Fifth Organized Crime Network in 7 Months

Debates over organized crime networks in Turkey that include army, police and mafia members continue.

The organizations accused of several crimes, from blackmail to murders by unknown perpetrators, are preparing to drag the country into chaos, bringing the issue to a new dimension. Police authorities say there are several cell-type crime organizations in addition to the five organizations already demolished.The country is face to face with a new version of the "state-within-state" structure which preoccupied the agenda for awhile after the Susurluk accident.

The bombing that took place in the Semdinli district of Hakkari on 9 November 2005 is considered to be the starting point for the activities uncovered recently. Two non-commissioned officers responsible for the attack against Seferi Yilmaz, a PKK (Kurdish Workers' Party) activist, are being tried for the crimes of terror and organized crime. The illegal network allegedly held bomb attacks on behalf of the PKK to re-gain power. An operation conducted in the city of Bursa resulted in the unseating of Gendarmerie Commander Colonel Aydin Yesil and the closing of an organization pumping money to the PKK, 29 people were arrested.

The "Sauna Gang" was unveiled in February 2006. Its members collected information about ministers and prepared CDs to blackmail politicians. Former Acting Security Director Ertugrul Cakir and Nuri Bozkir, a Special Forces captain, were arrested for their participation the illegal operation.
A lawyer registered with the Istanbul Bar, Alparslan Arslan, conducted an armed attack against the State Council on 17 May 2006. It was revealed that the people Arslan conspired with were those who bombed Cumhuriyet newspaper. Former army captain Muzaffer Tekin's name was obtained through phone records. Photos of Tekin with Susurluk convict Ibrahim Sahin and retired Gen. Veli Kucuk appeared in the press.

The Atabeys organized crime network, including some active and retired soldiers, was revealed in Eryaman, Ankara on Wednesday. Several explosives were found in the arsenal-like house. The military suspects caught at a house in Eryaman were interviewed at the Counter-Terrorism Department before being brought to the Central Commandership. The interview was recorded and sent to the Central Commandership. The arrested army members reportedly said, "We kept these munitions at home for training purposes in the event of an emergency scenario," about the plastic explosives, TNT patterns, weapons, bomb mechanisms and sketches found in the house. Several sketches were found in searches conducted at cell houses of the groups composed of officers serving in the General Staff Special Forces Commandership.

Turkey's 7th President Kenan Evren said any young military officers advocating a coup should be discharged from office. Evren equated the officers with the janissaries that dethroned Ottoman Sultans in an interview with Aksam newspaper yesterday. The former president said the May 27 1965 coup occurred because of the coercion of the young officers. "I witnessed the coup in the 1960s. The intervening act came from young officers.The young officers organized the forces and the military academy students took over the streets as well as controlling the radio. The janissaries overthrew many Sultans in the Ottoman period. Therefore we should watch out for young officers. Anyone who tempts such a thing should be discharged from the army."

Evren also mentioned the role of young officers in the coup in the 1980s. "If we had not seized the government, young officers in the army could not have been stopped. I do not think there is a similar situation in Turkey now; however, the chief of the General Staff and top military officials should be very careful. It can be understood from the reactions and letters", he said.

By Ahmet Donmez, Zaman, Istanbul, Mugla
Published: Friday, June 02, 2006