Military should remain mute on political issues, poll finds

The Ankara-based MetroPOLL Strategic and Social Research Center conducted a survey on people's perceptions of the military and its role in society. The lead question of the survey was on statements by members of the military on political issues, which is among the topics heatedly debated by the public. More than 65 percent of participants in the survey said the military should refrain from expressing its views on political issues. Nearly 30 percent said they have no objection to statements by members of the military on politics and almost 5 percent said they had no opinion.

The Turkish military has recently become the center of mounting criticism due to its polemics with political figures. It expressed harsh opposition to a governmental proposal to clear Turkey's border area with Syria of land mines in May due to concerns that an Israeli company stands to lease the land for four decades after demining it. The military later lashed out at the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) for not informing it about plans to pass a newly ratified law that allows civilian courts to try members of the military and bars military tribunals from prosecuting civilians.

Professor Özer Sencar, the owner of MetroPOLL, said the survey revealed that the people trust and stand by the Turkish military on one condition: if the military take its hands off politics. “Turkish people love and trust their military, but with one condition. The military should not interfere in politics. Both politicians and military personnel should understand the message of the public well,” Özer stated.

Respondents were also asked about press conferences held by the chief of general staff to express the military's views on developments in the country and respond to questions from members of the press. More than 50 percent said they appreciated Gen. İlker Başbuğ's appearance before the press, and 40.7 percent said they did not appreciate it.

Başbuğ's latest appearance before the press was in June, when he denied the army had developed a plot aimed at undermining the AK Party and Gülen movement.

However, not all representatives from press organs are allowed to attend the military's press conferences. Asked whether it is fair to bar some press organs from attendance at these conferences, 61.6 percent said it was not fair. Slightly more than 30 percent said the military has the right not to allow some circles to participate in its conferences.

Another important question directed at participants concerned a highly disputed law that bars military tribunals from prosecuting civilians. Around 49 percent said they welcomed the law while 41.9 percent said they favored civilians being tried by military courts.

The new legislation went into effect in early July, but the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) took it to the Constitutional Court for annulment last week.

More than 48 percent of respondents said members of the military who are accused of plotting to overthrow the government, drug smuggling and fomenting chaos should be tried in civilian tribunals. Around 45 percent, however, opposed the idea.

Asked whether the CHP was right to appeal to the top court for nullification of said law, 40.7 percent said they backed the party's move while 47.6 percent said they did not.

The legislation was approved with the backing of all opposition parties in Parliament, but the CHP later claimed that they had not been notified of the full scope of the legislative change, a move analysts said was aimed at blocking yet another democratic step to curb the military's influence over civilians.

The law was a result of remarks by the CHP leader Deniz Baykal, who stated last month that Turkey should settle its accounts with perpetrators of the Sept. 12, 1980 coup.

Almost 59 percent of the participants in the survey, however, said they did not find Baykal's statements sincere although more than 22 percent said they believed the CHP leader meant what he said.

Participants were divided into separate camps over a question over whether former President Kenan Evren should be put on trial due to his role in the Sept. 12 coup. While 37.9 percent said he should be put on trial, 40.8 percent were opposed to the idea.

Credibility of military in eyes of public

The survey also evaluate the credibility of the military in the eyes of the public through various questions.

Participants were asked if their views of the military are negatively influenced by the fact that members of the military are implicated in crimes. More than 54 percent replied yes, while 42.4 percent replied no.

Asked whether they believe there is a group within the military that is willing to stage a coup d'état, 48.3 percent said they believe in the existence of such group, and 39.2 percent said they did not.

Those who expressed belief in the existence of a pro-coup group within the military were also questioned whether they believe the military duly fights against this group.

While 45.6 percent said the military turns a blind eye to the existence of such a group, 47.4 percent said the military duly fights against this group.

“The findings of this question are pretty striking. Almost half of those who believe there is a pro-coup group within the military say the military turns a blind eye to its existence. This portion is tantamount to almost half the voters in the country. This finding reveals a serious problem with the image of the military in the eyes of the public,” Özer stressed.

The survey also revealed that the public is not preoccupied with the idea that they may witness another military intervention. More than 63 percent said they did not believe the military could stage another coup while 23.4 percent disagreed.

Another important question directed at participants concerned relations between the government and the military. According to 53.7 percent, there is high tension between the government and the military. Almost 40 percent, however, said they did not believe such tension existed.

A question about the ongoing trial into a clandestine criminal organization known as Ergenekon has shown that the majority of the respondents are highly concerned about external interference in the judiciary. More than 60 percent said the judiciary is subjected to external pressure in the Ergenekon case while only 29 percent said judges and prosecutors conducting the case are free of any pressure.

The poll was conducted from July 10-14 by telephone among a random national sampling of 1,297 adults residing in cities, towns and villages. The margin of error for the overall poll was 2.75 percentage points, with a 95 percent confidence level.