EUROPEAN UNION FOLLOWS CAGE ACTION PLAN ‘VERY CLOSELY’
Today’s Zaman
Nov 24 2009
Turkey
The European Union has announced that it has "very closely" been
following developments related to a Naval Forces Command plan, called
the Cage Operation Action Plan, aimed at discrediting the Justice
and Development Party (AK Party).
In a written statement the commission made clear that it has been
following all Ergenekon-related developments, including the latest
Cage plan. EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn’s spokesperson,
Amadeu Altafaj-Tardio, said they were waiting for justice to take
its course and reveal the truth. "We follow this latest development
as well as all others linked to the Ergenekon case very closely.
Democrats in Turkey and the EU expect that justice will unveil the
truth, and nothing but the truth, in full respect of due judicial
process," Altafaj-Tardio said.
The Cage action plan was signed by Lt. Col. Ercan Kirectepe and was
planned to be put into operation by a team of 41 members of the Naval
Forces Command. It envisaged the assassination of prominent non-Muslim
figures and the spreading of propaganda to increase internal and
external pressure on the AK Party, leading to its demise in politics,
according to the plan.
The action plan would be implemented to lend support to suspects
arrested so far as part of the Ergenekon investigation, render
ineffective so-called psychological warfare waged by the AK Party and
its supporters (against the military), change the course of the agenda
in Turkey, boost the morale of the junta within the Naval Forces
Command, and win the appreciation and support of the public. The
blame for each of the assassinations by the junta would be put on
the AK Party.
In its annual progress report made public on Oct. 14, the European
Commission referred to the Ergenekon investigation as an opportunity
for Turkish democracy. "This case is an opportunity for Turkey to
strengthen confidence in the proper functioning of its democratic
institutions and the rule of law," the report said.
The murders of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink and three
missionaries in Malatya were mentioned in many EU documents and
referred to in the progress report. "Reports by civil society
organizations and statements by witnesses, in particular regarding the
alleged criminal network Ergenekon, the murder of three Protestants
in Malatya and the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink
cases, highlighted these concerns in specific cases. As regards the
latter case in particular, a report from the Prime Ministry Inspection
Board questioned the security forces’ role prior to the murder.
According to the report, the security forces appeared to refrain from
taking action after having received credible information about death
threats against Mr. Dink. The trials in Istanbul, Samsun and Trabzon
on this murder are continuing, but have not been merged, as has been
requested by the lawyers representing the family of Mr. Dink," the
report said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
