Ergin brothers blame Ertosun for Duyar’s death

Nuri Ergin and his brother, Vedat Ergin, have claimed that HSYK member Ertosun was responsible for the death of Mustafa Duyar, one of three members of the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP-C) involved in the 1995 murder of businessman Özdemir Sabancı. Ertosun was in the spotlight recently as a target of various allegations including links to Ergenekon, a clandestine organization charged with various crimes including murders, bombings and attempting to overthrow the government. The brothers co-authored and signed an eight-page statement in which they made the claims regarding Ertosun.

In late July, Ertosun held a press conference to respond to controversy sparked when journalist Can Dündar said that despite having arranged an interview with Mustafa Duyar, Ertosun, who was then head of the General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Centers, intervened and prevented it.

Dündar said Duyar's murder in 1998 in the Afyon Prison came a few days after the meeting was to take place. In the press conference, Ertosun said he himself had requested a probe into his own role in Duyar's killing, which had cleared him of any responsibility. He said the reason for his intervention was because Duyar had requested money for the interview, and also because he didn't think it right for an inmate to talk to a journalist rather than to the prosecutors.

A lawyer for the Ergin brothers said his clients had witnessed the suspect in Mustafa Duyar's murder, a man named Sami Tokur -- who allegedly worked for the Ergin brothers-- transferred to the Afyon Prison when Ertosun was in charge of prisons.

In the press conference, Ertosun had claimed that Tokur had been transferred to the said prison before he was appointed to the post. The Ergin brothers and their lawyer, Hikmet Çarboğa, have claimed that Ertosun was appointed on Nov. 16, 1998, while Tokur and seven others were transferred to the Afyon prison on Nov. 30 of that year.

Çarboğa also accused Ertosun of not having taking any measures against assassination threats directed at the Ergin brothers, despite ample intelligence, first revealed by then İstanbul Police Chief Hasan Özdemir, that there were plans to kill the brothers in Uşak Prison, where they were being held. A similar warning had been issued by Deputy Chief of the National Police Department Niyazi Palabıyık. Çarboğa said in a statement, “Despite such serious warnings, Ertosun kept the Ergin brothers in Uşak Prison, and is responsible for the prison mutiny which resulted in so many deaths.” In 2000, the Ergin brothers led a revolt in Uşak Prison which resulted in the deaths of five people, claiming they killed individuals who were planning to kill them.

“Ertosun did not remove us from Uşak Prison despite all our petitions. Why did he leave us to death?” the brothers asked. The statement also noted that during a later visit, Ertosun told them, “Good job saving your skin there.” Nuri Ergin is remembered for yelling out “The state made me kill Mustafa Duyar,” on top of Uşak Prison's roof during the uprising. His brother has also stated in the past that those inquiring about the death of Duyar should askretired General Veli Küçük, a prime suspect in the Ergenekon trial. Prosecutors conducting the Ergenekon case assert that the DHKP-C, of which Duyar was a member, as well as many other armed organizations staged attacks under the orders of senior Ergenekon suspects.

Allegations against Ertosun

In addition to his alleged role in Duyar's killing, Ertosun was the target of claims that he frequently attended meetings with several Ergenekon suspects. Ertosun demanded the removal of prosecutors and judges working on the Ergenekon case in July. After his attempt, various newspapers claimed that he had participated in 13 secret meetings held by army officers at the Kent Hotel in İstanbul. In these meetings, participants reportedly discussed the country's political landscape and made confidential decisions. The Kent Hotel meetings are also mentioned in the second Ergenekon indictment, which notes that some of Ergenekon's decisions were made at these meetings. A photograph showing Ertosun with Ergenekon suspect Engin Aydın was published in various Turkish newspapers.