[A-List] Excerpts of Turkish Military statement

[Leigh Meyers]

Creeping fundamentalism Vs the memory of Ataturk incarnate?

Sabri, IYHO, which would be worse?

Leigh

On 4/28/07, Sabri Oncu <sabri_oncu at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Excerpts of Turkish army statement
>
> The following are excerpts of a statement by the Turkish military, quoted by
> the Anatolia news agency, in which it said it would defend the country's
> secular system.
>
> The statement was in reaction to a disputed vote in the Turkish parliament in
> which the Islamist-rooted ruling party's candidate narrowly failed to be
> elected president.
>
> "It is observed that some circles who have been carrying out endless efforts to
> disturb fundamental values of the Republic of Turkey, especially secularism,
> have escalated their efforts recently."
>
>
> "Those activities include requests for redefinition of fundamental values and
> attempts to organise alternative celebrations instead of our national festivals
> symbolizing unity and solidarity of our nation. Those who carry out the
> mentioned activities which have turned into an open challenge against the
> state, do not refrain from exploiting holy religious feelings of our people,
> and they try to hide their real aims under the guise of religion."
>
>
> "An important part of these activities were done with the permission and within
> the knowledge of administrative authorities, who were supposed to intervene and
> prevent such incidents, a fact which intensifies the gravity of the issue."
>
>
> "This fundamentalist understanding, which is anti-republic and harbours no aim
> other than eroding the basic characteristics of the state, finds courage in
> recent developments and discourses and extends the scope of its activities."
>
>
> "Developments in our region give numerous examples that playing on religion and
> manipulating the faith into a political discourse can cause disasters. There
> are accounts in our country and abroad that a political discourse or an
> ideology can destroy the faith itself and turn it into something else when it
> is imposed on faith... Doubtlessly, the sole condition for the Republic of
> Turkey to live in peace and stability as a contemporary democracy is through
> defending the basic characteristics of our state which are defined in the
> Constitution."
>
>
> "The problem that emerged in the presidential election process is focused on
> arguments over secularism. Turkish Armed Forces are concerned about the recent
> situation. It should not be forgotten that the Turkish Armed Forces are a party
> in those arguments, and absolute defender of secularism. Also, the Turkish
> Armed Forces is definitely opposed to those arguments and negative comments. It
> will display its attitude and action openly and clearly whenever it is
> necessary."
>
>
> "Those who are opposed to Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's understanding
> 'How happy is the one who says I am a Turk' are enemies of the Republic of
> Turkey and will remain so. The Turkish Armed Forces maintain their sound
> determination to carry out their duties stemming from laws to protect the
> unchangeable characteristics of the Republic of Turkey. Their loyalty to this
> determination is absolute."
>
>
> Story from BBC NEWS:
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/6602775.stm
>
> Published: 2007/04/28 09:25:41 GMT
>
> (c) BBC MMVII
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>
>