Tweet
Turkey's anti-deep state fight may set example
Retired Brig. Gen. Veli Küçük, a suspect in the trial against the
Ergenekon network, is depicted giving testimony during a hearing in
this drawing. (Court sketch: Salih Tekin)
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-302569-turkeys-anti-deep-state-fight-may-set-example.html
30 December 2012 / BETÃ`L A. DEMÄ°RBAÅ? / ALÄ° A. KILIÇ, ANKARA,
A fight that Turkish security forces and judicial bodies have been
engaged in for several years against clandestine networks nested in
various state bodies, an alliance that is often referred to as the
`deep state,' may set an example for other countries which suffer from
similar networks, according to political analysts.
Turkey's fight against the deep state has, on various occasions, been
praised by many, including domestic and foreign observers. They
believe a country like Turkey, which has been a place where hidden
powers inside the state staged events to mold public opinion according
to their own political agenda, is unlikely to democratize or normalize
unless it roots out the deep state.
They also think the experience Turkey has gained in its fight against
the deep state and criminal gangs is indeed a good example for other
countries that also host such a clandestine phenomenon, but whether
they too start an anti-deep state fight is dependent on certain
conditions.
`Turkey's experience [in the fight against the deep state] may set an
example for other countries, but it depends on some conditions. For
example, events ahead of the constitutional referendum in Egypt
suggests that the deep state is stronger there [than in Turkey], and
an element of the deep state seeks opportunities to block the
country's transition to full democracy. Those elements also attempt to
show any mistake [made in the administration of the country] as a
mistake of democracy and look for ways to return to the old days,'
Professor Vedat Bilgin of Gazi University told Sunday's Zaman.
According to Bilgin, countries should meet certain conditions to
launch a fight against the deep state. Among those conditions is the
strengthening of civil society so that people will demand a stronger
democracy. `In addition, political parties should grow stronger, and
they should have a better perception of civilian opposition,' he
stated, and added: `Our neighbors [countries] have a long road to go
[to launch an anti-deep state fight]. Turkey now has a great deal of
experience to set an example for them. They may benefit from Turkey's
experience and use it as a roadmap in the long run.'
In Turkey, the term deep state became popular after a car accident in
1996 -- widely known as the Susurluk incident -- in which a member of
Parliament and a senior police official were traveling together with a
fugitive ultranationalist. The incident made clear that intelligence
units employed gangs to do their dirty work. Several people were taken
into custody in the investigation of the Susurluk gang -- and in
dozens of similar cases -- but most suspects have been released.
Associate Professor Yusuf Tekin, a political analyst and deputy
minister of youth and sports, also praised Turkey's struggle against
the deep state, but believes that it could be strengthened. He said
the fight against the deep state initially aimed to root it out, but
in time, the fight changed course. `Our problem with the deep state is
whether to root it out or change its form. Turkey has not made a
radical decision on this issue. But there is a perception that they
[opponents of the deep state] preferred the state to change its form.
Anyway, it is praiseworthy that the fight has remained within the
boundaries of the law. With this point in mind, Turkey's fight against
the deep state may set an example to other countries,' he noted.
He also said the anti-deep state fight has stretched over time and
therefore is taking longer than expected, which could be a point of
criticism, and that the fight has yet to be concluded. `A more healthy
evaluation [over whether Turkey's experience against the deep state
may set an example for other countries] may be possible after the
fight is concluded,' he added.
In Turkey, the term deep state brings to mind Ergenekon, a criminal
network believed to be nested within the state bureaucracy. The group
is accused of being behind a number of political assassinations and
mass murders that rocked Turkey in the past and was believed to be
working to overthrow the government. Dozens of its suspected members
are on trial on coup charges.
Prosecutors investigating Ergenekon have found that the gang is linked
to the deep state that staged attacks in the past, using
`behind-the-scenes' paramilitary organizations to stir up chaos to
urge governments to act in line with interests of the deep state or to
get rid of the governments.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an said last week that it is not
possible to say that Turkey has managed to eradicate the deep state.
`Our fight against this [deep state] will continue. I would not
possibly claim that we have rooted out or eliminated the deep state.
There is a deep state in every country, and they cannot get rid of it
completely. The deep state is like a virus; it re-emerges when
favorable conditions come into existence,' he said.
For Professor Mehmet Altan, who teaches in Ä°stanbul University's
department of political economy, Turkey had a good start in its fight
against the deep state, but it later slowed down due to the reluctance
of the government. `Had this not happened, Turkey could have rooted
out the deep state and become a very good example for other
countries,' he said, adding, though, that Turkey is very late in
getting rid of the deep state because other countries managed this
shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Altan believes Turkey has a long path to go in order to successfully
conclude its fight against the deep state and criminal gangs. `The
political power [or the government] is not fighting the deep state
with due diligence. Such a fight without changing the legislation
enacted after the 1980 coup or making the legal amendments [to become
a more democratic country] will not yield any positive results. ¦ How
can you do civilian politics in a country where the Law on Political
Parties [a product of the coup] remains unchanged? And how can you end
military tutelage without abolishing the National Security Council
[MGK]?' he asked and added that it is very unlikely Turkey will make
such amendments with its own dynamics and without a push from the EU.
Retired Brig. Gen. Veli Küçük, a suspect in the trial against the
Ergenekon network, is depicted giving testimony during a hearing in
this drawing. (Court sketch: Salih Tekin)
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-302569-turkeys-anti-deep-state-fight-may-set-example.html
30 December 2012 / BETÃ`L A. DEMÄ°RBAÅ? / ALÄ° A. KILIÇ, ANKARA,
A fight that Turkish security forces and judicial bodies have been
engaged in for several years against clandestine networks nested in
various state bodies, an alliance that is often referred to as the
`deep state,' may set an example for other countries which suffer from
similar networks, according to political analysts.
Turkey's fight against the deep state has, on various occasions, been
praised by many, including domestic and foreign observers. They
believe a country like Turkey, which has been a place where hidden
powers inside the state staged events to mold public opinion according
to their own political agenda, is unlikely to democratize or normalize
unless it roots out the deep state.
They also think the experience Turkey has gained in its fight against
the deep state and criminal gangs is indeed a good example for other
countries that also host such a clandestine phenomenon, but whether
they too start an anti-deep state fight is dependent on certain
conditions.
`Turkey's experience [in the fight against the deep state] may set an
example for other countries, but it depends on some conditions. For
example, events ahead of the constitutional referendum in Egypt
suggests that the deep state is stronger there [than in Turkey], and
an element of the deep state seeks opportunities to block the
country's transition to full democracy. Those elements also attempt to
show any mistake [made in the administration of the country] as a
mistake of democracy and look for ways to return to the old days,'
Professor Vedat Bilgin of Gazi University told Sunday's Zaman.
According to Bilgin, countries should meet certain conditions to
launch a fight against the deep state. Among those conditions is the
strengthening of civil society so that people will demand a stronger
democracy. `In addition, political parties should grow stronger, and
they should have a better perception of civilian opposition,' he
stated, and added: `Our neighbors [countries] have a long road to go
[to launch an anti-deep state fight]. Turkey now has a great deal of
experience to set an example for them. They may benefit from Turkey's
experience and use it as a roadmap in the long run.'
In Turkey, the term deep state became popular after a car accident in
1996 -- widely known as the Susurluk incident -- in which a member of
Parliament and a senior police official were traveling together with a
fugitive ultranationalist. The incident made clear that intelligence
units employed gangs to do their dirty work. Several people were taken
into custody in the investigation of the Susurluk gang -- and in
dozens of similar cases -- but most suspects have been released.
Associate Professor Yusuf Tekin, a political analyst and deputy
minister of youth and sports, also praised Turkey's struggle against
the deep state, but believes that it could be strengthened. He said
the fight against the deep state initially aimed to root it out, but
in time, the fight changed course. `Our problem with the deep state is
whether to root it out or change its form. Turkey has not made a
radical decision on this issue. But there is a perception that they
[opponents of the deep state] preferred the state to change its form.
Anyway, it is praiseworthy that the fight has remained within the
boundaries of the law. With this point in mind, Turkey's fight against
the deep state may set an example to other countries,' he noted.
He also said the anti-deep state fight has stretched over time and
therefore is taking longer than expected, which could be a point of
criticism, and that the fight has yet to be concluded. `A more healthy
evaluation [over whether Turkey's experience against the deep state
may set an example for other countries] may be possible after the
fight is concluded,' he added.
In Turkey, the term deep state brings to mind Ergenekon, a criminal
network believed to be nested within the state bureaucracy. The group
is accused of being behind a number of political assassinations and
mass murders that rocked Turkey in the past and was believed to be
working to overthrow the government. Dozens of its suspected members
are on trial on coup charges.
Prosecutors investigating Ergenekon have found that the gang is linked
to the deep state that staged attacks in the past, using
`behind-the-scenes' paramilitary organizations to stir up chaos to
urge governments to act in line with interests of the deep state or to
get rid of the governments.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an said last week that it is not
possible to say that Turkey has managed to eradicate the deep state.
`Our fight against this [deep state] will continue. I would not
possibly claim that we have rooted out or eliminated the deep state.
There is a deep state in every country, and they cannot get rid of it
completely. The deep state is like a virus; it re-emerges when
favorable conditions come into existence,' he said.
For Professor Mehmet Altan, who teaches in Ä°stanbul University's
department of political economy, Turkey had a good start in its fight
against the deep state, but it later slowed down due to the reluctance
of the government. `Had this not happened, Turkey could have rooted
out the deep state and become a very good example for other
countries,' he said, adding, though, that Turkey is very late in
getting rid of the deep state because other countries managed this
shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Altan believes Turkey has a long path to go in order to successfully
conclude its fight against the deep state and criminal gangs. `The
political power [or the government] is not fighting the deep state
with due diligence. Such a fight without changing the legislation
enacted after the 1980 coup or making the legal amendments [to become
a more democratic country] will not yield any positive results. ¦ How
can you do civilian politics in a country where the Law on Political
Parties [a product of the coup] remains unchanged? And how can you end
military tutelage without abolishing the National Security Council
[MGK]?' he asked and added that it is very unlikely Turkey will make
such amendments with its own dynamics and without a push from the EU.