition and bombs buried in Ankara's Gölbaşı district after following a map found in the home of İbrahim Şahin, a former deputy chief of the National Police Department's Special Operations Unit. Many analysts said the discovery may help solve a number of past murders.
Mehmet Elkatmış, who headed a parliamentary commission investigating the 1996 Susurluk affair, said the ammunition found in Gölbaşı could be linked to the Susurluk incident, a car accident in 1996 that revealed suspicious links between a police chief, a politician and the criminal underworld.
"Susurluk is one of the most important pillars of Ergenekon. There are numerous similarities between the two cases. We launched an investigation into weapons uncovered following the car accident in Susurluk. We asked İbrahim Şahin about the weapons. He said it was a state secret. I don't think all that is going on is mere coincidence. I believe recent detentions and developments are indications that we are heading in the right direction," Elkatmış stated.
Former Culture and Tourism Minister Fikri Sağlar, one of the most active members of the Susurluk commission, said the ongoing Ergenekon investigation could shed light on a series of unsolved murders and mysterious incidents, including Susurluk.
"We need to concentrate on Ergenekon. Bombs exploded and people were assassinated in the past, but we were unable to launch a comprehensive investigation into them. We are witnessing important developments today. There may be many other weapons caches and ammunition dumps buried elsewhere. The ongoing Ergenekon investigation may shed light on Susurluk, as well," he said.
Sağlar also noted that there is an illegal formation within the state. "We also need to investigate the assassination attempt against former President Turgut Özal and review commission reports on unsolved murders," he added.
Can Dündar, a prominent writer and documentarian, indicated that the weapons and ammunition discovered in Gölbaşı may illuminate the last 40 years of the Republic of Turkey. "These weapons may have been used in a series of acts, including the Gazi incidents. Who does İbrahim Şahin trust to keep a map showing the location of this ammunition? A prosecutor should launch a detailed investigation into this," he said.
Kutlu Savaş, who drew up the report on Susurluk, said the related incidents should be fully exposed, adding that everyone should refrain from commenting in ways that could influence the ongoing Ergenekon trial.
Yeni Şafak columnist Ali Bayramoğlu said the discovery of the ammunition further widened the Ergenekon investigation. "I don't think there is a link between Ergenekon and Susurluk. These are two separate things. The judicial process is continuing. We need to avoid making too many comments on the issue," he stated.
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