Turkey’s main opposition leader slams intel agency for ‘not giving sufficient info’ on coup bid

ANKARA

Main opposition CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu speaks in the parliament - AA photo

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has slammed Turkey’s National Intelligence Agency (MİT) for “not giving sufficient information” regarding the July 15, 2016, failed coup attempt.

“I also said this in the parliament’s General Assembly on July 16, 2016; the coup attempt’s all aspects should be put on the table and the truth should be revealed,” Kılıçdaroğlu said in the special session in the parliament’s general assembly with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on July 15, as he added that it’s unacceptable for MİT chief Hakan Fidan and Chief of the General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar to not testify at the parliamentary commission formed to investigate the thwarted coup. 

“The determination shown under this roof didn’t reflect on the coup commission’s works unfortunately. MİT chief and army chief, who have a grasp on all details of the coup attempt, couldn’t be made to give information to the representatives of national will. It’s unacceptable for these two valuable bureaucrats to hand a written response to the national will’s questions rather than coming to the commission. For what reason was this prevented?” he also said. 

In his speech, Kılıçdaroğlu asked MİT about why they “didn’t track” Adil Öksüz, a key figure of the thwarted coup, widely believed to have been orchestrated by the followers of the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen.  

After being detained near the Akıncı Air Base on July 16, Öksüz, known as the Gülen movement’s “imam of the Air Force,” was released by Judge Çetin Sönmez on July 18, after which he went on the run. 

Kılıçdaroğlu said that it was known that Öksüz was an “imam” since 2012, “but wasn’t tracked.”

“The majority of the coup meetings were held outside the TSK [Turkish Armed Forces], meaning in private houses. Adil Öksüz was released with two phones and a GPS device. Why didn’t the MİT track him?” he also said. 

Saying that the information given by MİT wasn’t sufficient, Kılıçdaroğlu noted that the issues regarding what a major, identified only by the initials as O.K., told MİT on July 15, 2016, should be laid emphasis upon.

Major O.K. came to prominence after it emerged that he met with MİT officials hours before the July 2016 coup attempt.

“The details of these issues must be revealed to prevent Turkey from facing another coup attempt,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, while also criticizing the parliamentary commission for “warding off an investigation.” 

“Settling scores was taken out of law and justice was destroyed. The coup investigation commission has launched efforts to ward off an investigation. The efforts to reveal the political leg of the coup are being blocked on purpose. Scores won’t be settled if those who placed the coup plotters to the most sensitive spots of the state are not called to account,” he added.