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My so-called putsch

By Ozden Ornek and Ayse Sibel Erol (Trans.)

From the diary of Admiral Ozden Ornek, who served for two years as commander of the Turkish navy, beginning in August 2003. The diary has been cited as evidence in the ongoing trial of more than one hundred alleged members of a group called Ergenekon—including journalists, academics, and retired military officers—charged with plotting to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. His Justice and Development Party (AKP), which has roots in Islamism, gained power in the fall of 2002. Excerpts from the diary were published in 2007 by the Istanbul weekly Nokta. Its offices were soon after raided by the government, and it ceased publication. Ornek has claimed that the diaries were forged, but an official probe upheld their authenticity. The investigation of Ergenekon was launched in the summer of 2007, after the discovery of weapons caches in various Turkish cities. In April, General Ilker Basbug, who last year became chief of the general staff, denied that there was a conspiracy in the military to undermine democracy in Turkey. Sarikiz means “blonde girl.” Translated from the Turkish by Ayse Sibel Erol.

september 2, 2003

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SEE ALSO: Admirals; Career as Turkey prime minister; Diaries; Islam and politics; Erdogan, Recep Tayyip; Turkey

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