Activists Advise Silence To Army’s New Commander

Four-Star General Işık Koşaner, who became the new commander of the Ground Forces (KKK) attacked the non-governmental organizations, the media and the academic circles in his speech during the handover ceremony.

Bianet asked Şanar Yurdatapan, spokesperson for the Initiative against Thought Crime, Volkan Aytar of Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV), Prof. Dr. Tahsin Yeşildere, head of the University Faculties Association, and Doğan Tılıç, a faculty of the Middle East Technical University and a columnist in daily Birgün, about their opinions regarding Koşaner’s speech.  

Yurdatapan: Everyone can express an opinion, except those with guns

Yurdatapan says, “everyone can express an opinion, except those with guns.”

“They usually say that they are the ones who determine the major policies of Turkey and if anyone is against these choices then he/she is a traitor or helping the foreign powers or terrorists. I want them to remain silent.”

Yeşildere: The universities cannot be under the monopoly of the armed institutions

According to Yeşildere, universities are autonomous and should stay as such; they cannot be under the monopoly of any political and armed institution.

“Politicians should not use the universities for their agendas. For example, the President assigns the rectors. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) is continuing the same system. The universities should be able to express their opinions about anything; they should be free. Otherwise, they will not be called universities, but become government offices.”

Tılıç: They are trying to bring the media under their control

Tılıç says, “I do not find appropriate the type of speeches that may bring the media under either the control of civil or military bureaucracy or the business circles and capital. Koşaner’s wish is the same. He wants to bring the media under their control. That is why this speech cannot be accepted.”

Aytar: The speech is the indication of the influence the Armed Forces has over the politics of the country

“This speech gives an idea about how much political influence the Turkish Armed Forces has in Turkey. Normally, armed forces of the democratic countries stay within the limits defined by the Constitution; they do not talk about subject outside of their field.”

“Turkey is trying to become part of the contemporary world. It is trying to be a member of the European Union (EU), but the Armed Forces is making speeches that may sabotage this process” (BÇ/EZÖ/TB)