Erkan's field diary

Turkey indicts 86 over alleged coup plot

A Turkish chief prosecutor said he had indicted dozens of defendants accused of involvement in a terror group which aimed to overthrow the government by force

Prof. White finds Mr. Cagaptay's critique 'important'. Well she is new to the field:) He seems to be the spokesperson of the anti-AKP front in the west who sees only negativities.

AKP’s à la carte Democracy

By Jenny White

Read Soner Cagaptay’s important critique of the AKP’s social policies in Newsweek (click here for full article)

…The AKP’s stance on social issues also suggests a return to traditional religious values. While it touts its proposal to allow young Muslim women to wear Islamic-style headscarves in universities as a move toward a true freedom of religion, it has clamped down on other freedoms Westerners take for granted. For instance, Turkey’s drinking culture dates back to the Ottoman Empire. But alcohol consumption is banned in purist forms of Islam, and after coming to power the AKP tripled Turkey’s consumption tax on wine to 3.2 liras ($2.50) per liter, making drinking an increasingly rare and expensive luxury. Between 2006 and 2007, wine consumption dropped from 23.4 million liters to 22.8 million liters, and the AKP has taken further action against the sale of alcohol through its control of local governments, making alcoholic beverages difficult to find outside of the big cities. Between 2002 and March 2008, the number of licenses to sell alcohol in bars and restaurants dropped from 13,000 to 9,000.

Turkish Nationalists Take on the Ruling AKP | Newsweek International Edition | Newsweek.com

Ergenekon indictment to be revealed, no disclosure of content promised

The Ergenekon case, which rocked the country with police raids and arrests, enters a new stage today as Istanbul's chief prosecutor is expected to reveal the long-awaited indictment. Chief

‘Dig deeper into Dink murder-Ergenekon link’

By EMİNE KART

Cem Özdemir, a member of the European Parliament, has said that Turkey has a very serious problem in the unanswered questions around the plot leading to the January 2007 assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, particularly the issue of whether the murder was tied to the Ergenekon criminal network, which is currently the subject of a major investigation.

[MONDAY TALK] Çetin: Dink case offers chance to solve Ergenekon puzzle

By YONCA POYRAZ DOĞAN

Fethiye Çetin, a lawyer representing the family of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, who was assassinated by a young man under the influence of ultranationalism, has said she will be thoroughly reviewing the indictment against the Ergenekon terrorist organization to find leads that will help in resolving unanswered questions surrounding Dink's murder.

A historic trial under way

Today is the day. Backed by collected evidence and testimony from 20 unnamed key witnesses, prosecutor Zekeriya Öz and his two assistant colleagues today will make public the text of the Ergenekon indictment, seen by many as a big step toward confronting Turkey's bloody past, and feared by others who try to discredit it.

Yusuf Kanlı: Wanted: A credible indictment!

More than two weeks have passed since the deputy prosecutor of Istanbul was quoted in the media saying that the indictment of the so-called “Ergenekon terror gang” case would be released. Most lately, it was said that the indictment would be released last Friday. Now there are claims that the 13-month wait will come to an end and not the indictment but an “executive summary” of it will be released early this morning.Kuddusi Okkır, one of the 49 persons arrested by the court up until the July 1 detention spree, lost his life to cancer five days after he was released from prison. The number of those under arrest increased to 58 since Okkır's death. Two people are still at large and said to be

Note: Anti-democratic forces are also anti-Western

Since the disclosure of the "coup dairies" of former Naval Commander Özden Örnek by Nokta magazine last spring I have been warning against an anti-Western military coup.

Ergenekon and ‘the banality of evil’

For some reason the Ergenekon case (an investigation into a crime network with links to the "deep state") always reminds me of a dark picture within an even darker picture. A major symbol in Ergenekon's darkness was Hrant Dink's murder.

Post-Ergenekon Turkey

Regardless of what the outcome of the investigation into the Ergenekon crime network is, a post-Ergenekon Turkey will definitely be different.

Rationale for the coups

Two legal processes are concurrently at work. While one is put into effect to close down the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and put an end to its government, the other is directed against the main opposition group that is intent on doing the same thing through a military coup following an atmosphere of chaos it was preparing to create.

Is AK Party's pro-Western stance derailing CHP?

By MEHMET BARLAS, SABAH

If Deniz Baykal were the prime minister, would he still say, "I am the lawyer for Ergenekon"? Or if the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) were the opposition party and its current actions were performed by a different ruling party, would the Republican People's Party (CHP) lend support to them?

Şener’s chance of success seems slim

Former Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Şener, who announced that he is planning to return to active politics and establish a new political party, submitted his resignation to the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) after a meeting of the AK Party Central Decision and Administration Board (MKYK) last Friday.

Erdoğan’s icebreaking visit to Baghdad by SAMİR SALHA

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Baghdad, which had been postponed several times for varying reasons, finally took place under extensive security measures.

Turkish festival begins in Iraq with new deal

By GÜLAY GÖKTÜRK, BUGÜN

This is it! This is what Turkey should have done years ago and also what could not be done since red lines have been preventing politicians from doing it.