CHP to raise coup probe alarm in EU
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Göksel Bozkurt
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 17, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - The Republican People’s Party meets to discuss the latest Ergenekon wave, which has led to the detention of many professors and education volunteers. Party leader Deniz Baykal says his party will endeavor to inform the international community of the investigation’s political motives
Turkey’s main opposition party is planning to bring the controversial Ergenekon investigation before the European Union to draw attention what party leader Deniz Baykal has defined as "an extrajudicial process."
The Republican People’s Party, or CHP’s, Central Executive Board, or MYK, on Wednesday met and discussed the latest Ergenekon wave, which has led to the detention of many professors and education volunteers working for the Association for Supporting the Contemporary Life, or ÇYDD. The Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review has learned that Baykal stressed the political side of the case during the MYK meeting and called on everyone to raise their voice against the ongoing "injustices."
"This is a way to fascism. The case has turned into a coup by the AKP (Justice and Development Party). It is no longer juridical but political," Baykal said. "We will bring the matter before the world public opinion. Our office in Brussels will make an attempt for this," he said. Within this framework, CHP’s Brussels representative Kader Sevinç will inform EU officials on the case that the party believes is political. Baykal also instructed all deputies to bring up the issue at international meetings, Daily News has learned.
Furthermore, the CHP will prepare a file about the Ergenekon case and submit it to EU ambassadors during a banquet to be held in Baykal’s honor. The banquet by EU ambassadors is expected for April 20 in the Czech Republic.
’Stance against modern education’
Baykal defined the real reason for the detentions as a "stance against modern education" and gave support to ÇYDD chairwoman Türkan Saylan. "Nobody endeavors for modern education, calls girls to schools or delivers scholarships for students. Is this what they want? This is unacceptable," Baykal said, adding that contributions to education by civil society organizations, other than religious orders, are considered criminal by the AKP.
Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ’s use of "people of Turkey" instead of "Turkish people" was also on Baykal’s agenda during the MYK meeting. He said the definition is old but a military member using it is new. "The definition was uttered by a TSK (Turkish Armed Forces) member for the first time. There are certainly subcomponents that compose the people of Turkey. We said this 20 years ago. There are certain ethnic groups in Turkey and this is something to be proud of," Baykal said.
The Ergenekon case started with an investigation prompted by the discovery of 27 hand grenades in a house in Istanbul in 2007.
Retired generals, business leaders, journalists, army officials, politicians and academics are among detainees from across the country who have been caught up in the Ergenekon investigation.
The Republican People’s Party, or CHP’s, Central Executive Board, or MYK, on Wednesday met and discussed the latest Ergenekon wave, which has led to the detention of many professors and education volunteers working for the Association for Supporting the Contemporary Life, or ÇYDD. The Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review has learned that Baykal stressed the political side of the case during the MYK meeting and called on everyone to raise their voice against the ongoing "injustices."
"This is a way to fascism. The case has turned into a coup by the AKP (Justice and Development Party). It is no longer juridical but political," Baykal said. "We will bring the matter before the world public opinion. Our office in Brussels will make an attempt for this," he said. Within this framework, CHP’s Brussels representative Kader Sevinç will inform EU officials on the case that the party believes is political. Baykal also instructed all deputies to bring up the issue at international meetings, Daily News has learned.
Furthermore, the CHP will prepare a file about the Ergenekon case and submit it to EU ambassadors during a banquet to be held in Baykal’s honor. The banquet by EU ambassadors is expected for April 20 in the Czech Republic.
’Stance against modern education’
Baykal defined the real reason for the detentions as a "stance against modern education" and gave support to ÇYDD chairwoman Türkan Saylan. "Nobody endeavors for modern education, calls girls to schools or delivers scholarships for students. Is this what they want? This is unacceptable," Baykal said, adding that contributions to education by civil society organizations, other than religious orders, are considered criminal by the AKP.
Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ’s use of "people of Turkey" instead of "Turkish people" was also on Baykal’s agenda during the MYK meeting. He said the definition is old but a military member using it is new. "The definition was uttered by a TSK (Turkish Armed Forces) member for the first time. There are certainly subcomponents that compose the people of Turkey. We said this 20 years ago. There are certain ethnic groups in Turkey and this is something to be proud of," Baykal said.
The Ergenekon case started with an investigation prompted by the discovery of 27 hand grenades in a house in Istanbul in 2007.
Retired generals, business leaders, journalists, army officials, politicians and academics are among detainees from across the country who have been caught up in the Ergenekon investigation.