My Fellow Gang Member, Hear What I Have to Say
As I normally write on Thursdays and Fridays, my response to Ertuğrul Özkök is a bit late. Ertuğrul Özkök, the editor-in-chief of Hürriyet, wrote on Friday, "My fellow gang member, what do you say about this?" apparently addressing me.
In a previous article, Mr. Özkök had mentioned my name when referring to a document that is part of the indictment for the Ergenekon terrorist organization trial. I will take up this matter from scratch and give "my fellow gang member" the response he expects.
In the indictment, there is a handwritten "Ergenekon network organization diagram." This diagram contains the names of some journalists and columnists in the network's media organization. My name, as well as Özkök's, is mentioned as part of the media organization. Hence my fellowship with Özkök. Yes, but, while this document obviously serves to confuse people, dilute the investigation, divert attention and is nothing but utter nonsense, as Özkök has said, and is a vehicle for misinformation, one is inclined to ask how it has managed to become part of the indictment. This defamatory document had been sent by the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) to the Prime Ministry and the General Staff. And the prosecutor of the Ergenekon investigation had placed it in the case file as it is an official document.
When I first heard about this document, I thought the people mentioned there would not even gather together for a conference and that no one would take this list seriously, except a "hit dog that hollers." Yet Mr. Özkök took it seriously. On Oct. 21, 2008, he wrote: "At the top is Dinç Bilgin, followed by Enis Berberoğlu and Bekir Coşkun and next is Zaman columnist Hüseyin Gülerce, who is close to Fethullah Gülen." Providing this nonsense as an excuse, he said, "For this reason, I do not want to write anything about the Ergenekon trial." It had seemed that it was high time for me to take it seriously, and on Oct. 23, 2008 I wrote an article titled, "Why is my name involved in Ergenekon?" "In my opinion, this is a pure pretext. Indeed, Hürriyet in particular and the Doğan Media Group in general have been moving in parallel to the Republican People's Party (CHP) with respect to the Ergenekon investigation since from the beginning," I had written. Özkök was not satisfied with my article, and he addressed me directly last week. This was his call:
"My dear friend, Hüseyin Gülerce. You are a columnist at the Zaman newspaper and close to Fethullah Gülen. Your name is included in that list. Tell me, are you a member of Ergenekon? In which secret network house did we gather to develop abhorrent plans?"
Yes, now, I will give my answer.
Dear my friend, Ertuğrul Özkök. I am not a member of Ergenekon. My stance concerning the Ergenekon investigation has been well known since the beginning. The stance of my newspaper, too, is well known. However, your stance, the position of your newspaper and the wholehearted advocacy provided by some of your columnists to Ergenekon urge everyone to wonder whether Hürriyet is being manipulated to save members of Ergenekon.
Also, why do you tend to insert the name of Mr. Fethullah Gülen in your statements when you mention my name? I never complain about it, as being close to the respectable Fethullah Gülen is the most precious medal of honor for me in this world. Yet, I wonder the reason for your insistence on using his name. Assuming that you are doing this with good intentions, I think that you try to attach added value to my name by mentioning Mr. Gülen's name. Then, I remember that last week one of your writers, Mehmet Y. Yilmaz, wrote: "There is a pro-Fethullah network nested within the police department." Now, this style is a style used for attack by hostile, obscene, conceited, unjust, merciless and shady network members. I will not go beyond this. You are complaining about summary executions, ravings or utterly nonsensical documents. Mr. Gülen was acquitted by the court. His acquittal was upheld by the Supreme Court of Appeals. How does the paper you manage allow such an article, which is written by a person who hurls accusations at people despite judicial decisions for their acquittal? Should I assume that you tell other columnists to write things you cannot write or encourage them to do so by turning a blind eye to their writings?
Secondly, of course, the procedures and technicalities of a trial are integral parts of case law. Yes, all of us should seek this. Yet no one is entitled to dilute, discredit or divert the Ergenekon investigation by seeking refuge in this excuse. And, you, as a successor of Çetin Emeç, who was assassinated in a Ergenekon-style murder, have no such right.
- Created on .