Europe Features
Turkey seeks a way out of crisis in the generals' shadow
By Ingo Bierschwale Apr 30, 2007, 13:40 GMT
Istanbul - Until recently, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Islamic-conservative government were proud to have transformed Turkey into a success.
With democratic reforming zeal, political stability and a booming economy the country had not seen for a while, 'new Turkey' took the world's breath away and prepared for a leap into the European Union.
'We thought everything was going fine, but instead we are sliding into the abyss again,' one local analyst said on Monday.
For several days, the country has been taking the world's breath away again - but this world is seeing a Turkey suddenly bringing everything to the surface that had been brewing beneath.
The military and the government are at loggerheads, the stock market is collapsing, hundreds of thousands are protesting in Istanbul - republicans, women, nationalists and communists side by side.
It's not the parliamentary opposition, whose leaders demand immediate new parliamentary elections, who get the masses onto the street, it's the women's organizations - and general fears about the future.
'I'm scared, I'm here for my grandchildren,' one of the women says amid a sea of red flags with star and crescent. 'Women power,' the liberal newspaper Radikal proclaimed Monday.
'The army should protect our borders and, like us, do their share in upholding secularism,' shouts Professor Turkan Saylan as he leads a rally. 'What is sure is that a coup is no solution.'
Hundreds of thousands - the organisers speak of three to four million - express it in their slogans: 'No Sharia, no coup' or 'Turkey has woken up, the imam has fainted.'
A voice from the platform shouts: 'We want a president and a First Lady who have internalized secularism.'
Political observers say that is exactly what Erdogan underestimated when he nominated Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul as a candidate for the presidential office.
The explosiveness of a political symbol like the headscarf has divided Turkey into a religious and a secular camp.
Turks have not forgotten that Mrs Gul brought legal proceedings at the European Court of Human Rights several years ago because she had been barred from attending university for wearing a headscarf.
Left and right-wing parties, who are so fragmented that they haven't been able to act as a working opposition since the election victory of the Islamist-conservative AKP in November 2002, 'should finally unite,' others demand at the mass protests in Istanbul.
Political observers, meanwhile, doubt that the voices that could be heard in Istanbul on Sunday would make a difference to the polling results if the new elections were to be moved forward.
Most think that a renewed election victory of the AKP is likely, considering the weakness of the opposition.
Even the military did not manage to help their favoured political parties win the elections after the political coups of 1960, 1971 and 1980.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
page: 1
Actually, Musharraf has brought his country out of economic ruin. He preaches secularism and tolerance everywhere he goes
The secular Turks, like Israel should be supported by the US and the West. They're our best hope for spreading democracy in the region
A military coup could be devastating to Turkey's economy. Investors could run away leading to economic problems and further fueling immigration to a more stable Europe.
Turkey is a nation that I greatly admire. It has benefited much from its charismatic early leader Ataturk. Ataturk brought Turkey out of the dark ages into a bright, new secular world. It will be tragic if religious zealots and their fanatical followers now gain political control of Turkey's future.
In Turkey, some 80 years ago, Ataturk reined in fundamentalists and their hostilities on his own, without asking any foreign army’s help. Contrast this with the appalling “powerlessness” displayed by Islamic countries today who depend on the armed forces of other brave countries to fight their own extremists!
Democracy (much like alcohol) is only for those who know how NOT to abuse it: otherwise, it can become intoxicating and destructive. Ataturk, who empowered the military to safeguard (but not govern) his fragile secular democracy was more than a great statesman : he was also a visionary.
>> the stock market is collapsing
I really wonder how the author came to that conclusion? A collapse is a big statement compared to a %4 drop(?)
Actually, it is the 'secularists' who have the history of murdering and assassinating all opposition in the Middle East. Saddam Hussein was a secularist - no qualms whatsoever about dealing with his opponents, and the secularists in Turkey are the same - no morals whatsoever and massively corrupt. They set up death squads, staff all the boards of Turkish banks with ex-generals and embezzle and squander at will. No fear of God, it seems. Look up 'Susurluk' on the internet if you want more. Or look at the last four coups in Turkey. The population of Turkey has always subsequently returned to power exactly the people the army has ousted. Do you support democracy or militarism? Because in Turkey at least it is the Muslims who want democracy, not the generals. So what if Gul's wife wears a headscarf. At least it's not a crown.
If it is acceptable to have a socially and religiously conservating President in USA - the stanchion of western democracy - isn't it equally acceptable to have a socically and religiously conservatinve president in Turkey - the stanchion of democracy in the Islamic World?
Niels wrote:
'Actually, Musharraf has brought his country out of economic ruin. He preaches secularism and tolerance everywhere he goes'
With the exception of averting economic ruin--which he has essentially guaranteed--Bush spouts similar rhetoric. Well, except for the secularism: he is a religious nutcase.
Oh, and the tolerance bit: everything is fine as long as you 'watch what you say' and manage not to find youtself an 'enemy of America.'
page: 1
miltaryApr 30th, 2007 - 14:29:59
A dumb military ruler is the last thing Turkey needs. We see how that is working out in Pakistan.
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