Ergenekon: Generals Face Prosecutor; Erzincan Prosecutor Arrested

General Attorney İlhan Cihaner was taken into custody on Tuesday (16 February) in Erzincan in north-eastern Anatolia in the scope of the Ergenekon Investigation. 3^rd Army Commander General Saldıray Berk was given ten days to give his statement. One military officer was detained. The Foca Landing Ships Commander Rear Admiral Mehmet Fatih İlğar gave his statement in Izmir.

"Ergenekon" is a clandestine, Kemalist ultra-nationalist terror organization with connections to the Turkish military and security forces. The group is accused of plotting to overthrow the government.

Erzurum Special Authority Procecutor Osman Şanal runs the Ergenekon Investigation in Erzincan. He requested the statement of "suspect" General Berk to be given until 26 February.

Prosecutor Şanal is summoning Berk to the court for the second time. He informed the General Staff Presidency to apply for "police compulsion" in case Berk does not give his statement within ten days.

General Attorney Cihaner in custody in Erzincan

The General Staff had informed the prosecutor that Berk would not appear to give his statement by forwarding a letter of apology of Berk's lawyer covering the dates from 9-14 February. Eventually, the prosecution applied to the General Staff to get to know the reason of the apology.

General Attorney Cihaner initiated an investigation into the communities in Erzincan. He was taken into custody after his courthouse office and his home had been searched.

General Attorney Şanal carried out the search of Cihaner's office and home in collaboration with Erzincan Anti-Terror branch manager Murat Günbeyi and a police team. The Erzincan police team joined the search upon the Şanal's request.

Cihaner's lawyer Hamit Sekman claimed on the Turkish news channel NTV that the search did not comply with the line of proceeding. He said that "the truth about his client will emerge".

At the same time, a convoy of two SUVs and 20 trucks of the Communication Regiment Command in Erzincan affiliated to the 3^rd Army Command set off around 9.00 am for a winter exercise in the district of Sarıkamış (province of Kars) on the Armenian border. The convoy was accompanied by police.

Rear Admiral İlğar gives his statement in Izmir

In the course of the same investigation a statement is being taken from Special Authority Public Deputy Attorney General Mehmet Dogar. Moreover,Special Authority Public Prosecutor Fatih Genç takes the statement of Foca Landing Ships Commander Rear General İlğar.

Rear General İlğar arrived at the Izmir Courthouse in a Mercedes Vito with tinted windows. Due to strict security measures, nobody despite courthouse officials was allowed to the floor where İlğar gave his statement.

Commander Gençoğlu arrested

Previously, Eskişehir (west of Ankara) Gendarmerie Regiment Commander Colonel Recep Gençoğlu was arrested within the scope of the Ergenekon investigation. Gençoğlu allegedly directed operations related to the İsmailağa Community which paved the way to Cihaner's prosecution.

Three construction workers taken into custody in Erzincan in regard to Ergenekon were released. Their homes and workplace, the Yaylabaşı municipality public housing construction site, were searched while the workers were being interrogated.

Finally, the Erzurum 2^nd High Criminal Court arrested military officer N.Ö. upon the statement of Ortatepe (Erzincan) village headman T.K. four days ago. (EÖ/VK)