On the edge of heaven or hell

Last year, on 22nd of July, voters of Turkey used their legitimate right by voting for the political party with good intentions by trusting the goodwill of the politicians. Expectations of masses were generally “no army de coup, no Sheri at (Islamic law)” and this dream was the main theme of the meetings of Cumhuriyet (Republic) in the most cosmopolitan cities; Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. Millions of people, only with Turkish flags, by criticizing the governing party; Justice and Development Party, were marching on the roads with no violence at all but only dreams of a better Turkey. There were millions of people who did not attend to those meetings and who approved the politics of the current government. These differences in the way that people were thinking, in a way, was the symbol of the democracy and both sides of the country, supporting AKP or not, were expecting politicians to get rid of their main concerns about the secularism and create a successful Turkey in economy, internal and foreign politics, good quality of education and social security.

Finally on 22nd of July, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) got %47 of the whole votes. There is no doubt that this was a victory of AK Party, but it remained to be the last victory at the same time. At the end, the power Erdogan got in his hands seems to turn him into a “tiran” just as the Financial Times stated in recent issue of the newspaper.

Erdogan is accused to lead the country into a more Islamic direction. Well, for the ones living in the country, this is not hard to realize if one is following the current news. In many districts of the Turkey, there have been serious attempts of the city majors to ban the alcohol consumption in the restaurants, while “Islamic tourism” with alcohol free lifestyle opening their doors to their visitors every single day. Especially, in the second term of Justice and Development Party, it seems that Erdogan started to think that he has the total power and able to do what ever he desires without considering the current constitution.

On presidential elections of the country, Erdogan did not prefer to apply use the methods of consensus but he choose to decide for “who will be the president” rather than asking the preferences of the other main political parties represented in the parliament such as CHP (Republican People’s Party) and MHP (Nationalist Movement Party). He assigned his close friend and also one of the main founders of the Justice and Development Party Abdullah Gul as the president. Certainly, it has been voted by the parliament but the communication problem started by Mr.Erdogan’s ignorance about the desires of other parties for a neutral candidate for the presidential elections.

There can be well said that all these huge discussions of today are rooted in the presidential elections. In the hot debates of the political parties in 2008, we have seen that Abdullah Gul as the president of Turkey was so away from being a neutral middle man between AK Party and the main opposition party CHP According to the news of Hurriyet and Milliyet which are known as the respected news sources of Turkey, he also proved this reputation by meeting secretly far from the eyes of journalist –at least they aimed to do so- with Mr.Erdogan on 29th of July in an apartment for five hours. This was not an official meeting and the meeting place was just an ordinary apartment in Istanbul. How come the President of Turkey preferred taking a side from his old friend Mr.Erdogan on the day that Constitutional Court started to overview the indictment for the closure of Justice and Development Party? Was it fair, both politically, and ethically? Or was it a proof of the suspicions of Mr.Gul to be “hidden supporter” of Mr.Erdogan and not being able to perform a neutral presidential mandate.

At the end, Gul failed to balance the high waves of the political discussions in Turkey and heated debates on secularism and the accusations and suspicions on AK Party’s hidden agenda in order to turn Turkey into a “conservative Islamist Republic” brought the whole country on the edge of heaven and hell. In this long discussion, one more time, it has been seen that Presidential seat should have been taken by someone who could gain the trust of the majority of people and supported by all the political parties, someone more capable to bring the two diverse edges together around the same table. Someone who could call himself as a neutral person, not in the side of Erdogan, but in the side of consensus in Turkey.

It seems that the hot debates in Turkey on secular system will continue for many years, since still millions of people still carries the honour of being the democratic country with a majority of Muslim population in the world as a golden medal and still have the concerns about the intention of Mr.Erdogan and Justice & Development Party. Consensus is the only way out in country, but understanding the concerns, not paving the ways of ignorance.

Gokhan KURTARAN

Turkey's Top Court warns AKP, but rules not to close the ruling party

Top Court of Turkey did not close the rulling party; Justice and Development Party, instead choose the middle way by sending a serious warning to the party because of the actions of the members of AK Party and also decided that the party will only receive the half of the financial support from the state of Turkey.

Six members of the Constitutional Court voted for the closure of the party and the Chairperson of the Court Hasim Kilic voted against the closure of the party. Four member of the court voted for the reduction of the financial support to AK Party in order to warn members of the party. In normal conditions, for the closure of party, there needs to be 7 votes in favour of the closure. At the end, the final decision is Justice and Development Party (AK Party) will deprived of the financial assistance with an amount of half of the last assistance from treasure of the state.

Chairperson of the court Hasim Kilic also stated that “this is a serious warning for the AKP” and “political parties should make the necessary legal arrangements to avoid any further party closure cases”. Kilic who stated that he voted against the closure of the party also stated“. I hope the party will evaluate this result very well and get the message it should get”.

While the main opposition party Deputy of Republican People’s Party (CHP) Onur Oymen stated “this is a meaningful warning for the ruling party, Chairperson of the Parliament Koksal Toptan stated “this is a serious relief will be felt in Turkey”.

Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey started Justice and Development Party in 2001 after in his first election on Nov 3 2002, the party got the 34 % of the whole voters and started it’s first term. In the last election on 22nd of July, 2007, Justice and Development Party got the 42 % of the whole votes in Turkey by naming a great victory. At the same time, the parties actions claimed to be against secular system in Turkey and the party is still in the spot point of Islamic movement which is named as “conservative Islamism” in Turkey.

While Erdogan does seem to be successful in the voting boxes but his failure still continues in gaining the trust of almost half of the country, who are still in doubt about Erdogan’s actions, such as allocating the economical sources and the main authorities of the state to “conservative Islamist” people rather than being equal to people from different religions, beliefs, ethnicities and backgrounds.

Gokhan KURTARAN

Photo: Cihan News Agency

Two bomb attacks in Istanbul; 17 killed and 150 wounded

In Gungoren district of Istanbul, two bombs exploded and killed 17 civilians and 150 wounded by the terror attack took place around 22.00 in the vivid street of the district. Police is still working on finding information about the identities of the attackers and reach the correct information on which terror group since there had not been any extremist groups taking up one of the deadliest attack in last 5 years. Because of the attacks carries the similar patterns in the last 25 years, PKK is highly suspected to commit the crime against the civilians by the various authorities and public in Turkey.

Funerals took place in Istanbul at Fetih Mosque and Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek and Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler attended to prayer as well. Various protests against the PKK took place in the funerals.

Most of the witnesses of the event stated in the TV channels that the first bomb exploded and people enjoying the night out in the vivid street of the district came to help to wounded people in panic and gathered in the place of explosion. The second bomb, just after seven minutes then the first one, exploded with a great pressure breaking the walls and killing 17 people. 150 people are wounded in double bombs in the district. On 29th, there proud and silent answers of the civilians of the district to terror by hanging great Turkish flags hanging in every corner of the street.

The attacks are highly suspected to be organized PKK, after Turkish Army’s constant operation in the Northern Iraq which is know a base for PKK. It is widely believed that the operations are causing chaos in the terrorist group and turning the only “safe heaven” of the region a highly risky area. Turkish Army still continues the operations in the region in order to secure the borders of Turkey from any other terror attacks in the future.


Gokhan KURTARAN

Source of the photo: Taken from Hurriyet Newspaper,30th of July, internet issue.

Indictment of Ergenekon Case is declared

Long waited indictment of the controversial case of Ergenekon case has been declared by the Turkish Chief Prosecutor Aykut Cengiz Engin with a great interest of press and national and international TV channels at 9.45 am.

Under the name of Ergenekon. 85 people are charged with forming a terrorist group in order to destroy the government of Turkish Republic and reshaping the system and causing nation to riots against the state and the government.

According the indictment, the grenades found in June, 2007, in Umraniye district of Istanbul are suspected to be connected with Ergenekon network and so far known 85 people are suspected and 49 of them are in custody. Retired Colonel Veli Kucuk and Workers’ Party Leader Dogu Perincek have been in custody since March 2008.

Kuddisi Okkir, well know businessman was accused to be funding the whole Ergenekon network and held under custody for more than 13 months without any indictment. He has been released only few days before when he died of cancer spread to whole of his body on June 6. This event has dropped many more question marks into minds since his wife could not even afford his cemetery expenses and he was accused to be the funding person of the terrorist organization.

On July 1, there were new custodies including Sinan Aygun who is Head of Chamber of Commerce in Ankara Region, and Retired General Sener Eruygur who is Head of Kemalist Thought Association Chairman and Retired General Hursit Tolon. More than the well known names are being under custody, the way that they are taken from their houses at early morning even though they could have been called to the court on through the stages of the case.

By the main opposition party CHP (Republican People’s Party) leader Deniz Baykal, Tayyip Erdogan, the current Prime Minister of Turkey is accused to be “trying to solve his own case” by arresting Anti-AKP ( Justice and Development Party) in order to create a wind of fear for his opponents. Not having an indictment for a long time while there are many custodies caused well known intellectuals reactions against the prosecutor of Ergenekon case.

Recent news around 19.30 has been given by the leading TV channels of Turkey that Sinan Aygun, Head of Chamber of Commerce in Ankara Region is released.

Gökhan Kurtaran

Breaking News: Teror Attack on U.S. Consulate in Turkey

On Wednesday, around 11.00 am there has been a terrorist attack to the consulate by three unidentified gunmen coming with gray colored van. Three gunmen shot the police guard post office in front of the consulate. According to the recent news, three polices (two male and one female) and three terrorist are killed.

The officials of Turkey defined the action as a terrorist attack and Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler has visited the Istinye district where the consulate is situated with high and well secured walls and stated that “There is not doubt that this is a terrorist attack”.

There are news which are also not verified by the officials yet such as the terrorist’s having Syrian passports with them. Some claims that they are Turkish people who had visited Afghanistan before for few times.

U.S. Ambassador Ross Wilson made a statement that he is not in a position to make speculations over the attack and he stated that he is appreciated the police forces ability to secure the U.S Consulate under this attack.

On 20th of November, 2003, two major terrorist attacks took place in to HSBS Bank main building in Levent and British Consulate in Istanbul and 27 civilians were killed including British Ambassador Roger Short and around 450 were wounded.

Gokhan KURTARAN

New custodies under the name of Ergenekon Operation

Early in the morning around 25 people from different professions and cities have been taken into custody with a sudden operation. Two former army commanders, a leader of a business group in Ankara region and a well known journalist have been taken into custody as well.

Claims under these operations are known as “the under cover preparations of army coap against the ruling party Justice and Development Party. Operations took more than a year without any indictment and there are still people under the custody including Dogu Perincek; the leader of Labor Party. On March, well known columnist, journalist and author Ilhan Selcuk was taken into custody at early morning.

In recent custodies, there names of Sener Eruygur and Hursit Tolon who are former commanders, The Chamber of Trade in Ankara; Sinan Aygun, and Cumhuriyet Newspaper’s Ankara Bureau and well known journalist Mustafa Balbay. Sener Eruygur is also currently the leader of the Atuturk’s Thought Association (ADD). All of the names are known to be against Justice and Development Party and its internal and foreign politics.

Timing of the operations are driving many of the people into doubt as the custodies took place in the same day with Top Prosecutor Abdullah Yalcinkaya verbal defense to support his claims about the closure of Justice and Development Party. The operations have been taking place for so many months, there are also doubts about Justice and Development Party to use police forced to deactivate the names that are in opposition to the party.

Police forces have been also accused many times having close connection with the Fethullah Gulen who is residing in USA and well known controversial figure in Islamic movements about his funding anti-secular global movements through his wide spread schools in many countries. There are various doubts stated by the opposition parties that Justice and Development Party might be using their close connection with police forces in order to destroy any opposition towards the party. Recently heard that Turhan Comez, former Justice and Development Party member of parliament is being searched by the police forces to take into custody as well.

Gokhan KURTARAN

Turkish Top Prosecutor Yalcinkaya makes his verbal defence

Top Prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya has made his verbal defence about his written statement for the closure of the current ruling political party Justice and Development Party (AK Party). Authorities from AK Party; Bekir Bozdag and Cemil Cicek will make their own defence in the case on 3rd of July to the Constitutional Court.

On March, Yalcinkaya made written statement and demanded closure of AK Party and 71 members of the party including Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and President of Turkey; Abdullah Gul. Yalcinkaya claimed that the party is “the focal point of anti-secular activities”. Yalcinkaya claims are mainly on thread the party is creating to the laic system in the country and leading the country to a more Islamist path.

Trail is expected to take around one to three months after the AK Party’s speeding up the process of the case in order be able to see the future of the party and also their decide on their political strategies. There are also wide spread claims that AK Party has already started to found a new party which would gather the remains of AK Party under it’s umbrella for the coming elections.

Gökhan KURTARAN