"Intelligence Lies Leave Dink's Murder in Dark"

"Injustice reigns even after Dink's murder, as justice is averted during the case. He would have defended himself as a journalist, if he were alive. Now he's dead, I take it as a duty to defend his rights. So I decided to do something against those trying to leave the murder in dark."

Journalist Nedim Sener explains his motivation for his latest book, "Dink Murder and Intelligence Lies". Turkish Armenian journalist Dink had been murdered on January 19, 2007 and amid pouring evidence regarding authorities neglect to protect him, the case remains unsolved in a just manner. Bianet's Erol Onderoglu interviewed Sener. 

How did you come to write this book?

Pure coincidence. I was talking to an experienced police officer one day and he told about a case of injustice. Something was going on in the Department of Intelligence. I can't say the details but it was then I decided to take on this subject.

Nevertheless, it was impossible to cover the case as news articles. Murder investigations were scattered between Istanbul and Trabzon. On the other hand, no one focused on Ankara. It was imperative to paint a complete picture, overcoming the dispersity of evidence put forward by civil service inspectors in Ankara. I decided to tackle the issue in the form of a book.  

What is your aim in writing this book?

One may disagree with Hrant Dink's writings and sayings but he could have defended himself if he were alive. Now he's left dead, I had to act against those violating his rights. Despite two past years, not all details of his murder have been brought to light and this makes me pessimistic. All evolved before the eyes of people but only the murderers are on trial. Quoting Dink's brother's words, no one will live in peace as long as this murder remains in dark. Because you would never know the truth if something happens to you. For example, we still don't know the murderers and the motives of the killings of journalist like Abdi Ipekci or Ugur Mumcu.

Withholding intelligence by the police and the gendarmerie, how this is affecting the case?

The most horrendous aspect of this case is that those accused of neglect in his murder are still serving in high posts in the police and in the gendarmerie. No such case exists in advanced democracies. But this is turkey.

It's obvious that public servants obliged to enlighten this murder are trying to cover up by forging false documents, by lying and deceit. Prime Ministry's investigation revealed that intelligence officers such as Ramazan Akyurek and Ali Fuat Yilmazer still hold their positions.   

How would this case be solved?

Planning of the murder was conducted under police control for the most part. Especially the Trabzon police department... Upon his release from prison, Yasin Hayal had killing Dink on his mind. Informant Erhan Tuncel relayed all parts of the murder plan to the police. Some of this information had been sent to central intelligence department in Ankara. Those reports openly said that Dink was going to be murdered. They should have at least appointed a guard for Dink.

Anyways, following the Prime Ministry's report, these points became formal facts and it asks for investigations into Akyürek and Yılmazer's misconduct. PM Erdogan approved this. Despite those facts they remain in their posts. As this is the case, it's not possible to await justice out of this case.

There is a special emphasis to the link between Ergenekon case and Dink's murder. Why?

I believe that the two cases should be merged. Numerous personalities involved in Dink's murder are on trial in Ergenekon. The court's efforts to link Trabzon Gendarmerie commander Ali Öz to Ergenekon defendants is important. Revealing all relations between the accused in Dink's murder and Ergenekon defendants remain as a problem. When this is accomplished we may have a more precise picture.

We know the killers but we don't know exactly why this murder was committed. Some say Dink was a victim of extreme nationalist backed up by the state, others claim he was the target of the Armenian Diaspora. The fact is, we don't know the exact truth.(EÖ/AGÜ)