5 February 2010 / HASAN CEMAL MİLLİYET,
Two weeks ago, an Internet news site called T24 carried a striking piece of news. Apparently, our journalist colleague Mustafa Balbay, who has now been imprisoned for a considerable time as an Ergenekon suspect, made a noteworthy entry in his personal journal in May 2003.
At the time, then-National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Undersecretary Şenkal Atasagun had said to Balbay, “Look to Istanbul, to the 1st Regiment, the insurrection is ready there.” What’s more, the date noted by the MIT undersecretary overlaps exactly with the date of the “generic scenario” connected with the Balyoz coup plan overseen by the First Regiment’s leader, Gen. Çetin. On the evening of Jan. 25, on the CNN Türk program “Tecrübe Konuşuyor” I do with Cengiz Çandar, we queried whether the MIT undersecretary really did tell Balbay, “Look at the 1st Regiment, the insurrection is ready there.”, and if so, whether this assessment was reported to Prime Minister Erdoğan. There so far have been no answers forthcoming. My hope is that the subject is pursued.
