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ARMY ON ALERT AMID TENSIONS
The New Anatolian, Turkey
The New Anatolian / Washington
March 20 2007
Turkey has put its army on alert to stave off any attacks by Kurdish
terrorists during Nevruz, a spring festival, amid unprecedented
political problems, reported The Washington Times yesterday.
Andrew Borowiec, in an article in Monday's edition of the right-wing
daily, stated that the crisis includes a widening rift between military
commanders and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, warnings of more
attacks by Kurdish extremists and a rising nationalist fervor that
is worrying Turkey's European partners.
The daily stated that Erdogan's government is facing the possibility
of strained relations with Washington over the prospect of a separate
Kurdish state in northern Iraq and the threat that U.S. Congress
might brand the World War I deaths of Armenians under Turkey's Ottoman
rulers as genocide.
The Times said military leaders have warned that regardless of Turkey's
application for membership in the European Union, the army will remain
the ultimate guardian of the republic.
The daily cited Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) Gen. Ilker Basbug's remarks
stressing Turkey's right to send its troops to Iraq in pursuit of
Kurdish terrorists waging a 32-year war for independence.
Underlining that while Kurds have prepared to celebrate Nevruz, the
daily added that terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants
have threatened terrorist attacks over the holiday, particularly
against the country's thriving tourist resorts.
"A number of Kurdish politicians, including members of the legally
recognized Democratic Society Party (DTP), have been rounded up for
interrogation," wrote Borowiec. "In the predominantly Kurdish area of
Diyarbakir in southwestern Turkey, the authorities refused to grant
permission for festivals."
The daily stated, "The Turkish political scene was marred by
growing tension between the senior military cadres and Mr. Erdogan,
increasingly accused by the army of Islamic tendencies."
The Times cited the 1997 "postmodern coup," in which the army was
instrumental in removing from power Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan,
who was known for his political commitment to militant Islam.
"Although Mr. Erdogan has never indicated any intention of abandoning
Turkey's secular system, the military and secularist circles resent
his appointments of Islamic politicians to government posts as well
as the fact that his wife wears a headscarf in public buildings,
which is banned by law," the daily added.
The New Anatolian, Turkey
The New Anatolian / Washington
March 20 2007
Turkey has put its army on alert to stave off any attacks by Kurdish
terrorists during Nevruz, a spring festival, amid unprecedented
political problems, reported The Washington Times yesterday.
Andrew Borowiec, in an article in Monday's edition of the right-wing
daily, stated that the crisis includes a widening rift between military
commanders and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, warnings of more
attacks by Kurdish extremists and a rising nationalist fervor that
is worrying Turkey's European partners.
The daily stated that Erdogan's government is facing the possibility
of strained relations with Washington over the prospect of a separate
Kurdish state in northern Iraq and the threat that U.S. Congress
might brand the World War I deaths of Armenians under Turkey's Ottoman
rulers as genocide.
The Times said military leaders have warned that regardless of Turkey's
application for membership in the European Union, the army will remain
the ultimate guardian of the republic.
The daily cited Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) Gen. Ilker Basbug's remarks
stressing Turkey's right to send its troops to Iraq in pursuit of
Kurdish terrorists waging a 32-year war for independence.
Underlining that while Kurds have prepared to celebrate Nevruz, the
daily added that terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants
have threatened terrorist attacks over the holiday, particularly
against the country's thriving tourist resorts.
"A number of Kurdish politicians, including members of the legally
recognized Democratic Society Party (DTP), have been rounded up for
interrogation," wrote Borowiec. "In the predominantly Kurdish area of
Diyarbakir in southwestern Turkey, the authorities refused to grant
permission for festivals."
The daily stated, "The Turkish political scene was marred by
growing tension between the senior military cadres and Mr. Erdogan,
increasingly accused by the army of Islamic tendencies."
The Times cited the 1997 "postmodern coup," in which the army was
instrumental in removing from power Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan,
who was known for his political commitment to militant Islam.
"Although Mr. Erdogan has never indicated any intention of abandoning
Turkey's secular system, the military and secularist circles resent
his appointments of Islamic politicians to government posts as well
as the fact that his wife wears a headscarf in public buildings,
which is banned by law," the daily added.