EU voices support for Ergenekon investigation

Cuma, 09 Ocak 2009 15:31

 “I hope the defendants will face an honest process and that procedures will follow the rule of law.”

 Close to 40 individuals were detained on Wednesday in simultaneous police operations staged in six cities as part of the Ergenekon investigation. The detentions, however, drew the ire of main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, who convened a press conference to criticize the operation as an attempt to steer Turkey in a new direction from its historical path.

 When asked about the attitude of CHP leader Baykal, she said she disagrees with him, adding, “If there are organizations in any country working in silence against the state, you at least need to investigate those who want to disturb the functioning of democracy and take them to court.”

 Oomen-Ruijten, a Dutch Christian Democrat member of the European Parliament, in her report last year made strong calls to the government to unearth the Ergenekon network. In her 2009 report, which has not yet been approved, she reiterates her calls.

 Oomen-Ruijten’s report on Turkey, which is expected to be debated again at the Foreign Affairs Committee on Jan. 19, has referred to Ergenekon as follows: “[The European Parliament] welcomes the beginning of the trial against those accused of being members of the Ergenekon criminal organization, encourages the authorities to continue investigations and to fully uncover the organization’s networks which reach into the state structures, is concerned about reports regarding the treatment of defendants in this case and urges the Turkish authorities to provide them with a fair trial and to adhere strictly to the principles of the rule of law.”

 EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee Vice Chairman Maria Eleni Koppa said everyone should have full faith in the Turkish judiciary and leave the Ergenekon investigation to Turkish prosecutors and judges without any outside intervention.

 Commenting on Wednesday’s detentions, Baykal said: “The situation we are faced with shows that we are looking at a political case and not a legal trial. In this case, we don’t see the application of the law but rather a political settling of accounts for which law is being used.”

 Koppa, in response, stated that it would not be correct to intervene politically in the Ergenekon investigation. “Though the CHP is our sister party, we do not share the same ideas with Mr. Baykal on the Ergenekon affair. We want this issue to be enlightened fully. We believe the Ergenekon case is a very serious one for Turkish democracy. The investigation should go until the very end,” she added.

 Joost Lagendijk, co-chairman of the committee, said the deepening and widening of the investigation is in itself good. “It is necessary to get to the bottom of this case, but it should be done in a proper way, within the law and with respect to the rights of the defendants. So, my position has two pillars: The first is to do everything to unearth the Ergenekon network, and the second is to be respectful of the law and the rights of those in custody while doing so. They should know what they stand accused of,” Lagendijk stated.

 Regarding Baykal’s harsh reaction to the latest detentions, he said it is difficult to understand Baykal’s position. “He defends those in custody without having the proper information and even before the 2,500-page indictment was made public. Baykal’s reaction is very unusual,” he noted, emphasizing that Baykal’s comparison of the AK Party with (Argentine dictator Juan) Peron does not sound good. “Baykal should be careful when it comes to the case.”

 Lagendijk added that the European Parliament is supportive of the case as long as the law is respected. “Many people were thinking that there was a class in Turkey which was immune and untouchable; now this belief is falling apart. No one in the European Parliament would be against the investigation,” he said.

 Graham Watson, the leader of the Liberals in the European Parliament, who commented on the Ergenekon operation, called on everyone to be respectful of the court’s decision. “The most important thing is the continuation of the judicial process which we can rely on. It is only through the judicial process, which should be allowed to take place, that people can judge who is guilty and who is innocent. The judicial process should be fully respected,” Watson said.

 European Parliament Socialist Group Vice Chairman Hannes Swoboda said he is very happy about Turkey’s move to rid itself of the network. “I am very happy that this chance has been taken. As far as I can see from here, it is being done objectively and respects the rule of law. One should not miss the chance to rid the body of disease before it affects the entire body. This is therefore a very good message.”

 He also called on CHP leader Baykal, who claims that the Ergenekon case is politically motivated, to be consistent. Baykal had spoken about the virtues of not intervening in the judiciary several months ago. “It is not sensible to talk about government intervention now. I hope this case is not misused and, again, as far as I can see, it is not being misused by either the police or the judiciary. In any case, one should let the judiciary do its work and refrain from intervening in the judicial process. It is not up to Baykal or any other politician to claim that these moves are politically motivated. Let the judiciary do its job.” Unlike the European Parliament, the European Commission is keeping a low profile vis-à-vis the Ergenekon case. Asked about the new wave of arrests, commission officials reiterated their previous position on the case; namely, “The commission is following this case very closely. We expect the case to be pursued in accordance with international best practice in police investigations and judicial procedures.”