‘Coup attempt was a criminal act’
Initial response of some western countries was disappointing
The High Command of TAF and the majority of the army declared their opposition to the attempt from the beginning. Chief of general staff and some high-rank commanders were taken hostage by the plotters
The present Turkish ambassador to Pakistan, His Excellency Sadik Babur Girgin, is no stranger to Pakistan or international diplomacy.
Prior to becoming ambassador to Pakistan, he was already working for development of relations between the two brotherly countries. He served as Deputy Director General for South Asia in Turkey’s foreign ministry. Before that he was Head of Department for South Asia and also Undersecretary responsible for the region.
He has also served on assignments in Russia, Jordan, Belgium, Afghanistan and France in various positions. As Ankara’s man in Islamabad, he oversees crucial trade and politics between two extremely close partners.
He sat down with DNA for an exclusive interview regarding Turkey’s post-coup attempt situation.
Question: Excellency, how would you elaborate the events unfolding after some elements in Turkish military and civilian bureaucracy made an effort to stage a coup to overthrow a democratically elected government?
Sadik Babur Girgin: Actually when the coup started, I happened to be back in Turkey so I had an opportunity to see the happenings which started at around10pm local time on July 15. Since the media telecast the images, I would not go into the details and would only remain with those details which are relevant.
Let me first inform your readers that the coup attempt of July 15 was not an action of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) as an institution. The fact that the number of military personnel detained after the coup attempt amounts to less than one percent of the strength of the TAF is a clear demonstration of this.
The High Command of TAF and the majority of the army declared their opposition to the attempt from the beginning. Chief of general staff and some high-rank commanders were taken hostage by the plotters. Other high-ranking commanders appeared on TV and declared that TAF was not behind the coup attempt.
Most of the coup plotters were those who had infiltrated into TAF ranks who hijacked least four F-16 jets besides some tanks, armored vehicles, and attack helicopters. One helicopter was shot down by the Air Force while one transport military carrier was taken to Greece by terrorists.
The helicopter was immediately returned while talks are on with Greece for the extradition of eight terrorists. Some F16s were refilled from an airbase jointly used by NATO forces and the one-star general who was in charge of the base has also been detained.
The coup attempt was a criminal act against Turkey’s constitutional order and organised by the members of Fethullah Gülen Terrorist Organisation (FETÖ) infiltrated into the TAF over decades. It was the Turkish nation, above all, who thwarted the coup by resisting in the streets.
Political leaders stood firm. The president flew to Istanbul bearing all risks. The parliament immediately met in an extraordinary session and all political parties signed a declaration opposing the coup attempt. Turkish media played also an important role to defend the democracy.
The coup attempt lasted 5-6 hours, after that security forces started apprehending the perpetrators. The investigations are ongoing.
Q: Excellency there have been contradictory claims in the media about those terrorists, their facilitators and masterminds detained, charged or tried till date. Moreover, it would also be useful information if you could inform our readers how many civilians lost their lives during resistance to the coup attempt?
SBG: I would take this opportunity to thank you as misleading western media reports have been vicious in nature and mostly carry wrong figures. Soon after the failed attempt, public prosecutors immediately moved to ascertain who took part in the terrorist coup. According to factual data, around 7,423 military personnel have been detained, 220 of them have been charged and arrested until now.
208 citizens (145 civilians, 60 police officers and three soldiers) were martyred by terrorists, 24 coup plotters were captured dead, while 50 of plotters were captured wounded. One attack helicopter was shot down. Four F16 fighter planes and between 2-4 tanker aircraft from Incirlik Air Base are said to have been used in the coup attempt.
Those detained in total are around 10,000 persons, apart from military personnel include 2,014 from judicial side, 286 from police and 686 others. The Higher Education Council has asked all the deans of the universities to relinquish their charge. However, they would be serving as professors. They could be reinstalled later.
All those detained have been suspended from their government services and being investigated. Those found involved with evidence would be charged while other would be released and reinstated against their posts.
Q: How do you ascertain that Gulen Movement was behind the coup plot? Does Turkey have concrete evidence to prove this claim?
SBG: Turkey has solid evidence that the coup attempt was an act of Fethullah Gülen Terrorist Organisation (FETÖ), the leader of which, Fethullah Gülen, has been living in the United States for almost 20 years. Some confessions of arrested plotters clearly show that it was planned and carried out by FETÖ. Even the Personal Staff Officer of the chief of general staff has confessed that he is a member of FETÖ and infiltrated the army by the terrorist organisation as a cadet.
He has also confessed to planting eavesdropping material for recording of the top meetings of the army and later giving the recorded material to a teacher related to the FTGO on a daily basis. Media reports claimed that some text messages have been found carrying orders to kill high officials of the democratic government during the coup. Some teachers, police officers, religious personals were also found in the tanks with the coup plotters wearing army uniforms. Among them was one DIG police who was suspended by the democratic government but later have been reinstated by the court. The network infiltrated the bureaucracy too. The investigation has compelled to believe that FGTO is more lethal than the PKK and Da’ish.
Q: What has been the international response to the clampdown against FETO? Do you feel the response has been encouraging? Have you urged the Pakistani government to shutdown Gulen Movement Schools in Pakistan?
SBG: All the friendly states condemned the coup though some immediately and some later. We are grateful to the people and media of Pakistan for their support to Turkey’s democracy. We have been asking all friendly countries to take necessary measures against this terrorist group.
Turkey has exceptionally friendly and strong brotherly relations with Pakistan and we have very close coordination with the Pakistani government.
However, let me tell you the initial response of western countries was disappointing. An official of a western country said they would support stability in Turkey, suggesting that they wanted the coup plotters to takeover as soon as possible so that stability could be ensured.
After the parliament issued a decree for emergency in Turkey for three months, a French minister expressed discomfort, stating that this was unwarranted. This concern was baseless because France has already imposed emergency after the terrorist attacks and later twice extended it.
Q: How do you see the response from the US on Turkish request for extradition of Fethullah Gulen?
SBG: As far as the response of the US government regarding Turkish request of extradition of Fatehullah Gulen is concerned US vice president Joe Biden and Sectary of State John Kerry have given insurances to proceed with the Turkish request.
Q: How do you view the media coverage of the failed coup? Are you happy with the media response?
SBG: Another matter of concern for Turkey was the negative role played by western media outlets. Despite all transparency, some international media are distorting the facts. Detentions are being presented as “arrests”. Precautionary suspension of civil servants during investigations is presented as “sacking”. Turkey’s fight with terrorist organisations, such as PKK/YPG and Da’ish will continue as before.
A western intelligence think-tank even made the route of President Erdogan’s aircraft public while the coup attempt was still ongoing, thus putting the life of the president in jeopardy.
Q: Has Turkey come out of the scare now? Is life back to normal in Turkey as we heard a deputy mayor of Istanbul was attacked by terrorists last week?
SBG: The attackers of the incident you mentioned were caught and it turned out to be a criminal issue, not terrorists. The day following the attempted coup life returned to normal across the country. Turkish Airlines resumed flights within hours. Only two Turkish Airlines flights to Pakistan were cancelled during that night. There have been no major reservation cancellations by Pakistani passengers, which showed their support to Turkey.
Turkey has declared a state of emergency for three months as stipulated in the constitution. This is not martial law as being portrayed by a section of the press and rather civilian rule continues. Life of civilians, tourism and economy in Turkey will not be affected. It gives immediate powers to the government against terrorism.
Q: How do you view the response of Turkish media during the coup attempt?
SBG: Soon after the coup started, the coup tried to transmit their message through the state media they had taken control of. However, the private Turkish media resisted and played a key role by keeping the public informed about the vicious elements’ designs.
Q: Media is raising questions about the trail of the accused terrorists. Do you believe justice would be done? Moreover, how does Turkey see concerns being raised about reinstatement of the death penalty by the EU?
SBG: Let me assure the world that the trails of the coup plotters would be transparent and according to the law. Turkey in the past has set a good example of a just trial in the case of terrorist Abdullah Ocalan. He was also tried justly and when his lawyers moved to the EU court for a review of the trial, their request was rejected which reflects professional handling and transparency in judicial system of Turkey.
As far as the concerns about reintroduction of the death penalty are concerned, Turkey has had the death penalty in the past, let me tell you that President Erdogan has said that the matter would be assessed prudently if the parliament endorses the decision.
As far as state of emergency in Turkey is concerned, the EU must end its double standards. The French government has extended the emergency twice.
