Top Army Commanders Involved in "Internet Memorandum" Trial

The investigation into the "Internet Memorandum" was initially launched upon an e-mail sent to the prosecutors of the Ergenekon trial. It was alleged in the e-mail that the General Staff Presidency had established 42 internet sites with the aim to spread black propaganda against the government and religious congregations. It was also written that the Information Support Department that is affiliated with the General Staff constantly observed 430 domestic and foreign internet sites. Additionally, the so-called "Internet Memorandum" was included in the e-mail.

After having completed the investigation, Special Authority Public Prosecutor Cihan Kansız sent the indictment to the 13^th High Criminal Court. The indictment also requested a merger of the investigation with the trial on the "Action Plan against Reactionary Forces". Colonel Dursun Çiçek is detained defendant of the latter case under allegations of having signed the "Action Plan against Reactionary Forces".

"If I am guilty my superiors are too"

Subsequent to the completion of the investigation, Prosecutor Kansız requested arrest warrants about 22 suspects, among them retired General Hasan Iğsız and Aegean Army Commander General Nurset Taşdeler who attended the annual High Military Council (YAŞ) on Monday (1 August).

Colonel Çiçek is alleged to have had the anti-government websites prepared. As reported by the nationwide Radikal newspaper, Çiçek sent a three-page petition to the prosecutor's office in order to correct certain parts of his statement he gave in the scope of the investigation in June. Thereupon, the prosecution summoned Çiçek again to give his revised statement.

Çiçek stated that the duty to audit the websites was his as much as it was his superiors'. He mentioned commanders Lieutenant General Mehmet Eröz, Lieutenant General İsmail Hakkı Pekin and Major General Hıfzı Çubuklu.

While General Eröz claimed in his statement that 'there were problems with the contents of the sites that he did not know about', Çiçek stated that his superiors did have knowledge about the contents.

It was furthermore reported that Çiçek also criticized the statement of Lieutenant Gen. Pekin. Pekin apparently said that they closed the websites on subject because they had not been in line with the current legislation. Çiçek stated on the other hand, "The commander who gave the order to shut the websites down could have suspended them from publication before".

The Judicial Council of the General Staff read Major General Çubuklu's statement to Çiçek. Çubuklu had mentioned that the sites 'might have been closed because some people maybe withdrew from certain issues'. Çiçek said, "Çubuklu is a more competent authority. He knows better than me what was withdrawn from. This has to be explained". It was reported that Çiçek eventually said to his defence, "If am guilty in this matter my superiors are just as guilty". (AS/VK)