WHILE last weekend’s abortive coup in Turkey highlighted the fragile nature of democracy in that country, the aftermath will have long-term consequences if the government chooses to act in anger and ignores the demands of justice.
So far, thousands of soldiers, including 112 generals and admirals, have been suspended or arrested in what obviously is a purge of the armed forces. In addition, an astonishing number of police personnel, estimated at nearly 9,000, and a large number of judges, have been sacked, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledging to obliterate the ‘virus’ responsible for the attempted putsch.
The brains behind the failed coup had focused on the personality of Mr Erdogan and appeared determined to oust him even if it meant eliminating him physically. But that should not colour his view of the situation.
The eyes of the world are on Turkey, a country bordering Syria, hosting 2.7 million refugees, facing a renewed Kurdish insurgency and having problems with the European Union on the refugee trek.
Such a situation demands a commitment to democracy and due process rather than moves to revive the death penalty — something EU leaders have denounced in strong terms.
The military clique responsible for the night attack on democracy must, no doubt, face the law, but the government shouldn’t give the impression that it is using the traumatic events of July 14-15 as a cover to crush all dissent. Instead, the suspects should be tried in a manner where the judicial process conforms to international standards.
America and EU leaders have cautioned Ankara against “retribution”, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel has criticised the “revolting scenes of caprice and revenge” against soldiers in the streets.
Flawed trials guided by a revanchist spirit will hurt rather than strengthen Turkish democracy, and the president should draw heart from the spontaneous support he received from the people irrespective of party loyalties in crushing the mutiny. As Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said, the government would refer the issue to parliament and not act in haste.
Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2016
