Analysts believe recent developments have shown that Turkey is far from the position the world espouses on a number of issues.
“Indeed, what has recently transpired has proven that Turkey stands in a much different position from the rest of the world. We have smoothed over the cracks so far. Now it is time to face up to our deficiencies and problems. Even if a certain group strongly opposes such a move, we should head forward with great determination,” stated Ümit Fırat, a prominent Kurdish intellectual.
It was with the ongoing probe into Ergenekon -- a clandestine terrorist organization accused of plotting to overthrow the government -- that the nation started to fully realize for the first time that the military was engaged in activities not related to national security or the territorial integrity of the country.
The probe exposed plots by some senior members of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) to interfere in politics and take full control of the state through coups d'état. The military stood, however, as the country's most trusted institution according to various opinion polls conducted in the past.
The Ergenekon investigation showed that the military was interested more in engaging in politics than in pondering ways to protect the country against outside threats. “In our country, a certain group insists on returning Turkey to its atmosphere of the 1930s, when policies determined by the military used to rule the society. It is what we call the pro-status quo mindset. However, the world has turned its face to international integration. And Turkey has to fall in step with that trend,” Fırat noted.
According to Mehmet Metiner, a columnist at Star daily, recent discussions on Turkey's prominent establishments, including the TSK and the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), have shown that Turkey has serious problems with the structure of its state.
“The anti-democratic role of the military in the state system is well known by many. However, we should realize that many other institutions, among them the HSYK and the Higher Board of Education [YÖK], have controversial structures. I believe the Turkish state is in urgent need of restructuring,” Metiner stated.
The columnist stressed that the needed restructuring cannot be achieved through partial moves.
“For instance, the current Constitution should be completely changed. It is a compilation of laws which place the state above individuals and nullify the rights and freedoms of individuals before the state,” he noted.
Metiner also touched upon recent debates over the structure of the HSYK, which were stirred up after a recent attempt by one of its members to replace judges and prosecutors conducting Turkey's top judicial cases.
Most analysts said the controversial attempt has revealed that the judiciary is weakened by members of the judiciary themselves. They also called for a restructuring of the HSYK, which could be achieved through the establishment of an institution to monitor the modus operandi of the board.
“It is very apparent that the judiciary is not independent in our country. Judicial bodies are more bound to ideologies than the rule of law. This shows that Turkey is a state of ideologies. Thus, this state needs a complete restructuring. We may not succeed with this as a whole but may start from one side,” Metiner added.
Developments in the past few years have also shown that the Turkish media does not stand at a position it is supposed to. Some press organs favor anti-democratic acts and side with clandestine organizations against the government. For example, some news stories either consciously do not find their way into some newspapers or are presented to readers in a very different style, which generally ends up as misinformation.
The third indictment into Ergenekon, a clandestine gang charged with plotting to topple the government, suggested that the gang had members in prominent press organs, which enabled it to dissipate its propaganda very easily.
Similarly, Ergenekon had many members from universities, including academics and rectors. Most of them are currently in jail pending trial on charges of aiding an illegal organization attempting to destroy the government or blocking it from performing its duties.
The close links between senior academics and the terrorist organization have revealed that universities have turned into institutions which work to produce the desired atmosphere for anti-democratic attempts.
Analysts believe Turkey will face troubling times as it fights to restructure its fundamental establishments and institutions.
“Some circles insist on living in the 1930s. When you gear up for a change, they strongly oppose it. This is the result of being pro-status quo. However, Turkey has discovered its problems. It can no longer return to the past. We have to get rid of all disorder and injustice. We will face Ergenekon, the Kurdish problem, the Cyprus issue and the Armenian question, but in time,” Fırat stated.
Metiner agreed, adding that all who attempt to change the structure of an existing body or institution are faced with a strong reaction from supporters of the status quo.
“State bodies should be restructured. The state should get rid of any unit which supports anti-democratic initiatives,” the columnist noted.
National
