THE coup attempt by a section of Turkish generals to unseat the elected government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has come as a victory of the people who took to the streets to foil the move but the aftermath of the failed coup also appears terrible.
In the quick purge in civil and military establishments President Erdogan has vowed to revive death sentence abolished in 2004 and so far suspended or detained close to 20,000 soldiers, police officers, judges and civil servants to prompt Turkey’s Western allies which is also a NATO member state to call for respect of human rights and refrain from further stifling of the dissents.
We also make similar appeal to the Turkish government when the attempted coup has brought the biggest threat to the Turkish society. Its success could destroy the nation’s democratic process but the vindictive attitude of Erdogan may equally prove disruptive to the stability of the state.
But it is the elected legitimacy of the government and the democratic practice of the government, however inadequate it was, that saved the government of Erdogan. By destroying democracy or the rule of law and resorting to revenge the government may not find it easy to restore calm and peace in the country.
President Erdogan has blamed the reclusive religious leader Fethullah Gulen, now living in the USA for having the hands behind the coup. He is very influential and operate powerful network in Turkish civil administration and military. Initially Gulen was a political ally of Erdogan but in recent years he turned hostile and reportedly asked followers to unseat the government.
It is the fourth military coup in modern Turkey and the only one that failed since 1960. Turkish generals ruled the country for many years as the guardian of the secular state. But the popularity of Erdogan whose AK Party is ruling Turkey since 2004 on an Islamist platform has denied the generals the opportunity this time throwing the nation to a total chaos. What is most noticeable is that all Turkish opposition parties in Parliament supported the government this time to foil the coup showing the commitment of the nation to democracy but there is also every fear that Erdogan may become more authoritarian in the new situation.
Turkey has been facing a violent time in recent years. Kurdish separatists and IS militants are frequently bombing the country’s sensitive installations like city centers, airports and military outposts. Its southern border with Syria is equally volatile fighting attacks from Kurdish autonomous zone and from IS and Syrian forces. The five-year Syrian civil war has drawn heavily on the Turkish establishments and the coup has come at no bad time when the unity of the nation was all the more important to thwart destabilization from home and abroad.
Media reports suggest more than 7500 soldiers have been detained, 8,000 police officers and 3000 judges and prosecutors were so far purged. A court remanded 26 generals and admirals in custody.
The government itself is making all, nationally and internationally believe that the coup has involved all sections of people including judges and teachers. It shows terrible weakness somewhere in the government for so many people from all walks of life came forward in support of the coup. This weakness is undeniable.
Turkey as a brotherly Muslim nation, we in Bangladesh wish well but at the same time we advise caution. We see it as a victory of democracy and weakening of democracy in Turkey will mean weakening of the democratic strength of Erdogan government.
