Democracy News

Military Leaders Arrested in Turkish Coup Investigations
February 24, 2010
By: Benjamin Russell | Printer Friendly

Nearly 50 people were detained earlier this week in connection with a 2003 plot to overthrow the Turkish government, according to the New York Times.  Among those arrested were four admirals, an army general and two colonels. 

The military officials were charged with drafting a 5,000 page memo advocating a series of bombings that would, allegedly, have made a military takeover of the government possible.  The charges are reportedly connected to an ongoing investigation into the 2003 Ergenekon plot, which, according to the government, was a wide-spread scheme aimed at overthrowing the regime.  The investigation has led to over 200 arrests but done little to clarify the true nature of the supposed coup attempt, according to Foreign Policy.  

Tensions have steadily been building between the moderately religious Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Turkish military, which views itself as the guarantor of the country’s secular constitution, reports the New York Times.  The AKP, led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been in power since 2002.

Several of the accused were released on Friday, according to VOA News, prompting some to question the veracity of the allegations. “The government’s intention was to intimidate Turkey’s military, rather than proceed with an indictment of these high-ranking officials,” said Soner Cagaptay in an article for Foreign Policy.

The arrests may mark a shift in the balance of power in Turkey, according to some observers, as such moves against the military would have, until recently, been unthinkable.  In the past, “no other force could seriously challenge [the armed forces] supremacy,” said Cagaptay.  “Not anymore.”

Others, however, point to the challenge of the Turkish military as a positive step for democracy in the country.  “Forces supporting military coups are still very powerful and resisting change,” said Turkish journalist Oral Calislar.  “If there is a political will to prosecute military coup perpetrators, it is a fantastic will to be supported, regardless of the criticism of the methods.”

The AKP leadership may be trying to assert its authority over the country - and curb the military’s influence - as they try to make Turkey’s EU membership bid more viable, according to BBC World News.  The EU has previously been critical of the military’s involvement in the country’s domestic politics.

Sources:

BBC News – Top Turkish Officers Charged over ‘Coup Plot’

NY Times – Former Top Generals Detained in Coup Inquiry

NY Times – Turkish Court Charges 7 Officers in Coup Plot

VOA News – Turkish Court Charges 7 Military Officers in Coup Plot

Foreign Policy – What’s Really Behind Turkey’s Coup Arrrests?