Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Feb 8 2008
Turkey must defeat Ergenekon
by
Joost Lagendijk*
If only half of the rumors about Ergenekon are true, the complete
eradication of this secret network is crucial for Turkey’s future.
The authorities must be praised that they have not given in to fear
and have brought this conspiracy to daylight. However, Turkey has won
only the first battle. To win the war against the "deep state" the
government has to persevere.
Just over a year ago, Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was shot
dead in Ýstanbul. Dink fought for reconciliation between Turks and
Armenians. The thought of reconciliation enraged the nationalist
side, which consequently depicted him as a traitor and a threat to
Turkey. Dink became the victim of this fierce nationalism. While the
young fanatic who killed him was arrested soon afterwards, it has
become clear that he was not the mastermind behind this hideous
crime.
Several of the suspected members of Ergenekon were somehow involved
in the nationalist struggle against Dink. Lawyer Kemal Kerinçsiz
filed the lawsuit against him for breaching the infamous Article 301.
Retired Maj. Gen. Veli Küçük, the alleged leader of the network,
reportedly threatened Dink. Lawyer Fuat Turgut is defending the
killer of Dink in court and, moreover, threatened the family of Dink
in front of the courthouse.
The murder was, sadly enough, only one tragic event in a series of
violent incidents in which there appeared to be more than meets the
eye. Conspiracy theories seemed justified, but none of them could
ever be confirmed.
Now, it has become clear that the assassination of Dink was indeed
part of a plot. The series of atrocities was to prepare Turkey for a
coup d’etat in 2009. The allegations, although astonishing, are
credible enough. By sponsoring Islamic fundamentalist violence, like
the brutal murders in Malatya, the organization intended to promote
the fear for Islamization of Turkey. By intimidating and attacking
the media, it wanted to silence critics of Turkish nationalism.
Generally, the crimes connected with Ergenekon contributed to an
atmosphere of fear.
The latest reports confirm around 20 arrests. Among them are
well-educated persons, who must be deemed intellectually capable of
meticulously planning the crimes. They are also public figures with,
unfortunately, some leverage over public opinion. There are, however,
no leading figures among them, no one with a high position within
politics, the economy or the society in a broader sense. In short:
none of the suspects could hope to stage a coup with the cooperation
of only the now arrested members.
Police investigations should now make clear whether Ergenekon’s
scheme was mere grandiose or had indeed a real chance of success. In
the latter case, complicity within state institutions was a
prerequisite. Putting aside the elected government in Turkey is only
possible with backing of influential persons in the state apparatus.
Their names and the level of their complicity should be revealed.
These questions must be answered to safeguard Turkish democracy.
Fortunately, the mood in Turkey seems right to root out the
organization. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan pledged to continue
to combat Ergenekon. Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaþar Büyükanýt also
made a welcome statement, in which he distanced himself from the
criminal network and stressed that the conspirators must be brought
to court. The remaining members of Ergenekon must be arrested,
regardless of their function, status or position.
The reform of Article 301, which is used as an instrument by
nationalist forces to curb the freedom of expression, at first seemed
to coincide with the first anniversary of the murder of Dink. This
would have been highly symbolic, as Dink’s conviction under this
article preceded his murder. Instead of the reform, the Ergenekon
arrests marked the anniversary of the death of Dink. This does even
more to honor his memory. It means that Turkey finally stands up
against the power of violent and undemocratic nationalism and against
the hidden networks of the so-called "deep state." I wish the
judiciary, the government and other authorities the strength, the
perseverance and the courage to get to the bottom of Ergenekon.
*Joost Lagendijk is member of the European Parliament for the Dutch
Greens and chairman of the Turkey delegation of the European
Parliament.
08.02.2008