In the 17June hearing of the trial on the "Cage Action Plan" at the Istanbul 12th High Criminal Court, court president Vedat Yılmazabdurrahmanoğlu said, "We are not prosecuting the TSK [Turkish Armed Forces] in this case. The TSK is precious to all of us. Like in any kind of institution, also within the TSK there can be people who committed a crime or are alleged to have done so. The content of this trial is the allegations against the defendants".
The "Cage Action Plan" is a plot allegedly designed by the Naval Forces to overthrow the government of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) by killing prominent members of non-Muslim minorities.
Defendant retired Vice Admiral Ahmet Feyyaz Ögütçü argued that information letters were not signed or signed with fabricated signatures and that CDs were forged for the purpose of sheer calumny.
Öğütçü put forward that psychological warfare was being carried out against the members of the TSK. He stated that cases like Ergenekon, a clandestine terror organization charged with plotting to overthrow the government, were directed by a third power. Öğütçü said that there was no officer in the TSK favouring a coup, emphasizing that the authenticity of the plans is still being discussed.
Öğütçü continued his defence: "This force is focused on certain aims. It is a third power that intends to wear down the TSK. Coup plans are still being discussed even though not a single member of the TSK supports a coup. I believe that this third power has a very well organized headquarter at its command with international connections and dismissed TSK officers as whistle-blowers. This third power continues to sell out military officers. If you are not on their side, you are on the side of the coup".
Öğütçü did not accept charges of "membership of an illegal organization".
The thrid hearing of the trial is scheduled for today (18 June). (BT/EÖ/VK)
