Turkish Military Unhappy With Reforms
When Turkeyâs government passed reforms to curb the militaryâs influence on politics, the European Union was jubilant. Not surprisingly, the military wasnât quite as pleased.
And we all know what happens when the Turkish military isnât pleased.
At a traditionally tame military congress over the weekend, top generals reportedly criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his defense minister after parliament voted to cut the influence of the military-dominated National Security Council. Gen. Cetin Dogan, a top army commander, accused Erdogan of undermining Turkeyâs armed forces and trying to change the secular regime, the daily Cumhuriyet reported Monday. A military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the report. "Forces that will not allow any change in the secular structure of Turkey will act together," Dogan said, according to Cumhuriyet. "If needed, the army and the nation will achieve the result hand in hand."
Time to start the Turkish Coup Pool.
The tensions show how difficult it will be to curtail the influence of the military, which harbors enormous distrust of Erdoganâs Islamic-rooted government. The military sees itself as a protector of Turkeyâs secular state, and has sparked three coups. In 1997, it pressured a pro-Islamic government into leaving power. Turkey hopes to start membership talks with the European Union by the end of next year, but the EU has demanded Turkey first curtail the militaryâs influence and carry out other reforms before it can join.
Once Turkey completes these reforms, the EU will come up with another reason to keep Turkey out.
The military suspects that Erdoganâs government has a secret agenda to replace the secular regime with an Islamic one an accusation Erdogan denies. "You are benefiting from the Turkish peopleâs love for the EU. One day, you will pay for it," Cumhuriyet quoted Dogan as saying. "Donât assume that this force will be a coup. This will be the Turkish people." Cumhuriyet said Dogan was supported by other generals at the meeting. Erdogan reportedly defended his government, saying they had no intention of harm the military.
"By the beard of the Prophet, by my mother's burka, by the Gates of Vienna, by the blessed memory of the Sultan, and by the nose of the Hairy Djinni of Mosul, I swear! No harm will come to the military that doesn't also come to the rest of the country!" | The reported clash came only days after parliament passed reforms emphasizing that the National Security Council was an advisory body, allowing a civilian to serve as the councilâs secretary-general and permitting lawmakers to scrutinize some military expenses. The military has a strong say in national policy through its presence on the council, a forum used by the military to exert influence on the government. EU leaders had warmly welcomed the reforms. "The reforms on paper change the balance of power between the military and civilians but this does not mean that the military is no longer effective," said Umit Cizre, a political scientist at Ankaraâs Bilkent University.
Meaning that no matter how many so-called reforms are on paper, if the military decides to have a coup, they are going to do it.
During the meeting, Erdogan reportedly clashed with the military over the firing of 18 soldiers for having suspected pro-Islamic leanings, but eventually relented. The meeting was overshadowed by another thorny issue when Erdogan canceled a traditional banquet in honor of the generals to prevent a possible crisis over his wifeâs Islamic-style headscarf regarded by the military as a symbol of political Islam.
Erdogan is pushing his luck.
Wait'll they see her in an evening burka. Stunning! | Turkish media reported that the military also warned Erdogan not to insist on the reforms about the National Security Council if President Ahmet Necdet Sezer vetoes them. Sezer hasnât said if he will endorse the measures. Turkey wants to start negotiations for membership in the 15-nation European Union by the end of next year. But the EU has demanded Turkey first curtail the militaryâs influence and implement democratic reforms, such as giving greater rights to its estimated 12 million Kurds.
Well, thereâs two things the military wonât like.
The military has said it supports Turkeyâs EU membership but says Turkey should refrain from doing anything that could harm its national security.
Itâs times like this that I miss Murat.
Posted by: Steve 2003-08-05 |