Will Turkey Seize Opportunity to Abolish Stay-Behind Organization?

Former military judge Ümit Kardaş evaluates the search of the Special Forces Command in Ankara carried out by prosecutors the previous weekend as an opportunity to eliminate the "counter guerrilla" in Turkey.

"If it pleased the judiciary, it could reveal unlawful activities of the Mobilization Inspection Board, established in 1952, and ensure prosecution. The searches are carried out at the intellectual centre of the structures known as Gladio (Stay-Behind Organization) and counter guerrilla. The counter guerrilla's dirty linen might be washed in public. We might get hints about what the structure we call Gladio has actually caused. This is what I wish".

"No legal base, no auditing, not giving account"

Retired judge Kardaş stressed the fact that the Special Forces Command lacks a legal infrastructure and a legal base. Neither its organizational structure nor its budget are known. Kardaş furthermore emphasized that the unit is working exempt from any kind of auditing and that it is not accountable.

"This sort of structure slips out of the legal framework and becomes a gang. Let us remember that also JİTEM (clandestine Gendarmerie Intelligence Anti-Terrorism Unit) lacks a legal base. However, JİTEM exists of course. It has personnel, officers and civil extensions. This is a similar structure", Kardaş added.

"Turkey should not be exposed to such a burden"

"Which psychological operations have been imposed to the public, which actions have been organized to deflect stability; and to what extend is the structure associated with Ergenekon? These are the questions we are facing. The investigation can yield answers to these questions".

"All other countries disestablished the Gladio structures. Turkey did not. Turkey should not be exposed to such a burden any more. This unit, which lacks a legal base and auditing, should be abrogated", Kardaş urged.

From 1952 till present

Kardaş summarized the history of the unit as follows:

„The Mobilization Inspection Board was established in 1952 as a unit connected to NATO. It is a unit that was established by all NATO member states to counteract the danger of communism at the time". Up to 16 military officers had obtained education from the USA in those years.

"The USA had the French book 'Suppression of Insurrection' translated into English. The text showed how to prompt the civilian components and later on reached us as a field manual for the cold war".

"This unit accommodated civilian components as well. It was operating in many parts of Turkey. Later on, it had the function to create a base for coups".

"The unit was renamed Special Warfare Office in 1967. In the 1990s it became the Special Forces Command. It changed its name and function, but it continues just the same way".

"In the past, this unit was organized to counter a possible Soviet invasion. So, which civilian components, which threats is it countering right now? Highly probably, the answer to this question will be "Sharia" and "separatism". (TK/VK)