And President Sezer Steps in
The Council was founded by 1980 coup leader Kenan Evren and his administration giving the president wide powers to investigate everyone and every state body without any hindrance. Evren who remained president when Turkey returned to civilian rule in 1983 wanted to be able to use the Council to supervise and control the civilian government to make sure it did not step out of line. Evren did not use the all powerful Council. Neither late Turgut Ozal nor Suleyman Demirel activated the Council in earnest. But it seems President Sezer has seen efforts by the government to stall the corruption drive and has decided to use the Council to clean up the mess.
The Council has wide powers to effectively probe everything and if necessary prosecute. It's powers go beyond those of prosecutors and "all state bodies" have to account to it.
There are claims in daily Yeni Safak that the Council will probe claims of corruption at state owned Halk Bankasi. The reports say the bank was involved in irregularities when the it was linked to Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan. The reports also say even Rahsan Ecevit, the deputy chairperson of the ruling Democratic Left Party (DSP) and the wife of the prime minister became aware of possible wrongdoing at the bank and asked her aides to investigate the issue.
This is all good news for those who want a clean society. It is clear that those who are trying to stall the anti-corruption drive are now facing serious challenges not only from the prosecutors and security officials but also from the president. Even the military is sensitive to the extent that a general has been sent to London to probe the English wing of the stink at the Energy Ministry.
The president is already very popular with his democratic stances and reformist actions. He will now add the fight against corruption to his plus bracket.
Voluntary exiles
Nakshibendi religious order chief Esat Cosan passed away in Australia in a traffic accident. Cosan was the leader of a moderate Islamic order which has done nothing but promote tolerance, goodwill and understanding in our community and has thus been the target of radical Islamists.
Cosan always won praise from Turkey's political elite from late Turgut Ozal to the current leaders. Many politicians competed to win the backing of Cosan's order because of its popular strength in certain areas and humanistic qualities.
Another such leader is Fethullah Gülen, a leader of the Nurcu order. Gülen is now in the United States receiving medical treatment. He too is regarded as the proponents of moderation, goodwill and peace. He has set up schools to promote superior contemporary values at home and abroad.
Both Cosan and Gülen are the enemies of radical Islam. Yet, they have been targeted by certain forces in Turkey and have been persecuted for their beliefs.
People have missed the point that it is actually people like Cosan and Gülen that are the power centers against radicalism and extremism.
When the 1997 post modern coup toppled Islamist Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan, Cosan and Gülen went into voluntary exile not to allow themselves being exploited for political purposes. Now Cosan has passed away and Gülen is in the U.S. recovering from a heart condition far away from home. Both have faced prosecution and persecution. What a great pity... Is this how we promote moderation and tolerance against radicalism?
TURKISH DAILY NEWS
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