Turkey retires 40 'coup plot' generals

[maddezmom]

Source: BBC

The Supreme Military Council (YAS) said the 40 were among 55 top officers being discharged through retirement.

-snip

The investigations into the so-called "Ergenekon" and "Sledgehammer" coup plots have undermined the traditionally powerful influence of the military in Turkish politics.

Last year the chiefs of staff resigned in protest at the arrests. Critics of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) say the investigations are politically motivated.

Prominent academics, journalists and lawyers have also been detained in the "coup plot" investigations. Many are still awaiting trial and some have not even been charged.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19127708

[pinto]

1. Q&A: Turkey's military and the alleged coup plots (BBC)

Q&A: Turkey's military and the alleged coup plots

The BBC's Bridget Kendall examines the issues behind the so-called Ergenekon plot and other related cases.
4 April 2012

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16447625

[leveymg]

3. Generals arrested reportedly were secularists hostile to (Sunni) Islamicist leanings of gov't

What is the background to the alleged plot?

Ergenekon is the name given to what prosecutors claim is a shadowy network of ultra-nationalists and secularists in Turkey with high-level military and security connections, deemed to be hostile to the ruling Justice and Development (AKP) party because of its perceived Islamist roots. The network is accused of allegedly plotting to undermine and topple the AKP government.

The Ergenekon investigation dates back to 2007 when a cache of explosives was found in the home of a former military officer and tied by state prosecutors to what they said was a much larger conspiracy. It led to the arrest of some 200 people, including senior military officers.

[JDPriestly]

7. Sounds like the Islamic government is generally trying to destroy dissent

while claiming to be "democratic."

On the one hand members of Turkey's military elite and their allies see themselves as custodians of Turkey's secular constitution and are deeply suspicious of the religious intentions of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP government. Some fear that moves to remove the partial ban on headscarves for women, for instance, and restrictions on alcohol, could be the first steps towards establishing an Islamic republic.

On the other hand Prime Minister Erdogan and his supporters argue his government - popularly elected - represents modern democratic Turkey, tolerant of moderate Islam, and must protect itself from those seeking a return to Turkey's past history of military coups and shadowy army influence.

. . . .

Hundreds of former and active military officials, prominent academics, journalists and lawyers have been detained. Many are still awaiting trial and some have not even been charged.

. . . .

But the charges against him of an anti-government conspiracy still have to be tested in the courts. So far it is not clear how compelling a case can be made from the evidence. And some say that it will also be a test of Turkey's judiciary, to see if they are prepared to withstand political pressure.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16447625

This causes me to distrust the current Turkish regime.

Back in the 1960s , as a student overseas, I was friends with a very liberated friend, very young, very intelligent Turkish woman. Because of that friendship, I hate to see Turkey sinking back into the Islamic middle ages. I don't think that Islamic people have to adopt the culture and customs of the Middle Ages to belong to their religion. That certainly is not true in countries like Indonesia. But, I would hate to see it happen to Turkey. It's a step backwards, especially for women.

Besides, on a trivial note, the imposition of strict Islamic dress codes have a horrible effect on women's fashions in clothes, and, as a woman, I love pretty clothes as did my young Turkish friend. It's just a mean old man's way of putting women down -- depriving us of the joy of dressing as we wish.

[leveymg]

2. Gotta wonder how this relates to events in Syria and the rest of the region.

Who's pulling the strings, here, and what's the agenda? Does this make war more or less likely?

[maddezmom]

4. And within Turkey. Tensions Rise as Turkey Continues Offensive Against PKK

ISTANBUL — Turkey's military is ratcheting up its offensive against Kurdish fighters seeking autonomy in the southeast, with warplanes and helicopters pummeling the mountainous region with bombs, forcing many villagers to flee their homes. Analysts claim the action is a bid to squelch any Kurdish advance should Syria fall.

-snip

"The PKK are not running back. They are trying to hold their ground," Ozel said. "The city is blockaded by our authorities, therefore something very serious must be going on there. Particularly in view of the fact that there is a lot going on with Syrian Kurds. That is important because the PKK brother organization, let's say, is very effective in northern Syria."

The escalation in PKK operations coincides with Syrian Kurds seizing a number of towns last week from Syrian forces close to the Turkish border. Ankara voiced concern the region could fall under control of a Democratic Union Party which is accused of having links to the PKK.

http://www.voanews.com/content/tensions-rise-as-turkey-continues-offensive-against-pkk/1455079.html

[pinto]

5. Seems all parties involved are jockeying for position. Some publicly, violently, some less so.

Doesn't look to bode well, from my limited understanding of the factional relationships.

[Posteritatis]

6. Military-civilian tensions are a very longstanding thing in Turkey

Squabbles there definitely predate what's up in Syria.

[Comrade Grumpy]

8. Ah-ha. This helps explains Erdogan's hard-line stance vis-a-vis Syria.

And somewhat undermines his moral high ground.

[MADem]

9. Turkey has been bubbling for awhile.

I know this is an unpopular sentiment in some corners, but the "Attaturk model" has worked well for them down the years.

Sure, every so often the peeps would wake up and a general on the radio or TV would tell them "Hey, we're taking over for just a bit, don't sweat it, there will be elections soon..." but the nation was an oasis of stability and relative openness compared to many others in the region.

Oh, well. I have a few old friends in the upper reaches of the Turkish military. I hope they're OK.