The colonel was expected to appear at the Beşiktaş courthouse in İstanbul to testify as part of a civilian investigation into the plan but had not done so by the time Today's Zaman went to print. Çiçek's lawyer announced on Monday that his client had received no notice from prosecutors or police about the testimony. “We did not receive a notice. My client is in Ankara at the moment,” Mustafa Çevik told reporters. Civilian prosecutors conducting the Ergenekon probe summoned a group of members of the military to testify about the plot last month.
They also warned that police would use force to bring those members to testify if they did not come voluntarily. Seven members of the military went to the Beşiktaş courthouse last week, but Col. Çiçek failed to do so. The colonel is believed to be one of the key figures in the plan controversy, which was prepared to fight the AK Party and the faith-based Gülen movement.
The plan sparked huge public outcry when its original was sent to an İstanbul prosecutor last month by a military officer. The officer, who preferred to remain anonymous, also attached a letter to the document in which he claimed that the plan was prepared by Col. Çiçek at the order of 1st Army Corps Commander Gen. Hasan Iğsız.
Turkish dailies wrote on Monday that Ergenekon prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for the colonel.
According to the plot, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) had a systematic plan to destroy the image of the AK Party government and the faith-based Gülen movement in the eyes of the public, to play down the Ergenekon investigation and to gather support for members of the military arrested as part of the investigation into Ergenekon, a criminal organization accused of plotting to overthrow the government. Dozens of Ergenekon members, including businessmen, army members and journalists, are currently incarcerated while standing trial.
A photocopied version of the plot was first published by a Turkish daily in June, but the General Staff denied responsibility for it, saying it was just a “piece of paper.” The original of the document, mailed by the unnamed military officer, put an end to all debates over the plot’s authenticity.
A military investigation is currently under way into the plot.
Col. Çiçek was arrested by a civilian court in July on suspicion of links to the plot but was later released after his lawyer filed an appeal. His immediate release was considered controversial. He had testified to Ergenekon prosecutors at that time.
Ergenekon prosecutors are expected to interrogate the colonel about an anti-democratic formation within the TSK. There are also claims that the prosecutors may press the button for a raid on the colonel’s house and office for further evidence into the plot controversy.
‘Plot is product of a large team’
Faik Tarımcıoğlu, a former Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) deputy and a retired military prosecutor, has claimed that the military plot, called the Action Plan to Fight Reactionaryism, was a product of a large group of army members. In an interview with the Taraf daily, Tarımcıoğlu said: “Considering its content, I can say this action plan cannot be a piece of paper. Such plans can be prepared by a group of 30 and 40 or even 50 people. Different [army] units are commissioned to prepare such plans.”
According to Tarımcıoğlu, the action plan is the product of a reaction against the results of the July 22, 2007 parliamentary elections. The AK Party swept to power with a record 47 percent of the national vote in the polls.
“The election results were a big shock, and they prepared this action plan. The aim was to overthrow the government and take back the stronghold of the presidency. Another target was to crush the Gülen movement, which had extended its support to the government. Action plans against Alevis were aimed at producing unrest within society,” remarked Tarımcıoğlu.
He also said the action plan was implemented long ago. “As this is a psychological movement, we should start by looking at the headlines of newspapers. … Unfortunately the General Staff is in close cooperation with the media over this plan. This is like a relay race. A change in the commanders’ positions does not bring a change in the plan. They continue to make plans to topple the government and wait for a proper time to implement the plans,” Tarımcıoğlu added.
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