Content, style of docs contradict General Staff’s denial

According to a statement by the General Staff posted on its Web site on Tuesday, the officer's letter was prepared using information found in a folder into which an investigation had been carried out by the Military Prosecutor's Office of the General Staff and regarding which the office ruled it lacked jurisdiction on June 24.

“It has been determined that a majority of the issues found on the CD in question show a parallel with news reports that made their way into the media in 2008 and before. … We are sorry the public has been kept busy with such reports. All [news] reports are being evaluated, and necessary [legal] action will be taken against them,” read the General Staff statement.

However, details of the documents -- both in terms of style and content -- suggest that the General Staff may be wrong in its claims against the possession of the plots. A technical analysis has shown that one of the documents on the CD, for example, was drafted on a computer belonging to the General Staff and was saved by a user dubbed “Gnkur,” an abbreviation used for the General Staff.

The document indicated that its aim was to render ineffective attempts to undermine the TSK and promote its close dialogue with the public as well as take precautions against attacks that target the fundamental values of the republic. The document also carried a note in its upper-right-hand and bottom-right corners that read “confidential,” a strong indication that the document was drafted as part of confidential correspondence within the armed forces.

The document detailed a plan to draw support of civil society organizations in Turkey in its bid to fight against the threat of “reactionaryism” in the country. As part of the plan, the TSK would lend financial support to civil society organizations and associations it categorized as “friends.” Among such associations were the Turkish Retired Army Officers Association (TESUD), the Atatürkist Thought Association (ADD), the Turkish Search and Rescue Society (AKUT), the Turkish Foundation for Reforestation, Protection of Natural Habitats and Combating Soil Erosion (TEMA) and the Support for Modern Life Association (ÇYDD).

A technical examination of another document, “brf. Gnkur. Bşk. 03 eyl,” revealed that it was drafted on Oct. 13, 1998 and updated on Nov. 2, 2008. The owner of the computer on which the document was prepared appears as the General Staff’s department of psychological operations.

The General Staff, however, strongly denied possession of the documents in its statement and preferred to focus on the timing of the new letter, saying the fact that the letter arrived on Nov. 15, 2009 was no coincidence.

“The TSK is fully aware of all of the dimensions of activities that have been conducted against it for a long time. No attack against the armed forces will have a negative impact on its determination to fight against them,” the statement added.

In the meantime, the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office announced that it had not received a third letter from the anonymous military officer. The officer had claimed in a letter that reached some press organs that he sent a copy of his letter to civilian prosecutors conducting an investigation into a criminal organization known as Ergenekon, the president, the prime minister and leaders of the opposition parties.

The owner of another computer on which a document detailing the time when an action plan against “groups that aim at undermining the armed forces” would be put into implementation, however, appears to be the TSK. The document was drafted on Sept. 27, 2007.

Furthermore, a close technical analysis into an alleged military document, which suggested that some newspapers would print provocative reports about the threat of reactionaryism, was also drafted in a military writing style.

Some documents on the officer’s CD put forward that as part of a TSK plan, some newspapers featured provocative news to condition the public against the threat of “approaching reactionaryism.” The news appeared with such headlines as “Reactionary capital defrauds the public,” “Sect member’s father locks daughter at home,” “Reactionary family marries young daughter to old man” and “Money collected from religious group sent to sheik; sheik spends it on luxurious holiday.” The newspaper articles were almost a reproduction and implementation of a TSK plan which suggested that newspaper reports be written about the “luxurious” and “anti-Islam” lives led by prominent Muslim figures.

One of the documents also displayed once again the role of Col. Dursun Çiçek, who is believed to have prepared a military plot aimed at undermining the power of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the faith-based Gülen movement, in further army plans to fight against the government and give a new shape to the society. A document, prepared against nongovernmental organizations, was updated by Capt. O. Akçelik and submitted to Col. Çiçek, Gen. N. Baykul and Gen. B. Kalyoncu.

Çiçek was arrested twice, first in July and then in November, for suspected links to a terrorist organization, but was released after a brief detention in jail. The colonel is believed to be a keystone in the exposure of the pro-coup junta within the armed forces.