PM: No retreat on Ergenekon case
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hurriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ocak 12, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - In his first comment after meeting with the Chief of General Staff, Prime Minister Erdoğan says the Ergenekon investigation is aimed at ’eliminating an illegal gang.’ Meanwhile, retired general Tuncer Kılınç and Professor Kemal Gürüz are released.
The much-criticized investigation of the alleged Ergenekon gang that has led to the detention of numerous academics, retired four-star generals and journalists was given the blessing of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan yesterday.
"No one is above the law. We are determined to fight against the illegal gangs," Erdoğan said during a party meeting on the occasion of declaring his party’s mayoral candidates. What Erdoğan said about the Ergenekon case was his first official remark and came after the Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ’s unscheduled meeting with Erdoğan last Thursday. The detention of retired generals and some serving officers created a silent uneasiness within the Turkish military. Erdoğan preferred to remain silent about the meeting but he conveyed his message about how he viewed the investigation.
"We never let gangs and illegal organizations [conduct their illicit affairs.] We demonstrate a firm and courageous stance to rescue our country and people from the molestations of gangs and mafia. We have taken an important step in this respect. In the past, gangs and mafias ruled the country. We took over such a country," Erdoğan said.Ê"Those who survive thanks to some shadowy powers are now facing a great uneasiness."
Those whose plans are damaged because of the blaze of the rule of state now worry. As the social state policies take affect they further worry. The Turkish nation paid too high a price in the periods when democracy was forgotten," Erdoğan said.
He said there were laws, democracy and well-established rules and systems in Turkey. "Nobody should see himself more privileged and superior to the law. Turkey is changing and will change," he said.
Display of the weapons
While Erdoğan was speaking in Ankara, Istanbul police displayed the unearthed ammunition, claimed to belong to the alleged Ergenekon gang. After a map was found at İbrahim Şahin’s home, a former police chief who was arrested as part of the Ergenekon gang, police discovered Friday an arms cache buried in Ankara.
But Şahin denied these weapons belonged to him in his testament yesterday according to private NTV. "There are more remote places in Ankara, like Elmadağ. Why would I hide something in Gölbaşı," he said, adding that it was not his handwriting on the map showing the places of buried weapons.
Among the unearthed weaponry were hand grenades, bullets, two light anti-tank missiles and some explosives were found. The police did not give additional information on where these displayed weapons were used.
In his speech, Erdoğan also harshly criticized the main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, who accused the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, of creating a "terror empire" in the country in reference to the alleged Ergenekon probe.
"Some are talking about a terror empire. The recent events showed who are actually trying to create a terror empire in the country. We have seen how hand grenades have been dug up and how the plans to destroy some targets are revealed. Should we keep our silence in the wake of these events? Those who will raise their voice and follow these incidents will represent the terror empire but those who defend them [the gangs] will talk about peace in this country."
The Ergenekon case began in 2007, after several grenades, shown to be the same as those used in an attack on the offices of daily Cumhürriyet, were discovered in the house of a retired military noncommissioned officer in Istanbul. The ensuing investigation led Prosecutor Zekeriya Öz to charge dozens of writers, journalists, retired military staff and others for allegedly preparing the ground for a coup to remove the government by spreading terror.
Gürüz and Kılınç released
Meanwhile, an Istanbul court yesterday arrested nine suspects including former police chief İbrahim Şahin and released nine other suspects including a retired four-star general, Tuncer Kılınç, and Professor Kemal Gürüz. The former head of the Higher Education Board, or YÖK, Professor Kemal Gürüz, meanwhile, was first sent to court but then released.
Five other detainees, including socialist and author Yalçın Küçük and retired general Kemal Yavuz were sent to court for further interrogation.Kanadoğlu: Ergenekon important,
Sabih Kanadoğlu, the former Supreme Court of Appeals chief prosecutor, was critical that İbrahim Şahin, one of the suspects of the Ergenekon case, and himself were were placed on equal footing in the controversial Ergenekon case, after what he called a long life fighting against these very gangs. The police also searched the known staunch secularist Kanadoğlu's house as part of the investigations but he was not detained. It was later revealed that Kanadoğlu played an important role in the punishment of Şahin as part of the Susurluk case.
"I told the police who searched my house that day that I was hurt. I said If I were them I would too investigate Ergenekon but it was more important how to do it," Kanadoğlu said, speaking to daily Milliyet. "I have fought against such gangs throughout my professional career. Not only that person [Şahin] but we had all the Susurluk case’s suspects sentenced. There are lots of gangs. If I were them, I would too file a case against Ergenekon. I said this earlier. Can I act opposite to a prosecutor. But what is more important is the way this investigation is carried out," he noted. Speaking on a television program last week, Kanadoğlu said the investigation was not reliable. It was the duty of the judiciary to reveal the allegations of the gangs.
"No one is above the law. We are determined to fight against the illegal gangs," Erdoğan said during a party meeting on the occasion of declaring his party’s mayoral candidates. What Erdoğan said about the Ergenekon case was his first official remark and came after the Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ’s unscheduled meeting with Erdoğan last Thursday. The detention of retired generals and some serving officers created a silent uneasiness within the Turkish military. Erdoğan preferred to remain silent about the meeting but he conveyed his message about how he viewed the investigation.
"We never let gangs and illegal organizations [conduct their illicit affairs.] We demonstrate a firm and courageous stance to rescue our country and people from the molestations of gangs and mafia. We have taken an important step in this respect. In the past, gangs and mafias ruled the country. We took over such a country," Erdoğan said.Ê"Those who survive thanks to some shadowy powers are now facing a great uneasiness."
Those whose plans are damaged because of the blaze of the rule of state now worry. As the social state policies take affect they further worry. The Turkish nation paid too high a price in the periods when democracy was forgotten," Erdoğan said.
He said there were laws, democracy and well-established rules and systems in Turkey. "Nobody should see himself more privileged and superior to the law. Turkey is changing and will change," he said.
Display of the weapons
While Erdoğan was speaking in Ankara, Istanbul police displayed the unearthed ammunition, claimed to belong to the alleged Ergenekon gang. After a map was found at İbrahim Şahin’s home, a former police chief who was arrested as part of the Ergenekon gang, police discovered Friday an arms cache buried in Ankara.
But Şahin denied these weapons belonged to him in his testament yesterday according to private NTV. "There are more remote places in Ankara, like Elmadağ. Why would I hide something in Gölbaşı," he said, adding that it was not his handwriting on the map showing the places of buried weapons.
Among the unearthed weaponry were hand grenades, bullets, two light anti-tank missiles and some explosives were found. The police did not give additional information on where these displayed weapons were used.
In his speech, Erdoğan also harshly criticized the main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, who accused the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, of creating a "terror empire" in the country in reference to the alleged Ergenekon probe.
"Some are talking about a terror empire. The recent events showed who are actually trying to create a terror empire in the country. We have seen how hand grenades have been dug up and how the plans to destroy some targets are revealed. Should we keep our silence in the wake of these events? Those who will raise their voice and follow these incidents will represent the terror empire but those who defend them [the gangs] will talk about peace in this country."
The Ergenekon case began in 2007, after several grenades, shown to be the same as those used in an attack on the offices of daily Cumhürriyet, were discovered in the house of a retired military noncommissioned officer in Istanbul. The ensuing investigation led Prosecutor Zekeriya Öz to charge dozens of writers, journalists, retired military staff and others for allegedly preparing the ground for a coup to remove the government by spreading terror.
Gürüz and Kılınç released
Meanwhile, an Istanbul court yesterday arrested nine suspects including former police chief İbrahim Şahin and released nine other suspects including a retired four-star general, Tuncer Kılınç, and Professor Kemal Gürüz. The former head of the Higher Education Board, or YÖK, Professor Kemal Gürüz, meanwhile, was first sent to court but then released.
Five other detainees, including socialist and author Yalçın Küçük and retired general Kemal Yavuz were sent to court for further interrogation.Kanadoğlu: Ergenekon important,
Sabih Kanadoğlu, the former Supreme Court of Appeals chief prosecutor, was critical that İbrahim Şahin, one of the suspects of the Ergenekon case, and himself were were placed on equal footing in the controversial Ergenekon case, after what he called a long life fighting against these very gangs. The police also searched the known staunch secularist Kanadoğlu's house as part of the investigations but he was not detained. It was later revealed that Kanadoğlu played an important role in the punishment of Şahin as part of the Susurluk case.
"I told the police who searched my house that day that I was hurt. I said If I were them I would too investigate Ergenekon but it was more important how to do it," Kanadoğlu said, speaking to daily Milliyet. "I have fought against such gangs throughout my professional career. Not only that person [Şahin] but we had all the Susurluk case’s suspects sentenced. There are lots of gangs. If I were them, I would too file a case against Ergenekon. I said this earlier. Can I act opposite to a prosecutor. But what is more important is the way this investigation is carried out," he noted. Speaking on a television program last week, Kanadoğlu said the investigation was not reliable. It was the duty of the judiciary to reveal the allegations of the gangs.