Mr. Bahçeli and Mr. Baykal have unfortunately used the government’s move in launching the initiative to commence a counterattack in a manner that pushes the boundaries of reason and democratic consideration. Only three days ago, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Baykal said: “It must be known that to continue with the initiative now means a diversion into blindness and error -- as Mustafa Kemal said in his Address -- and a transformation into outright treason. Just as force commanders are appearing in front of the prosecutor and accounting for their doings, we long for the days when hopefully prime ministers will also appear in front of the prosecution and be made to give their account.”
As Mr. Baykal is aware that Prime Minister Adnan Menderes was “made to give account” by junta members -- and was executed for his troubles -- but that this is the first time that junta members themselves have been taken to account, what exactly is the message that he’s trying to convey to Prime Minister Erdoğan? As for Bahçeli, he says, “The Justice and Development Party [AK Party] has accomplished what the PKK hasn’t been able to for 25 years.”
For months the CHP and MHP leaders have been castigating the government, calling them “divisive, treasonous collaborators.” And meanwhile, they haven’t brought a single proposal to the table toward a solution to the problem at hand. This approach, supported by certain segments of the media, is raising levels of societal tension and strain. Given this atmosphere, the MHP’s rallies, which it deems acceptable given its own policies, should be evaluated given their potential to heighten danger. They cannot be disregarded.
It was also alleged in the second Ergenekon indictment that republican rallies were part of a plot to overthrow the legitimate government by illegal means. Today, those circles who have recognized that they can not unseat the AK Party government at the polls have begun to use tried and tested tactics. Their aim is to prepare an atmosphere in the country, with consecutive provocative actions, to push the government to impose emergency rule.
Let me call your attention to something: One of the prominent members of these circles is Doğu Silahçıoğlu, who is one of the powerful generals of the Feb. 28 era. In his article published in Cumhuriyet on Feb. 3, 2008, under the title “The Exit,” he said, “There is only one thing left in the struggle against political Islam: to remove the AK Party government from ruling the country.”
Silahçıoğlu suggested two strategies to overthrow the government: “The legal way: To provide the closure of the AK Party by an application by the Supreme Court of Appeals’ Prosecutor’s Office to the Constitutional Court, with the allegation of being the center of policies against the secular system of the country.” A mere 44 days after the publication of this article, the AK Party was declared the center of anti-secularist actions, on July 30, 2008, by the Constitutional Court, as Silahçıoğlu precisely advised. Closure was averted in lieu of a criminal penalty.
Social method: Let us not forget the statement of (İsmet) İnönü, who was the leader of the CHP before the May 27, 1960, military coup: “When the conditions are right, revolution is the legal right of nations…” (Let us remind you the defense of CHP İstanbul deputy Esfender Korkmaz in Parliament’s General Assembly two days ago, that “a coup will take place if the public decides that an intervention is necessary…”) Or statements such as “A national front must be formed with wide participation from the public, and the AK Party government must be removed from power!.. All supporters of the national front, those advocates of Atatürk’s Republic, must hit the streets and fill the squares,” as Silahçıoğlu said in his Feb. 3, 2008, column.
The gathering of one million was realized through republican rallies. Yet today the case into Ergenekon, a clandestine gang charged with plotting to overthrow the government, has opened their eyes, and nationalists have no strength left to carry out the same demonstrations. In light of this, the question, “Are the republican rallies the purview of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) this time?” becomes unavoidable. I guess the biggest support of the MHP’s Sunday’s demonstration will be from CHP organizations and nationalists. In these troublesome days, a serious examination awaits the MHP administrators…
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