Turkey’s military faces overhaul
Government taking action to move armed forces under further civilian control
ANKARA, TURKEY— Turkey is expected to shake up its armed forces on Thursday and dismiss more military officers as it deepens its purge of individuals who the government claims supported a failed coup this month.
The Turkish Supreme Military Council, gathering top commanders of NATO’s second-largest army, met a day after Turkey discharged close to 1,700 officers — including 149 generals and admirals — suspected of involvement in the July 15 coup attempt.
A senior Turkish official described the purges as “dishonourable discharge.”
The council, which decides on promotions and retirements and was being chaired by Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, was expected to announce more dismissals on Thursday, while two senior generals offered their resignations as the key meeting was taking place.
Turkey declared a state of emergency following the violent coup attempt that led to 290 deaths, and embarked on a large-scale clampdown on people suspected of ties to U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom the government accuses of masterminding the coup. Nearly 16,000 people were detained over suspected links to the failed uprising, and about half were formally arrested to face trial.
Tens of thousands of state employees have also been dismissed for alleged ties to Gulen, while schools, dormitories and hospitals associated with his movement have been closed down.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced Thursday that 88 employees of his ministry were dismissed, including two ambassadors.
Authorities issued warrants for the detention of 89 journalists as the clampdown extended to the media. Dozens of media organizations, most of them also linked to Gulen, were ordered shuttered late Wednesday.
The media organizations include 16 television stations, 23 radio stations, 15 magazines, 29 publishing houses and 45 newspapers, including a Gulen-linked children’s television station and opposition daily Taraf.
Gulen, who lives in the United States and runs a global network of schools and foundations, has repeatedly denied any knowledge of the coup attempt.
Turkey has branded Gulen’s movement a terrorist organization and wants the cleric extradited. The U.S. has told Turkey to present evidence against Gulen and let the U.S. extradition process take its course.
The detention of journalists and the purges of officials have raised concerns in Europe and, on Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was “right and important” after a coup attempt to pursue the plotters “with all the means and possibilities of the state of law.”
“But in a state of law, and that is what causes me concern and I am
“My concern arises from the fact (authorities) are moving very hard, and this principle of proportionality is perhaps not always at the centre.” ANGELA MERKEL GERMAN CHANCELLOR
following very attentively, the principle of proportionality applies,” she told reporters in Berlin.
“This principle of proportionality must be respected under all circumstances. And my concern arises from the fact (authorities) are moving very hard, and this principle of proportionality is perhaps not always at the centre.”
Yildirim, accompanied by the top brass, visited the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, modern Turkey’s founder, before the council meeting. He vowed to overcome all terror threats.
“There is no doubt that we will eradicate all terrorist organizations threatening our state, our nation and our territorial integrity,” Yildirim said, reading from a message he wrote in the mausoleum’s visitors’ book.
The military council meeting was originally scheduled for the first week of August but was brought forward following the coup attempt.
Its location was moved from the military headquarters to the prime minister’s office in a sign that the government is aiming to place the military under stronger civilian control.
Late Wednesday, the government issued a decree that removed the paramilitary police force and the coast guard from military command and placed them under the control of the Interior Ministry.
Turkish officials have said they believe the coup plot was put into force in haste before the council in August, when many officers suspected of links to Gulen would have been discharged.