The complaint was submitted to the İstanbul Sultanahmet Courthouse by independent deputy Ufuk Uras yesterday afternoon. The deputy expressed the opinion that Başbuğ had overstepped his authority with his statements in Mardin as he had entered the political arena. The complaint was undersigned by Baskın Oran, a professor of international relations, journalist Ahmet İnsel, Sezgin Tanrıkulu, a former chairman of the Diyarbakır Bar Association, author Oya Baydar and jurist Mithat Sancar.
The intellectuals stressed in their complaint that Başbuğ's statements came as a violation of Article 148 of the Military Penal Code, which criminalizes members of the military who deliver statements related to politics. The article envisages a jail term of up to five years for those who breach the principle.
“We have filed the criminal complaint to see whether members of the military will face any sanctions if they overstep their authority. We believe no one should be exempt from punishment even if this is the chief of general staff,” Uras told reporters.
Başbuğ was in southeastern Mardin on Sept. 21 and 22 to visit military outposts there. During his visit, he shared his own views about the essence of the Kurdish question, found by most observers to be too political for an army officer. The army chief said the people of the Kurdish-dominated Southeast had “suffered greatly from aghas,” or feudal lords, in its history, adding that now it was suffering under a different kind of agha. “The real problem is saving our people from the domination of the aghas of politics and terror,” he said.
Uras also stated that their complaint was the first of its kind as civilians had not filed a criminal complaint against a chief of general staff before.
Benzer Haberler 
National
