Isn't it the perception shared by a great majority of people that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) continue to produce generals who are eager to overthrow democratically elected governments because none of the coup generals were tried in the past? Now that Baykal has given us the opportunity we have been expecting for many years for the sake of democratization, what is this caution for? The answer to this question is related to the lack of trust in the CHP's policies.
If Mr. Baykal is really and frankly uneasy about military coups and illegal networks within the state, why doesn't he refer to May 27, March 12, Feb. 28 and April 27, but only raises the issue of litigating Kenan Evren? Why does he still act as Ergenekon's lawyer? As a matter of fact, the second indictment in the Ergenekon case is related to coup attempts.
The second indictment is currently not much discussed as the hearings will start on July 20. There is another important point. This indictment is closely related to the CHP. Indeed, the indictment claims that the defendants conducted various operations within the CHP with the sole aim of dethroning Baykal. However, Baykal said two days ago that "if the government thinks it wise to settle an account with Sept. 12, no one is obstructing the way. Article 15 of the Constitution is in place. If it [the government] wishes to amend it, it should prepare the proposal and we will support it. If it desires to settle old scores concerning the military coup or purge those who cause the military to overthrow the government, it should prepare a proposal and we will support it." But he still insists that the Ergenekon case has nothing to do with this. He even argues that the chief of general staff will have to resign from office with regard to a document about an action plan whose authenticity has been debated for some time. He first implied this, but then said he did not actually mean it. Then there was the following dialogue between him and Fatih Altaylı on TV:
Baykal: If the document is authentic, the prime minister should do what is required of him.Altaylı: If it is authentic, should the chief of general staff be forced to retire?
Baykal: Yes.
Let us repeat our question: What is Baykal trying to achieve with these moves? If we examine in depth the fluctuations in relations between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the military, we can discern that the CHP has always been nurturing hopes for political gains from tension between the AK Party and the TSK.
There is the impression that the CHP is acting based on the assumption that any tension between the military and the government will automatically be beneficial to the CHP. The CHP has always felt uneasy when during the peak times of tensions the prime minister and the chief of general staff met to discuss and ease tensions. Now, another tension has erupted in connection with the said document. The prime minister did not wait for their scheduled meeting on Thursday, but opted to hold an immediate meeting with the chief of general staff. After the meeting, both Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed in their statements that the document in question was not prepared with the knowledge of the General Staff. Baykal got uneasy about this development so he is making the Sept. 12 move. Baykal’s plan is the government will reason that it is not time to disrupt relations with the military or to shift the agenda from the EU membership process, deciding to not initiate the litigation process for Sept. 12, and thus, the ruling party will be cornered.
The impression Baykal gives about the document is that he is praying the document is verified as having been prepared by the General Staff so that the chief of general staff is forced to retire and the composition of the General Staff can be reshuffled on Aug. 30. Or it may also be that he is praying that this document is found to be prepared by the "community" so that the chief of general staff can show to the entire country what the military will do. What an immense ambition or rage is this? Why this insistence on execution without trial despite the existence of court decisions? But, if Baykal really wants to prevent military coups, he can just lend support to the country's EU bid and democratization. It will suffice if Baykal only does his bit for the EU membership process. It would even be welcomed if the CHP simply does not cast a shadow on the good things being done.
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