A hunting anecdote for tutelage supporters

The media's special forces excitedly said: “You'll get what you deserve at the National Security Council [MGK] meeting. Just wait and see.” Looking straight into our eyes, Baykal had the audacity to say: “Does it look like there is going to be a coup? Where did this law on trying junta leaders in civil courts come from?” He said this shortly after challenging the ruling party to call the Sept. 12, 1980 coup leaders to account. Moreover, while there was still a MGK meeting taking place, he issued a very meaningful message, as if he were at the very heart of the meeting. “In the next few hours the president may suddenly conclude that this law is not appropriate,” he said. Isn't this disgraceful? Is it proper for a civil politician to want the military to put pressure on the president at the MGK meeting?

But what happened? While the MGK meeting was still in progress, Ergenekon prosecutors questioned Col. Çiçek, whom Ergenekon suspect retired Gen. Şener Eruygur's wife referred to as “one of us,” and issued a warrant for his arrest.

So, again, what happened? What happened to everything Başbuğ and Baykal said? Hasn't everything they defended lost ground?

Arresting Çiçek for being a member of an illegal organization is a turning point in the Ergenekon case. Perhaps those who have not been able to understand the meaning and importance of the case for Turkey's democratization will understand it this time around. Perhaps they will accept that the judiciary has learned a lesson from the Susurluk case -- involving a 1996 car crash in Susurluk which revealed suspicious ties between unseemly individuals working for state security forces -- and acknowledge the determination of a will in the state, which the government in particular has focused on.

There are people who still don't understand everything that has transpired. There are people in the media, the business world, the judiciary, the military bureaucracy and the CHP administration who do not and cannot understand, accept or tolerate where Turkey is headed.

Turkey is heading toward the horizon of democracy from which there is no return. The issue is not about whether it is a piece of paper or a document, a pipe or an empty pipe, heads or tails. It is about Turkey becoming democratic.

At this point, let me share an anecdote about a hunter. There was a very good hunter, whose name quickly spread through the city. Everyone talked about him. One day, one man who had not met the hunter questioned why he was so popular. “He's just a hunter. He may be a good one, but there's no need to make a big deal out if,” he said. The hunter's friends invited the man to see the hunter with his own eyes. They took him to the woods. As soon as a wild goat appeared from out of nowhere, the hunter pulled the trigger, but the goat did not collapse -- it started to escape. The man turned to the hunter's friend and asked: “What happened to your hunter? The goat is escaping.” They said, “Just wait,” and added: “That is why he is a good hunter. He shoots the goat in such a way that it can only run for another 200 meters before it falls to the ground.” That is exactly what happened. The wild goat fell to its side about 200 meters later.

Just like the hunter that hit the goat, the law has hit the tutelage regime in such a way that one should not be fooled into thinking that it is fine and healthy. The tutelage regime is losing strength. Turkey is not going to be the same Turkey. No one is going to be able to violate the law. No one is going to be exempt from being called to account. Junta supporters are not going to be able to act however they please within state institutions. They are not going to commit murders in the name of patriotism. Turkey is headed in a direction from which there is no return.

 Our friends in the media need to understand this very well. Stop defending Ergenekon suspects. The people are aware of everything. It is very clear who stands where, who kills who and why and who protects certain people. The emperor has no clothes!