Coup generals, go to Honduras!

Will a coup in Honduras create a source of joy in Turkey? I can hear you say, scornfully, "No, of course not." But I do not mean our nation has internalized democracy and the principles of the republic. They know very well that a coup is a tyrannical or oppressive act. With this question, I intend to question how our media will fare. I also want to learn what will be the reactions of our intellectuals who are intently waiting to discuss the Honduras coup with its associations.

For instance, the Cumhuriyet newspaper published its news story about this coup on its first page: "In Honduras, the people were already expecting a coup." As you can see, there was no surprise about the coup. You may ignore this news, but you have to consider the article published to the left on the first page without a signature: "AKP [Justice and Development Party] and TSK [Turkish Armed Forces]." When you read the article, you can discern the mood of self-satisfaction in the performance of the duty of inciting the military for action.

It is so obvious that they were considerably disappointed to see the passage of the amendment that allows military officers who engage in a coup to be tried in civilian courts. One cannot understand their disappointment. Who can reasonably argue that coup generals should be tried in the military courts? Where does such freakness exist in the world? Pardon. I must be confusing the day on which to ask this question. It may be the case that in Honduras, civilians may be tried by the military. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the amendment in question had been passed with a view to prevent military coups, but Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, who has recently suggested trying the coup generals of Sept. 12, 1980, tries to create tension between the government and the military by arguing that this is what the prime minister is doing. On the other hand, the amendment in question has been passed with support from the CHP and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Moreover, both the CHP and the MHP were victims of military coups of the past. Things are different for Cumhuriyet. They are preoccupied with inciting the military non-stop. For instance, a person who regularly reads the articles of İlhan Selçuk cannot help but desire a country like Honduras or shout the slogan, "Selçuk-like people, go to Honduras," instead of the famous slogan, "Communists, go to Moscow."

Yes, but where is Honduras? In Spanish, Honduras means "depths." Ah, this is perfect fit for our coup supporters. It is the poorest and most insecure country in Central America. Unfair income distribution and high crime rates are the most salient characteristics of Honduras. This, too, is a happy choice for our coup supporters, who believe that the people should be poor so that privileged groups can maintain their happy stories. Do not skip the coup generals' aptitude for governance. In this country ruled by the junta for 18 years, three-fourths of the population of 7 million people are living at the edge of hunger. The primary source of income in the country is the money sent by people who have escaped from the country.

The cause for the last coup is said to be leftist leader Zelaya's desire to amend the Constitution in order to be re-elected to office. These details are given by Vatan newspaper with extra emphasis. "Zelaya was preparing to amend the Constitution" is the title of the central piece of news at this paper, which further notes that the army overthrew the government upon instruction from the Constitutional Court. No other paper has managed to cover the Honduras coup as extensively or as open to interpretation as Vatan has done. I do not intend to dig out an ulterior motive, but what about this storm they have been waging over the amendment that restricts the mandate of the military courts? They insistently argue that the generals who attempt to overthrow the government should be tried at military courts; which free and democratic country can give support to this position? Moreover, we all know the poor performance of Turkey with respect to the litigations at the European Court of Human Rights. Furthermore, in every free platform where legal debates are held, the two-headed judicial structure is being criticized and it is said the military judiciary should concentrate only on disciplinary investigations.