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The discovery of the original version of a military plot aiming to destroy the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the faith-based Gülen movement and which includes plans to undermine the image of these institutions in the eyes of the public has once again persuaded many to come to the conclusion that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) should keep its hands off the political domain and return to its own business if it wants to maintain its prestige and reputation in the eyes of the public.
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Throughout the history of the Turkish Republic, the TSK has attempted many times to intervene in politics through military coups and memorandums, but these moves merely resulted in a loss of military prestige and a blocking of the progress of Turkish democracy. Now that we face yet another military attempt to meddle in politics, there are increasing calls for the TSK to act in line with its duties granted in the Constitution and to stop interfering in politics. “If the military does not want to be worn down, it has to change. There is no other way for it. The military will take care of only its own business. In other words, it will only deal with the defense of the country, just as it is in normal democracies. It will not deal with politics; it will not meddle in the political realm. More importantly, while doing its business, it will not forget the fact that it is answerable to the authority elected by the public, the government,” explains Milliyet’s Hasan Cemal. He bemoans the fact that the TSK has failed to act in line with these principles since the establishment of the Turkish Republic, particularly after Turkey adopted a multi-party system. It engaged in politics and carried out coups and post-modern coups; in brief, he says it acted like a political party because it did not believe in the government that came to power through elections and saw the civilians as the team of the incompetent. “If we return to the beginning, the TSK has to change; it no longer wants to be worn down. And I want to think that the number of those within TSK ranks who support a change to a democratic mentality is on the rise,” remarks Cemal. Star’s Mehmet Altan says he has never seen a military administration like the TSK, which is burning itself out with the increasing number of scandals emerging from within its ranks each and every day. He says some analysts like him keep criticizing the military’s mistakes because it is a very important institution, as he notes that the latest scandalous document has revealed how the junta mentality in the TSK carried out treacherous psychological warfare. “It is the time not only for the judiciary but also for the political will to take action. None of us can any longer tolerate this administrative style that wears down the military,” says Altan.
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| 29 October 2009, Thursday |
| FATMA DİŞLİ ZIBAK |
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