+ GMT Select Your Local Time London GMT Johannesburg Lagos Cairo Accra Mogadishu Abuja Cape Town Free Town Addis Ababa Austria Bahrain Bangladesh Australia Sydney Austria Bahrain Bangladesh Belgium Brazil East Brazil West Canada Toronto Canada Pacific China Beijing Cuba Cyprus Denmark Egypt Ethiopia Finland France Germany Ghana Greece Hon Kong Hungary India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kenya Korea (Rep. of) Kuwait Lebanon Liberia Libya Luxemburg Malaysia Mali Malta Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Mexico City Morocco Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Paraguay Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russia Moscow Russia Vladivostok Saudi Arabia Senegal Sierra Leone Singapore South Africa Spain Sudan Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tanzania Thailand Trinidad And Tobago Tunisia Turkey United Arab Emirates United Kingdom USA Washington USA San Francisco USA New York USA Hawaii Venezuela Yemen Zaire Kinshasa Zaire Katanga Zambia Zimbabwe STO
[Pacific Sighting] See Makkah Clock
Searching EsinIslam بحث موقع
Home | Explore | Broadcasters | Media | Donations | About Us | Contact | Fatwa | Our Sheikh
Save
Turkish Secularist Supreme Military Council Plotting Colonel Promotion
5 August 2009
An announcement released by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) noted that the promotion of senior naval forces Col. Dursun Çiçek has been withheld once more, which may be read as a reaction to a recent controversy he stirred up that has received negative publicity. The colonel has been expecting to be promoted to admiral for the last three years. Çiçek became the center of harsh criticism when his name appeared on a document allegedly prepared by the military, titled “Action Plan to Fight Reactionarism.” The document detailed a plot to undermine the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the faith-based Gülen movement. Çiçek was arrested by a civilian court last month on suspicion of being linked to the plot but was later released after his lawyer submitted an appeal. His immediate release created controversy. He also testified to prosecutors investigating Ergenekon, a clandestine gang that allegedly attempted to overthrow the government. Çiçek was hoping to be promoted to a higher position; however, observers believed his promotion would deal a heavy blow to government efforts to expose illegal organizations in the country. The TSK dismissed a link between the denial of promotion for Çiçek and the suspected military plot, stressing that the colonel was not promoted as there was no vacancy in naval admiral positions. Çiçek's term at his current rank was extended for another year. “Various news stories have found their way into the press regarding the promotion of Col. Çiçek, and questions arose after the announcement of the [Supreme Military Council] YAS decisions. As there is no vacancy for admiral in naval forces, Çiçek has not been promoted to admiral,” read the TSK statement. By a majority of votes, three officers were discharged at the end of this year's YAS annual four-day meeting, which concluded yesterday. The TSK pointed out anti-secular activities these officers were engaged in and other activities meriting disciplinary action as the reason for their dismissals. YAS meetings are an occasion on which representatives from the government and the TSK convene to decide on dismissals and promotions within the Turkish military. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül voiced their reservations about the dismissals. The reservations have a symbolic meaning, highlighting the government's displeasure regarding the YAS decisions. Tension between the government and the TSK is often high over dismissals as the military is usually displeased with the prime minister's use of his right to overturn YAS decisions. No officer was expelled during YAS's meeting last August. The military has dismissed 1,665 of its members in the past 19 years. Officers expelled from the military do not have the chance to appeal to a judicial body for a review of the decision. For the last few years, analysts have voiced a strong demand for the establishment of a body to monitor YAS's decisions. Yesterday's dismissals were met with heavy criticism by civil society groups. In a statement sent to Today's Zaman, the Freedom Association (Özgür-Der) said the dismissals proved that militarism reigns over the law in Turkey. “Three officers have been expelled from the army on charges of being engaged in anti-secular acts. However, what the TSK means by ‘anti-secularism' has always been a source of concern in the public. Many people have so far been dismissed from the army because their wives wear the headscarf or just because they pray. As if this is not enough, they have been disbarred from being employed in state institutions,” the association complained. Gen. Igsiz goes to Istanbul
According to an announcement made by the General Secretariat of the General Staff yesterday, Adm. Esref Ugur Yigit has been promoted as the new commander of the Naval Forces, replacing Adm. Metin Ataç, who is retiring. War Academies Commander Gen. Hasan Aksay has been appointed to the post of air forces commander, replacing Gen. Aydogan Babaoglu. Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Hasan Igsiz has replaced outgoing First Army Corps Commander Gen. Ergin Saygun. Igsiz was at the center of attention last month when he expressed strong support for Col. Çiçek. The general said he was sure that Çiçek had nothing to do with the “Action Plan to Fight Reactionaryism” document. Land Forces Vice Commander Gen. Aslan Güner has become the new deputy chief of general staff. Seventh Army Corps Commander Gen. Bekir Kalyoncu was appointed to the position of the land forces vice commander. Kalyoncu has suspected links to the Ergenekon terrorist organization as claimed by Ibrahim Sahin, a former senior police official who was the deputy head of the National Police Department's Special Operations Unit. In his initial testimony in early 2009, Sahin said Kalyoncu had assigned him to set up a team of 300 officers to be employed in a new anti-terrorism department. Kalyoncu also promised that Sahin would be the undersecretary of the new unit. Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, Land Forces Commander Gen. Isik Kosaner and Gendarmerie General Commander Gen. Atila Isik will remain in their positions until next year. In sum, 34 generals and admirals have been appointed to a higher rank, while 46 colonels have been promoted to general and admiral. The term in office of 54 generals and admirals has been extended for one year. The YAS meeting did not result in the promotion of some controversial army personnel, which was a source of concern for most observers. Observers were wondering whether Lt. Gen. Selahattin Ugurlu would be promoted to the position of the outgoing Saygun. Ugurlu was the subject of harsh criticism in April when a recording allegedly featuring his voice revealed that he looked with disdain on peaceful methods of counterterrorism, saying violence is the only means to put an end to terrorism. Brig. Gen. Hifzi Çubuklu could also have been promoted to Gen. Saygun's position. Çubuklu was severely criticized for helping Judges and Prosecutors Association (YARSAV) head Ömer Faruk Eminagaoglu obtain a false report to exempt him from compulsory military service years ago. Future contenders for army chief almost certain Yesterday's YAS promotions have also served as a strong sign for army generals who will vie to become chief of general staff in the future. Among the probable contenders will be the new First Army Corps Commander Gen. Hasan Igsiz and the new Land Forces Vice Commander Gen. Bekir Kalyoncu. Land Forces Commander Gen. Isik Kosaner will become the new chief of general staff at next year's YAS as the current army chief, Gen. Basbug, will retire then. Kosaner will remain in office for three years and leave his post in 2013. Igsiz and Kalyoncu will compete for the position after his retirement.
EsinIslam.Com
Sign In Password