Ertugrul Ozkok: Will Turk gov’t take necessary action in Deniz Feneri case?

Can you remember the picture, which was published on the front page of Hurriyet daily with the headline: "Four ministers observe, but none of them sees?"

An executive from a company, who received funds cheated out of people who had donated to a charity located abroad, stood in the same row as four government ministers at a funeral.

We are now facing a similar situation again.

What’s more, this situation is more serious when observed from humanitarian perspective.

In this case, there is a German based charitable organization claiming to collect donations to provide disaster relief assistance.

It organizes fund raising campaigns to swell charitable feelings and stir the public conscience.

Some music artists and politicians showed their good will by also contributing to these campaigns.

The donated funds are then couriered to Turkey.

But when the details are exposed, it becomes clear that the donated funds reach a variety of points, including financing certain media organs and providing a regular salary to particular individuals, none of whom require disaster relief assistance.

* * *

It is not us making this accusation, it is the German judiciary.

The highest executives of the charitable organization have revealed the details, listing one-by-one the names of the people receiving regular monthly payments of the donated funds.

They tell how the funds were ferried and distributed by giving the related addresses.

This case is worse than the previous, Mercumek case, which lead to the imprisonment of the former prime minister and leader of the Welfare Party, Necmetttin Erbakan.

Of course, the question we all ask is: “What will happen next?”

Will we play the same, "I did not see, did not hear, and did not say," game as was the situation with in the Yimpas case.

We are confident the German courts will hand down an appropriate punishment for this crime.

But what will be done about this in Turkey?

What will be done about those involved in this case who reside in Turkey, and with the addresses of the couriers?

Will they again stand side-by-side government officials at funerals?

We wonder and we wait for the answer to this question.

* * *

Out of curiosity, yesterday I asked about the level of the Turkish media's interest in the ongoing case in Germany.

I got a surprise.

Aside from Hurriyet daily and Milliyet daily, no newspapers sent correspondents to cover the case.

None of Germany’s tabloid newspapers have even shown any interest in the case.

Why?

Aren’t the confessions of the charitable organization’s executive as valued as the so-called rabbi who sparked the Ergenekon investigation?

Or is this case being overlooked by the media since the accused are "from their region".

Yet, the exact opposite should be the case.

Aren’t the feelings of the thousands of people who gave generously during times of disaster and who have been exploited important?

We expect the premier to seek justice for those emotionally exploited citizens.

Throughout the Yimpas case we said, "It is not our problem. Did you ask us when you handed over your money?"

But can we say something like this to those who gave generously in this case?

* * *

Shocking revelations are coming to light in Germany.

The practices of a conscience exploiting gang are being exposed one by one.

But again, not a sound from Turkey.

What do you think, should we also send this case to the prosecutor of the Ergenekon case?