by Murataga » Sun Apr 29, 2007 8:51 pm
Certain aspects of the Turkish history, sociology and circumstances need to be well-understood before preaching about “democracy”, because the political analysis of countries is not as simple as people try to make it sound here. Although Turks are “generally” proud of their Ottoman heritage they are also resentful of some of its aspects for very legitimate reasons. The Ottoman dynasty in their last 2- 3 hundred years have been an extremely back warded, corrupt and fossilized regime that looked upon Turks (yes you read it correctly, Turks) as a detested peasant class in their own land. But much more importantly, in their decline and dissolution era, the Ottomans used religious fundamentalism as a tool to control and suppress the society. Unfortunately, this religious abuse was practiced to such extent that certain segments of the society (generally the lower class) still to this day carries vulnerabilities to religious perversion. Erdogan`s political party (AKP) is one of the parties that have taken advantage of this vulnerability to gain political merit in the elections. AKP opposes the very credentials which are conscripted in the constitution such as secularity, equality of men and woman, civil rights of the western world. However, the vulnerable segment of the society does not comprise a sufficient majority to get a party to be the majority of the parliament. So, Erdogan said to the people that they have “changed” and represent the moderate segment aswell in addition to the fundamentalists. Turkish people have bitterly found out that during the past 4 years that this was a lie.
AKP in a vacuum of political presence of any charismatic party has sweeped the votes in the last election by simply lying to the people that they have “changed”. Unfortunately, their administration proved beyond any doubt that they have not changed and used the democratic pathway as a stepping stone to alter the democratic constitution. So it is not political ideas, which of course every political party is entitled to have, that is being challenged, it is the very ideology that want to blast the constitution and foundations of the modern Republic. All should be careful in distibguishing the two.
Today we are witnessing history in Turkey: crowds in the order of millions, unmatched in the history of the Republic, have protested and showed that the people feel betrayed and they do not want this parliament to elect the president. All opposition parties have been calling on AKP to do the same. People are afraid and rightfully so, for the Presidency, although not as active as the prime minister, is the highest ranked state post in the country that is about to be occupied by a religious fundamentalist who is a sworn enemy of the modern Republic. Furthermore, the president generally acts as an ombudsman and is a counterbalance to the prime minister and this has been respected by all until in the present time where AKP is enforcing its candidate against the will of the people.
Unfortunately, AKP has shown itself to be shameless and irrespective of the will of society. Given their deeds, the occupation of the Presidential post is far more dangerous than can be imagined for Turkish democracy and secularism.
They have lied to the people that they have changed when all they did during their term was to rty to alter the democratic and western credentials of the state.
They have even refused to share the presidential candidate’s name with the public until the very last moment, and turned the Presidential election to the appointment of a party official where it should have been a democratic process based on consensus.
But above any of these, they do not hold the sufficient majority to elect the president in the parliament. Yet they are carrying out the election!!! This is illegal according to Turkey`s constitution. This is unheard of and someone has to step in, for this is an invasion of the state and a threat to the Republic. The military is obliged in any country in the world to act in situations in which the government is being invaded. Fortunately, the Supreme Court is holding a special session regarding the Presidential election held in the parliament and will announce a decision this week (99.9 % declaring that the Presidential election is null). So, no one needs to worry about the strength of democracy in Turkey, for its system is strong in preserving it, and its people have shown by the millions how they passionately treasure it. The Turkish people is declaring to the world in a democratic and peaceful way that they do not want their Republic to be invaded by religious fundamentalists. Yet, these fundamentalists are refusing to give up their posts. I went to college in Turkey; I hardly believe that there exists any other nation in the world that loves its soldier and identifies with him so much as Turks do. The Army did not threat with a coup d`etat. They have notified the public that they are prepared to carry out their duty to preserve the democracy, secularity and constitution of the Republic against those that resist constitutional rulings of the Supreme Court and the will of the people. No one should confuse the two.
