18 May 2010 / HAMZA ERDOĞAN, ANKARA
Kemal Şahin, a retired major who served in the military’s intelligence unit, has warned that provocative attacks similar to the Council of State shooting might occur between now and the referendum on the government’s constitutional amendment package in September.
Şahin said recent incidents of violence between ideologically conflicting student groups in Muğla and Eskişehir could be the first steps in such a scheme. According to Şahin, “A Council of State-like attack might occur.” He said that the summer of 2010 will be a very hot season but noted that the tricks of groups attempting to orchestrate events from behind the scenes will not work this time. He said he firmly believes that Turkey’s democratization will continue. “These [groups] will try everything they can to sabotage this process.” The retired major said he had smelled “foul odors” as a Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) intelligence officer for 20 years. “We should expect major incidents like those that occurred before the July 22 [2007] elections. The incidents in Tunceli, Sarıyayla and most recently in Muğla and Eskişehir are heralding this.”
