Mete Belovacikli
[email protected]
Ankara has been discussing the indictment of the Land Forces commander for the past couple of days.
Has anyone seen the indictment? We don't know �
There were some excerpts from the indictment in a newspaper. Have the suspect's lawyers seen the indictment? That, too, is unknown �
It's claimed that they've seen it and were invited to the Gendarmerie Headquarters for a briefing.
Ankara focused on first the meeting of military commanders and then on the visit by the chief of staff to the prime minister.
Naturally, it stirred Ankara circles too.
Following the meeting of the commanders, Ankara circles indulged in much speculation and rumor relating to many issues ranging from the history of the Van Public Prosecutor's Office to Buyukanit's opinions.
Amid these rumors, some facts were ignored, as always. It has been clear since yesterday that the government doesn't want to be party to this debate. However, statements by Justice and Development (AK) Party deputies automatically make them party of the debate as some of them have said, "The prosecutor has done what we could not," and "Buyukanit has become the victim of his own careless statements." These comments have the potential to bring the armed forces and the AK Party to odds.
What can Turkey gain from focusing on a settling of accounts at home instead of discussing crucial matters such as Iraq's future and relations with Iran?
It could be speculated that this debate was triggered with the aim to have a say in some very important developments in the region.
On the other hand, it's hard to understand the logic of a country that expects a surge in terrorist activities after March 21 and which closely follows in the developments in northern Iraq, putting its domestic and foreign security units in a totally different debate.
However, there are some points which should be underlined.
First of all, this debate isn't wearing down Gen. Buyukanit, but instead strengthening him.
Secondly, the government is smack dab in the middle of this debate, their claims to the contrary notwithstanding.
Thirdly, we should closely follow the future of the deputies who are members of the parliamentary commission set up to probe the Semdinli incidents and the bureaucrats who carried out the probe. One cannot help but wonder who will be promoted and who will be assigned to what duty.
Fourthly, this event will also reveal whether there's an inner conflict or difference of opinion within the armed forces.
Fifthly, Ankara should stop trying to fight speculations that there's an ongoing clash between the armed forces and the government, since things have escalated to the point that nothing will ever be the same.
That is to say, this power struggle cannot be kept secret anymore. This debate should finally end.
Lastly, all these debates will not make people forget issues such as the corruption allegations against Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan. The primary priority for the AK Party is corruption since you cannot erase issues such as corruption that are discussed daily by the public with issues such as the Semdinli probe.
http://www.thenewanatolian.com/opinion-2189.html
[email protected]
Ankara has been discussing the indictment of the Land Forces commander for the past couple of days.
Has anyone seen the indictment? We don't know �
There were some excerpts from the indictment in a newspaper. Have the suspect's lawyers seen the indictment? That, too, is unknown �
It's claimed that they've seen it and were invited to the Gendarmerie Headquarters for a briefing.
Ankara focused on first the meeting of military commanders and then on the visit by the chief of staff to the prime minister.
Naturally, it stirred Ankara circles too.
Following the meeting of the commanders, Ankara circles indulged in much speculation and rumor relating to many issues ranging from the history of the Van Public Prosecutor's Office to Buyukanit's opinions.
Amid these rumors, some facts were ignored, as always. It has been clear since yesterday that the government doesn't want to be party to this debate. However, statements by Justice and Development (AK) Party deputies automatically make them party of the debate as some of them have said, "The prosecutor has done what we could not," and "Buyukanit has become the victim of his own careless statements." These comments have the potential to bring the armed forces and the AK Party to odds.
What can Turkey gain from focusing on a settling of accounts at home instead of discussing crucial matters such as Iraq's future and relations with Iran?
It could be speculated that this debate was triggered with the aim to have a say in some very important developments in the region.
On the other hand, it's hard to understand the logic of a country that expects a surge in terrorist activities after March 21 and which closely follows in the developments in northern Iraq, putting its domestic and foreign security units in a totally different debate.
However, there are some points which should be underlined.
First of all, this debate isn't wearing down Gen. Buyukanit, but instead strengthening him.
Secondly, the government is smack dab in the middle of this debate, their claims to the contrary notwithstanding.
Thirdly, we should closely follow the future of the deputies who are members of the parliamentary commission set up to probe the Semdinli incidents and the bureaucrats who carried out the probe. One cannot help but wonder who will be promoted and who will be assigned to what duty.
Fourthly, this event will also reveal whether there's an inner conflict or difference of opinion within the armed forces.
Fifthly, Ankara should stop trying to fight speculations that there's an ongoing clash between the armed forces and the government, since things have escalated to the point that nothing will ever be the same.
That is to say, this power struggle cannot be kept secret anymore. This debate should finally end.
Lastly, all these debates will not make people forget issues such as the corruption allegations against Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan. The primary priority for the AK Party is corruption since you cannot erase issues such as corruption that are discussed daily by the public with issues such as the Semdinli probe.
http://www.thenewanatolian.com/opinion-2189.html
