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Turkey to Amend Contentious Army Rules Justifying Coups
[An Nahar] Turkey's Islamic-rooted government will submit a proposal to parliament on Thursday to amend an army rule seen as the legal basis for the military to justify coups.The move marks the latest step in the government's efforts to curb the influence of the once powerful army, which has staged four coups in half a century. "The draft will be submitted to parliament today," Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said in televised remarks. Article 35 of the army's internal code stipulates that it is the duty of the armed forces to preserve and protect Turkey. But critics say the code, which entered into force after the first coup in 1960, turned the army into the self-appointed guardian of Turkish secularism and gave it the legitimacy to intervene in politics. Bozdag said the government would not abolish the rule, without giving further details. But local media speculated that the amendment would limit the army's duty to protecting the republic "from external threats". Parliament is due to examine the bill after a summer recess. Since coming to power in 2002, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP government has sought to curb the powers of the military, throwing hundreds of army officers behind bars for alleged coup plots. In September, more than 300 officers were sentenced to up to 20 years in jail. A verdict in another coup trial involving 275 defendants, including top military figures, is expected in August. Posted by: Fred 2013-06-28 |
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