This cannot be solved just by changing clauses
Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ has announced that the famous “protect and look after” clauses in the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) Internal Service Act will be changed. You will surely remember that before and after each coup, the military would say, “We have a duty to protect and look after the country [in terms of neutralizing] internal and external enemies; the clauses are in the Internal Service Act.” It’s as if they’re saying, “Look, what can we do? We had to intervene because there was an obligation.”
Now, the discourse in these clauses and in the military oath will be changed.
Well, good indeed. It has a symbolic significance. But only that. Whoever has this in mind will not give up just because “Wow, now that the Internal Service Act has changed, we will not be able to stage a coup.”
I have been writing on the subject for years: What is really important is to review the textbooks on “Revolution and Kemalism” that are in the curriculum in military high schools.
Not that these books should be removed, but those stances that emphasize to the young brains that, “when needed, the military should seize the governing authority and, moreover, their duty calls for this” should be eliminated.
Such an image of Turkey is portrayed to our young officer candidates; such a freakish tale is being told that from their early stages of education, these young people regard intervention as a right and as a duty for themselves.
There is a tremendous gap between the textbooks in civilian schools and those that are studied in military schools. When the case is this, then the civilian segment and the military segment look at completely different things. They are educated with very different views.
I am sure the Office of the Chief of General Staff is reviewing this matter. They may be acting shyly and may be afraid of being misunderstood and refraining from taking a step because it could be regarded as the “dispersing of the Kemalist army” if they review the textbooks nowadays. However, no matter what, we have to make this change sooner or later.
If this unavoidable step is not taken by the military itself, then one day, it will be taken by the civilian authority and then things will get tougher.
Let’s not forget that the coup mentality cannot be eliminated by changing laws; it can only be prevented by changing minds.
Who will answer Soner Yalçın?
Here is a letter from journalist Soner Yalçın from Silivri, the prison near Istanbul. In this letter, there are several logical questions being asked. In the hearing tomorrow (Dec. 27), will the judicial authority adopt a different stance in the light of this data?
“Dear Sir, Mehmet Ali,
I have been held at Silivri for two years…
The prosecutor says the Word files in the computers constitute the essence of the case.
Boğaziçi University says there is a virus on the computers.
Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) says there is a virus on the computers.
Yıldız Technical University says there is a virus on the computers.
An American data company says there is a virus on the computers.
The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) says there is a virus on the computers.
The expert brought to the court said, ‘If there is a virus on a computer, then that computer with a virus cannot be trusted. The virus can change the metadata of the computer, user name and dates, etc. Even a child of 12 years can do this.’
Then…
Why does the court still consider these computers that have been determined to hold viruses for two years as evidence?
Can you answer this staying within the laws?
Can you understand the imprisonment of a known writer of Turkey who does not possess weapons, bombs or has not been involved in any violence?
What is this persistence?
Is there an ‘invisible hand’ directing justice?
Soner Yalçın
Silivri No.1 Prison.”
