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Defense minister denies PM approved establishment of anti-government websites
The 36th hearing in the trial into the anti-government campaign was heard on Monday. Lt. Gen. Mehmet Eröz one of the suspects, had earlier claimed in his testimony that the anti-government websites were established under orders from the MGK, which convenes every two months as a meeting of government and military officials to discuss national security issues.
The defense presented the MGK order, bearing the signature of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to the court as evidence that the military officials that set up the websites that allegedly sought to disseminate anti-government propaganda were doing so under orders. The defense argues that the MGK saw religious fundamentalism as a threat, but the piece of evidence they presented to the court was an order listing separatism as a threat.
Responding to the suspects' allegations on Tuesday, Yılmaz said Erdoğan did not sign any decree that would approve the establishment of anti-government websites. He said it is illogical for a prime minister to give the go ahead for the establishment of a website that would be used against his government.
Retired Gen. Hasan Iğsız, under arrest as part of the website investigation, admitted in Monday's hearing to having given orders to shut down the websites when the investigation into them was launched. He didn't respond to a question from the prosecution as to his motive in ordering the sites closed.
Hıfzı Çubuklu, the legal counsel to the General Staff, petitioned the court to refer it to the Chief Prosecutor's Office of the Military Supreme Court of Appeals. Presiding judge Hasan Hüseyin Özese read out the MGK directive dated Jan. 19, 2006, which had separatist activity in its scope.
Retired Gen. Iğsız also responded to questions on his relationship with Hurşit Tolon, a retired general who is currently a suspect in the ongoing trial of Ergenekon, a clandestine gang charged with plotting to overthrow the government. Iğsız said he knew Tolon well and highly respected him. In response to a question on whether he had any joint projects with Fatih Hilmioğlu, the former rector of İnönü University and a suspect in Ergenekon, Iğsız said he was a friend of the former rector.
The prosecution also noted the two seemed to be really close friends, as Iğsız had made calls to Hilmioğlu at 3 a.m. in the morning. “Why would that interest you?” Iğsız demanded, adding, “We have seen each other socially.”
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