Ertugrul Ozkok: Five lessons to avoid the accusation of plotting coups in Turkey

“Do you know of any Turks who don't jokingly plot coups over the telephone?”

While my friends looked at me curiously, I continued, “I know one person.”

“Me…”

I know that for the past 20 years my telephone calls have been monitored.

All Turks have the “my telephone is being tapped” paranoia.

For that reason when I am speaking on the telephone, I make all sorts of remarks and jokes, but I never joke about making “a prank coup”.

* * *

In fact we have moved beyond the fear that we are being listened to.

What we fear most now is, “regarding what we say; what side will they take; what would be looked at more closely; what would be discussed in detail and in which files can these conversations be used as evidence.”

And regarding the interrogation of Mustafa Balbay; we all agree that claims being made are not baseless.

Above all else, I was surprised that anyone could be taken into custody on the basis of this “information” and in regard to this matter.

The worst was yet to come: Based on the issue and the information available; how is it possible to bring someone before the court and demand their "arrest"?

 
Is it possible that Balbay did not clearly explain himself with regard to the questions asked or the information he was shown?

If he had explained in detail, I conclude these outcomes:
 

One:

None of us can feel comfortable any more. Any one of us can be taken from our homes and held in custody.
 

Two:

Leave aside making coup jokes over the telephone; we should not even make the slightest criticism against the ruling AKP, because this criticism can used as "coup evidence" in the future.
 

Three:

We should all pay close attention to the faxes and invitations from our readers since these invitations, letters and comments can be used as evidence for our future detainment.

Four:

When attending functions we have been invited to, we should be careful who we speak to and who we stand with in public, as it can also be alleged that any of these people may be determined as a member of a terrorist organization. And since there is a chorus informing the nation that the "media leg of the operation is missing", life for journalists can be come completely overwhelming.  �

Five:

We should not attend any invitations from foreign embassies, especially from the U.S Embassy. If it is possible we should return these invitations and inform by telephone, those who build files against us by wiretapping our phones.

Of course, only following these guidelines may still not be adequate.

You can still be at risk if your name is mentioned in conversation by a third person.

Because the current logic says, "It is true if he or she says so."

Sure, had an unnamed "secret witness" not testified against you...

* * *

One of the stories we heard most during our middle school years was of the vast of network of informers and intelligence operatives functioning during the reign of Ottoman Emperor Abdulhamit.

At the time, it was impossible for me to understand how it would feel to live like this; but now I understand it quite clearly.�

You can read what I write two ways, either as bad intentioned or as constructive criticism.

I write with all sincerity because I am concerned that this frightening atmosphere could harm the prestige and the power of the investigation that could uncover relations in the network referred to as "Ergenekon".�

It will be to our advantage for such an organization to be uncovered, if in fact it exists.

But the implementation of the ongoing investigation, the information leaks, the documents submitted as evidence during interrogations, and the questions asked, all reveal that this more akin to an "intimidation campaign" than a sincere criminal investigation.

On the other hand, secretly video taping conversations between the General Staff and the journalists that visit, holding the private information of certain general's in secret archives, and the preparation of planned actions, are also frightening actions.

When such a situation emerges we are reminded of the assessment made by the leader of Nationalist Movement Party, Devlet Bahceli, who said:

"Is our country really being turned into a fear empire?"