Col. Çiçek interrogated about figures behind action plan

    The colonel arrived at the Beşiktaş courthouse in İstanbul on Wednesday to testify to prosecutors conducting the ongoing investigation into a criminal organization known as Ergenekon. He was interrogated for approximately five hours about his role in the action plan and other figures behind the plan. Çiçek is believed to have prepared a document that details a Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) plan to destroy the reputation of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the faith-based Gülen movement.

“You indicated that the signature on the Action Plan to Fight Reactionaryism, a photocopy of which was seized at the office of Ergenekon suspect Serdar Öztürk, does not belong to you. However, a forensic examination established that the signature is a product of your hand. From whom did you receive an order to prepare such a plan and who coordinated the implementation of the plan?” the colonel was reportedly asked. Çiçek, however, denied knowledge of the action plan and responsibility for the signature on the document.

The colonel was also questioned about an alleged smear campaign directed at the Education Ministry in which news stories were fabricated reporting that children were pressured to pray at state schools. Prosecutors asked Çiçek whether he directed TV stations to air such news and whether he had any links with Star TV, its anchorman Uğur Dündar or the Hürriyet daily.

The colonel was also asked about his relationship with Ergin Geldikaya, the security director of Reina nightclub, who was detained in May for suspected ties with the Ergenekon terrorist organization. Ergenekon is accused of plotting to topple the government. Dozens of suspected members of Ergenekon, including military officers, journalists and businessmen, are currently under arrest.

Çiçek also faced a question about a TSK psychological warfare program against civilian groups. The program was first revealed early this month after an unnamed military officer claimed that the armed forces established 42 Web sites to back its fight against civilian groups it termed “reactionary,” “separatist,” “pro-government” or “anti-TSK.”

The TSK also monitored the activities of more than 400 Turkish and foreign language Web sites. In line with questions on the armed forces’ program, the colonel was interrogated over the activities of the Third Information Support Unit.

Ergenekon prosecutors asked Çiçek whether evidence related to the notorious action plan was destroyed at the General Staff after the exposure of the plan. The unnamed military officer had claimed that members of the military destroyed more than 40 sacks of documents related to the plan after it made its way into the news.

Another question directed at the colonel was regarding four failed military coup attempts. The attempts were codenamed Ayışığı (Moonlight), Sarıkız (Blonde Girl), Yakamoz (Sea Sparkle) and Eldiven (Glove).

One last question was over a note penned by Çiçek that was seized in the office of the security chief of Ulusal TV, Ufuk Akkaya. The chief was detained last Saturday as part of the Ergenekon case and was accused of illegally wiretapping the prime minister’s telephone. In the note, Çiçek wrote: “I knew I would be arrested. So did the General Staff. … However, they did not calculate that it [investigation] would extend to the headquarters [the General Staff]. [Chief of General Staff Gen.] İlker Başbuğ is aware of everything. The July decree on the appointment of judges and prosecutors is very important. Gen. Başbuğ had meetings with members of the high judiciary. There may be a change in Ergenekon prosecutors. Gen. Başbuğ will appoint Gen. [Hasan] Iğsız to the 1st Army Corps Command. Iğsız will follow developments in the Ergenekon case.” The prosecutors interrogated Çiçek about the information in the note.