In the days after the July 15th invasion attempt was defeated, some politicians, based on the nation’s great reaction, stated unequivocally that “no one will ever attempt a coup again and that the era of coups is over”.
We had heard such statements a lot, especially during Özal period.
However, before the suspicions of Özal’s death were resolved, the “February 28th Postmodern Coup d’état” descended on the country like a nightmare and we could not get over the painful effects for a long time.
Then, during the AK Party periods, which came with the great favor of the nation, they placed the cadres who would take this country to occupation in the most important positions.
In the end, the nation realized that the invading force it called the “parallel state” had almost become the state itself!…
For the first time in the history of the republic, a terrible coup/occupation attempt was thwarted in the face of the upright and courageous attitude of our President and Mr. Devlet Bahçeli and the unshakable attitude of the nation.
It was because of this attitude of the people that there was a lot of talk as if the era of coups had come to an end.
I said at the time that this discourse was extremely wrong and dangerous, because if you say it will never happen, you don’t pay attention and you sleep. You will only wake up when there is a coup. And then it will be too late…
Last week’s revelations about what happened at the Tuzla Infantry School reminded us once again of the coup era. What was going on in military high schools? What kind of training did they receive? What was the influence of the leaders who provoked people day and night on these events?
It is extremely important for democracy that military schools stay out of daily politics. They should have received special training to protect and safeguard the country under the political will.
The other day, just as I was about to examine this issue, an article fell into my WhatsApp group.
The author was an officer who was my commander during my military service in Kütahya Air Private Training Brigade Command. He wrote this article on his blogspot page and shared it in our group.
In his article, my retired commander evaluated the incident and made important points. In particular, he drew attention to the curriculum and the teachers, as I was planning to write about.
With his permission, I found it appropriate to share his article in my column.
The issue of “junta lieutenants”…
In November, something happened between lieutenants at the Tuzla Infantry School. There were some reactions to this incident, which was also reflected in the press; an investigation was also opened by the Ministry of National Defense, but as is customary, it was tried to be closed as soon as possible, without paying much attention to it.
You may think, “What the hell, they are just lieutenants, what are their ranks?” You may also say, “Oh my God, what is going on, the junta has risen, let’s behead them immediately”…
I believe that an administrative and legal investigation should be initiated retrospectively on this incident.
During the September 12, 1980 coup d’état, as a cadet who had completed three years at the Air Force Academy, I have not forgotten what I experienced during those years. Since I still remember the February 28th Postmodern Coup d’Etat process with all its warmth, and as a person who knows very well what the structure of the Turkish Armed Forces is, even though all of our circuits are now retired, I state that this incident should be taken seriously.
After we, as a nation, showed the most glorious resistance to the FETO uprising in the history of the republic and destroyed all the coup plotters together with their connections abroad with an Ottoman slap, even though we have been shouting that “coups and coup mentality are over”, it is now necessary to stop and say “what is going on?”. This is on the occasion of the lieutenants…
Are the coups over or not? If not, why not?
After the FETO uprising, all military schools were evacuated. Very serious cleansing was carried out. The state carried out major operations with a paranoid overreaction. It was justified. It was a matter of life and death. There was a situation of “either victory or death”. It was a case of “all or nothing”. FETÖ, the US apparatus, was tried to be eliminated from the body like the most dangerous cancer disease. Despite this, cryptos continue to exist…
While new students were being recruited to the military schools, the most meticulous and careful interviews in the history of the republic were held. Although I did not personally attend the interviews, as the person who coordinated the commissions, I witnessed how serious and sensitive all the members of the commissions worked. Not only people with FETÖ ties, but even people who had looked at them from afar were not included. Not even those whose most distant relatives were linked to FETÖ. Pure Anatolian children who love their homeland and nation were preferred. Sensitivity was exercised so that the children would not even have the dust of coup plotting in their minds.
Then how did the incident of the lieutenants in Tuzla, who showed signs of juntaism, emerge among these children? Do you think this issue is as simple as “a lieutenant not wearing a photo of Atatürk on his lapel at the November 10 ceremony”?
Deep wounds cannot be closed with dressing measures!
No, I don’t think it’s that simple. Not wearing a photo on the lapel doesn’t lead two lieutenants wearing the same uniform to fight each other in such a hostile manner! There is obviously internal polarization! Someone has tried to create a dichotomy, and sadly it has succeeded!
Based on my personal observations during the interviews in Ankara and the whispers I heard at the time, my opinion is that the most important issue we need to monitor is the military schools and their curricula.
In the interviews, meritorious, clean children were selected and sent to the National Defense University. So, what happened at the War Schools?
I appeal to Mr. President: “Could you please order an investigation into the lecturers who taught at the War Schools in the academic years after the FETO Attempt, without making any distinction between retired and active duty lecturers?”
The retired and active soldiers and officials from the Ministries who took part in the interview commissions formed after the uprising fulfilled their duties in the best way possible. Brilliant students were selected and sent to schools. So, what were these children taught, especially in military courses at the Turkish Military Academy, once they started studying at the schools?
Yes, Prof. Erhan Afyoncu, the Rector of the National Defense University, and the Deans of the Turkish Military Academy, Air Force Academy, Naval Military College were also well-chosen. They tried to fulfill their duties. I have absolutely no intention of casting suspicion on them and I cannot. However, these people were civilians and foreigners to the institution. They did not have a magic wand in their hands. The old lecturers continued to teach the classes… The lecturers working in the schools had not or could not be sufficiently purged. Active and retired officers with a putschist mentality continued to teach military subjects. The incident of the lieutenants is the result of this situation.
Another important issue is the curriculum! Was there enough regulation in the curriculum? For example, is there a democracy lesson? Is there a lesson on the history of coups? Are all coups that have taken place cursed and explained? Is there a Human Rights lesson? Even if it is not necessary in other universities, these and similar courses must be included in the National Defense University.
In conclusion, with the idea that every evil has a silver lining, the incident of the lieutenants should be taken as a signal; which lessons are taught at the military schools and who teaches the courses especially in military fields? This issue should be examined urgently.
Deep wounds cannot be closed with dressing measures!
Yes, we say “coups and coup periods are over”. But coups will not end until they are completely cleaned from the minds!
If someone is still injecting poison into the minds of naive children, it is a great blunder not to take measures.
While our army, which is our national pride and a source of pride, is achieving outstanding successes abroad, especially in terrorist regions, it cannot be tolerated or compromised that three or five putschist remnants at home try to undermine these beauties.
Gürcan Onat, 19.12.2023
REFLECTION
The creation of the people is natural, the love of homeland is compulsory
An owl does not change a ruin for a thousand rose gardens
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Şimşirgil
22th December 2023
Türkiye Gazetesi