Did you notice that those stories about the so-called coup document suddenly stop?
But what happened?
Taraf, the newspaper that published the infamous photocopy, sounded so confident in the initial story that the document was authentic, implying that their correspondent had seen the original.
A couple of weeks past and the bombshell story is forgotten. Nobody is behind the bars because of this photocopy.
So I ask again: What happened? Why can't Taraf show the original of this piece of paper? Why did they sound increasingly unconfident in the following stories? And why are they silent now?
The answer is clear:
The fake document has already made its service.
It was used as a part of psychological war against the Turkish Army and it succeeded.
Nobody is interested in this paper anymore.
And naturally, Taraf didn't care about answering the obvious questions about their unethical sensationalism.
Because they have done what was ordered...
* * *
The Taraf story is a great example about Turkey today.
It shows that if you are a government paper, serving the interests of the leading political party, you're free to do anything. In developed democracies, you could even be legally punished for such forgery; but in Turkey, no.
Provocations, fake documents, etc. You're totally free here.
However, if you're not a government puppet and if you reveal the dirty secrets of the leading policial party, get ready for unjustified tax fines and all the other means of political repression.
That's what happened with Hurriyet, recently. Even its political cartoons are getting financially punished by the government.
* * *
I guess it is quite clear now that Taraf is just a mouthpiece of a emergent reactionary force in Turkey.
This force, which is mainly consisted of a clandestine Islamist sect, has already infiltrated the police organization and seized some bridgeheads in the judiciary, as well as a significant portion of the civil society.
The most dangerous one is the occupation of the police force.
Let's remember:
1) Lately, an arrested lieutenant colonel has accused the police to hide illegal weapons for a great conspiracy against the army.
2) In Sariyer, military ammunition has been found in a police academy. Two police chiefs were arrested three days ago.
3) Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that "our police organization is the guarantee of the regime."
So where is Turkey heading now?
I am optimistic. I believe that the Islamist transformation of the establishment is about to come to an end after more than 10 years.
That is just a gut-feeling, but this could be their strongest time.
I think that the future of Turkey will be much better (later I'll try to explain why I think so) as they weaken.
Without the AKP, without the rising influence of the Islamist sects, without the struggles between the army and the police...
We'll have a real democracy, full government transparency and honest journalism.
12 yorum:
Emre,
I'm not going to rehash old arguments but obviously I feel the need to redress some of your mistruths.
1. You made the claim in one of your previous blogs that the Taraf correspondent claimed to have seen the original document. In spite of many pleas for you to provide a source for this you didn't. Now it appears that you are changing your story to state that they are "implying that their correspondent had seen the original". So you lied?
2. Taraf is not a pro-government paper and interestingly enough we can use your (rather ridiculous) way of proving what is a government paper and what is not. Previously you stated that Taraf was a government because its front page was like a government mouthpiece on a particular day. So let's put this to the test for today's (10th July) Taraf front page.
Lo and behold the main headline is about an AKP mayor being part of an illegal gang. The other smaller headlines include one about Heybeliada.
Another large headline is about the TNT found at Koc Museum and questioning whether a particular admiral is the number one in the Ergenekon gang.
The head columnist is supporting the changes in the military crimes laws (surely you support the AKP in this change?).
So by your metric it appears that Taraf is not pro-AKP or pro-military, quelle dommage! Maybe they are like Çarşı, herşeye karşı) Of course your metric is tripe but that's a different matter.
3. You create straw men. You claim that in a developed country Taraf would be punished for forgery. Had Taraf engaged in forgery then you would probably be correct, however, Taraf reported a photocopied document that was collected by police and prosecutors investigating a crime. They did their job. Newspapers report news, they shouldn't be trying to position themselves for government tenders or permission to build properties etc.
4. You state that nobody is interested in this paper anymore. You as well as I know that it sets the agenda in this country regarding news and it regularly sells more than your stable's 'liberal' paper, Radikal. Furthermore, lets assume (velevki in the words of your favorite politician) nobody is interested anymore. Then why do you constantly write about it? Clearly you are interested in it. :)
5. All your empty statements, rhetoric and straw men supported by not one whit of evidence lead you to the conclusion that, 'it is quite clear now that Taraf is just a mouthpiece of a (sic.) emergent reactionary force in Turkey'. Excuse me? How can you reach such a bold conclusion with absolutely no proof whatsoever? You are obviously saying that it is supported by the Gulen movement but the only proof you have offered up so far is that it has sources in the police (so does your paper) and that it receives adverts from Gulen supported companies. I say proof in its broadest sense because your accusations about advertisements were not supported by any evidence whatsoever.
6. Taraf supported your newspaper against the government with regard to the "injustified (sic.) tax fines".
One thing we share is the belief that Turkey's future is bright but where we differ is with regard to the reasons. One of the reasons why Turkey's future is bright is because we finally have newspapers like Taraf that have the balls to print the news that your paper and others do not have the balls to.
Of course Taraf does not have the conflicts of interest that burden your newspaper and others so is free to do that.
Emre, you state:
"Without the AKP... We'll have a real democracy"
You can't have a democracy by wishing to be without something. Democracy is inclusiveness. You sound like a non-believer who believes in not believing...
Great discussion spawned by this post. I am happy to see people are positive about the future of Turkey. I am studying Turkish and wish to come and stay for a few years so I enjoy reading discussions such as this and becoming more familiar with the political backdrop of the country.
Turkey represents a most authentic and varied country of the Orient which is a source of European civilization, but the way it is being shaped with the contemporary politics, and the mainstream media that has become a tool of Soft Power psychological warfare the country transforms into a depressive, materialist, arrogant and empty place that is only "Turkish" by name and language. I'm not optimistic but I'm curious what makes Emre think otherwise.
I have written longer answers for all, but it's gone after my battery was out of charge. So I'll give shorter answers:
DM, your stance is very clear. You sound like the spokesperson of Taraf and still didn't accept their horrible example of yellow journalism. Would you behave the same way if Hurriyet publishes a photocopy (which is legally a piece of garbage) which seriously undermines the credibility of the government or let's say, your family?
TT, what you say is so true that it is so meaningless. It's politically correct but it falls short off being realistic. Wasn't Batasuna a part of Spanish democracy? What about Le Pen? Why do all French parties try to kick him out of the system?
It happens when such "dangerous" parties become stronger. AKP could be a color of the Turkish democracy as long as it's not potent enough to destroy it. Now it is. You can't have democracy with people who would like to destroy it (remember the not-so-old speeches of several AKP MPs, including Erdogan).
Dylan, it's nice to hear that these discussions -which sometimes even I find pointless- are useful for some people. Welcome to Turkey.
Deniz, it's just an instinct and I am not Spiderman, so don't rely on me:)
Emre,
The French 'practice' democracy?
You make a fair point. But remember, democracy is really not what it's made up to be.
In a democracy, the majority rules. 51% rules over the 49%.
In a republic, the civil and individual rights are cherished. The 99% still have to respect and protect the rights of even 1%.
Thanks for listening.
I'm not sure about the validity of your comparative definitions of democracy and republic, TT.
Thanks for sharing your opinion.
Sir:
Democracy European style anno 2009 guarantees even the slightest minorities their rights and will be heard. In contrary to the USA where the winner takes it all and where ‘individuals’ have difficulties to find justice when they don’t have money.
Show me one European country which has the ‘winner takes it all’ rule and I will treat all the readers of this blog on ice-cream at Ciragan. Even the UK, close to the USA system, has a controlling shadow cabinet. And even in France, opposition party members are appointed to senior positions in the cabinet’s of going from de Gaulle. Sarkozy kept the ratio at one third women in his team. There are 11 women in the 33-member administration, including 7 of 16 Cabinet ministers. Four of the junior ministers are women. Three women occupy five of the most senior positions. They are Ms Lagarde, Michèle Alliot-Marie, the Interior Minister, and Rachida Dati, the Justice Minister.
Do we see any of this in Turkey? Pas du tout!
kindest
Hans
Emre,
I am not smart enough to have come up with that explanation clarifying democracy vs republic. You should do some reading and check the validity on your own...
Maybe others will add their two cents; of course, only if they can put two sentences together...
:)
TT:
Your idea of a Republic is as out dated as the People's Republic of North Korea.)
But you and Emre have one thing in common: escapisme = the art in avoiding answering questions.
Del buen día, señor!
Emre,
yet again you avoid answering the questions put to you. I have to come to the conclusion that you lied about the Taraf correspondent claiming to have seen the original.
Further, you continue with the straw man about Taraf forging documents.
You continually make statements that you claim are 'fact' without any evidence to back them up.
And instead of answering the questions you engage in ad hominem.
Will you never learn?
Democracy vs Republic:
Here is one and here is another...
"In a Republic the sovereignty is in each individual person. In a Democracy the sovereignty is in the group."
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