Civil society kicks off three-day rally against military plot

The organizations have kicked off a series of rallies in Ankara and İstanbul, which will last three days. The first gathering point for the rally was the Turkish capital yesterday. A large group of supporters from the Association of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed Peoples (MAZLUM-DER), the Civil Servants' Trade Union (Memur-Sen), the Confederation of Turkish Real Trade Unions (Hak-İş), the Service Sector Workers' Union (Hizmet-İş), the Human Rights Association (İHD) and the Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TİHV) participated in yesterday's rally. The rally was aimed at voicing opposition to the coup attempts in the country.

The rally came shortly after the discovery of an original copy of a military plot detailing plans to undermine the power of the governing Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the faith-based Gülen movement. The main theme of the rally was “No to Military Coups!”

Most observers termed the plot an “open coup attempt” as it was aimed at the military interfering in the political realm.

A joint statement was made at the rally yesterday in which the participants voiced their determination to protect the rule of law in the country. “The action plan is an open threat against the rule of law. Though it may look like a threat against a political party, it is indeed a threat against the will of the public. As civil society organizations, we believe that all threats against freedom should be eliminated for the construction of a regime based on transparency, accountability and the rule of law,” read the statement.

The organizations later filed a criminal complaint against Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ, 1st Army Corps Commander Gen. Hasan Iğsız and Col. Dursun Çiçek over the plot.

Another rally is planned to take place in İstanbul’s Taksim Square at 1 p.m. today. The rally will be attended by a large group of supporters from the Freedom Association (Özgür-Der), the Akabe Foundation and the Civilization Foundation with the slogan “No to junta; try coup plotters!”

Saturday’s rally will be followed by another on Sunday, which will be held on İstanbul’s İstiklal Street at 7 p.m. Among the participants of the rally will be the Young Civilians, the Revolutionary Socialist Workers’ Party (DSİP), the Democratic Society Party (DTP), the Freedom Movement and MAZLUM-DER.

The DSİP leader, Doğan Tarkan, said civil society should gear up against the junta and its plans for a military coup.

“The plot has revealed the existence of the junta. This is a grave development. Steps should be taken immediately. All members of the army who have a hand in the plot should be removed from office, including the chief of General Staff. Whoever dares to do this will have immense public support behind them. If the government fails to take the necessary steps, the public will take to the streets and voice its demands for democracy. The public does not want to live under the threat of a junta any more,” he noted.

Known not only for her ballet dancing but also for her awareness of social issues, ballerina Zeynep Tanbay said the Turkish military is engaged in a fight against the rule of law. “I was horrified when I read the officer’s letter. The existence of a junta shows that the fight against it is not strong enough,” she said.

Tanbay was referring to a letter mailed to an İstanbul prosecutor by an unnamed military officer, who mentioned the workings of a junta within the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). The officer also attached the original of the military plot, refuting all claims against the authenticity of such a plan.

“The officer’s pledge that he is ready to testify as part of an investigation into the plot makes us believe that there are army personnel who fulfill their military service with dignity. We should show our support for them. They are not alone. The TSK openly committed a crime, but it is still questioning who revealed it. This is the final straw in defiance of the law,” she added.

Ufuk Uras, an independent deputy, said members of the army who had contributed to the preparation of the plot should be tried in a civilian tribunal. “This is a constitutional crime aimed at the parliamentary will. No one has such freedom. It is time to defend the rule of law. Anyone who is behind this plot should be tried in a civilian court,” he remarked.

The Military Prosecutor’s Office of the General Staff initiated an investigation into the plot, but the investigation is aimed at finding out who sent the original plan to the İstanbul prosecutor rather than revealing how and why the plan was prepared. Jurists are doubtful that the military investigation will produce sound results.

Artist Lale Mansur said she was not surprised by the existence of a junta in Turkey. “This is the 50th anniversary of the first military coup in our country. We have witnessed many others since then. We are living in a shameful situation that does not befit the 86th anniversary of the republic. I have always engaged in every anti-militarist movement and will continue to do so,” she remarked.