Intellectuals Respond to Turkish Coup Plot
Recently surfaced documents implicating a TSK Colonel in the Ergenekon investigation has intellectuals, politicians, and journalists throughout Turkiye reacting to the possibility of wider military involvement.
The allegations of political maneuvering by the military, comes as a thorn in the sides of many officials, as Turkiye seeks to defend its improving democracy in a bid for greater international recogition and acceptance into the European Union.
The colonel wrote in the discovered documents, "We will enable the discovery of weapons, ammunition and documents at the addresses of Gülen's followers as if they were members of a terrorist organization. The movement will be named 'Fethullah's Armed Terrorist Organization', and investigations into its members will be carried out by military prosecutors."
Many of Turkiye's most prominent journalists reacted to the recent plot that many hope is the work of a single or small group of individuals.
Mehmet Altan commented on reading the content of the documents saying, "My blood literally froze when I read the details. Is this the military's job? Can this be the understanding of what the military is? Plots are being hatched against those whom Turkiye has chosen in open elections. I was terrified. From now on, we need to know what kind of relationship there is between the military and politics in Turkey.
Etyen Mahçupyan, editor-in-chief of Agos said, This is a most grave situation. If this really reflects the entire military, then Turkiye should take radical measures. The society should become involved as a whole. The military has a tradition of such incidents. None of this can happen without media support. If the media act properly, there will never be a coup d'état again. Such manipulations can only find strength with media support.
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