Former army chief knew about generals’ coup plot

The testimony of former Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Özkök (2002–2006) is one of the most important parts of the new indictment. In the indictment, Özkök is quoted as saying that force commanders at the time who are being accused of having devised three different plots to overthrow the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government did not at any time propose that Özkök issue a memorandum against the government. However, talking to the Radikal daily yesterday, Özkök said that although such a proposal hadn't been made, the opinion that the military should issue a memorandum had been stated by the force commanders.

In response to a question from the prosecution asking if there had been a recommendation or proposal by any of the force commanders serving during Özkök's time in office, Özkök said such an occasion could never have transpired, as in the first place, he would never have given the commanders such an opportunity.

He also said he was not aware that on Oct. 19, 2003, university rectors were given a briefing at the Gendarmerie General Command; however, he knew that there were regular dinners with various civilians at the Gendarmerie recreational facilities, but he had dismissed these as ordinary events.

In his testimony, Özkök also said that he had heard of coup plans titled “Moonlight” and “Seasparkle.” He said he became aware of the existence of such plans in 2004, after which he called in Gendarmerie Force Commander Gen. Şener Eruygur to his chambers and warned him against involvement in acts that could be misinterpreted or misunderstood. Özkök's testimony was largely a response to the prosecution's questions of whether he had heard of some commanders' plans -- titled Blond Girl, Moonlight, Seasparkle and the Glove -- to overthrow the government. Detailed documents including slideshows and spreadsheets describing the roadmap the generals would follow have been uncovered during the investigation. The commanders, the prosecution claims, formed a group called the Republican Work Group, which would mastermind and oversee how the plans were being implemented. Özkök also said he did not hear about the Republican Work Group until the very end, noting that when he did find out about it, some of the names mentioned as members were close to retirement. He said he had never shared any of the information with anyone at the General Staff when he found out.

He said when he called Gen. Eruygur after rumors and allegations that some generals were plotting to overthrow the government, he confronted the now retired general, who is currently standing trial as one of the prime suspects in the investigation, over whether there was such a project being carried out. According to Özkök's testimony, Eruygur denied that there was such a plot. Özkök testified that at the time he told Eruygur that his habit of frequently inviting certain journalists and academics to the Gendarmerie Command headquarters for meetings could be misinterpreted. He said that in his term in office, he was at times given information by the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) about alleged coup plots, but he never came across anything that suggested the existence of the organization known as Ergenekon.

Özkök questions Ersöz and Uğur

Also at the time, Özkök was given information that the gendarmerie force was illegally intercepting telephone conversations. He testified that he ordered Gen. Eruygur to send him the head of the gendarmerie intelligence unit, Gen. Levent Ersöz, and the head of the technical department, Col. Hasan Atilla Uğur, both currently in custody and facing trial as Ergenekon suspects. In his testimony Özkök said the gendarmerie should use its ability to monitor telephone conversations only within the framework of the law.

“I knew their opinion of Büyükanıt”

The prosecutors conducting the Ergenekon investigation also asked retired Gen. Özkök whether he had been aware of a plot to assassinate Gen. Yaşar Büyükanıt, who was the commander of the 1st Army Corps at the time.

Based on the diaries of Özden Örnek, a retired admiral who is the alleged owner of a journal that details the coup plans devised in the military between the years 2001 and 2004, the prosecution claims in the indictment that the plotters believed they had to strip Büyükanıt and commander of the 2nd Army Corps Gen. Fevzi Türkeri of their authority. The diaries also include plans that went as far as poisoning Büyükanıt.

Özkök said in 2002, when he was informed by intelligence officers about the Moonlight and Seasparkle plans, he became aware of the group's plans about Büyükanıt. However, he also testified that he did not have enough information to make any comment on the Örnek diaries.