Immunity of soldiers eroding, but still
I see this change most visibly in the newspapers.
In the past, the most popular topic in August would be the Supreme Military Council (YAS) meetings. Discussions on the matter would start weeks earlier and everyone would talk about who would be retiring and who would be promoted. Large photos of those who received promotion would be published in every newspaper. Commentators would compete with each other in praising the officers and all would say how much Turkey would benefit from these promotions.
Especially when the chief of general staff or one of the force commanders changed, you could read pages and pages of reports about it.
This behavior was mostly based on the desire to look cute.
When necessary, politicians would be criticized very harshly, but the soldiers would be beyond reproach. Soldiers only received admiration and praise.
This attitude has begun to change.
I am sure you have noticed that too. This year’s YAS meeting did not receive as much attention as it used too. Despite many force command changes and a Lt. Gen. resigning in protest against the YAS results, the whole affair did not receive too much attention.
Actually, this is what’s supposed to happen. It should have received even less attention. Such changes in the military, even the replacement of the chief of general staff does not receive too much attention in western countries. It is just reported. That’s all.
Our conduct is different, because of the military’s political influence. The media and some parts of civilian society worked very hard to keep the status of the military very high.
So, what’s different now?
How come the media and those civilians that stand to attention in front of soldiers are criticizing the military?
When a commander made a speech, everyone used to keep silent and listen. Even if what he said was something absurd, everyone would just act like it wasn’t said.
What’s happens now? Just the opposite. Sometimes commanders are faced with the harshest of criticisms. Some take time to prove his arguments false and even the most pro-state or pro-military commentators and newspapers come out and say, "He doesn’t have the right to talk like that."
Due to the European Union’s Copenhagen Criteria, the military’s budget is under supervision. The National Security Council (MGK), which was the strongest institution in the state, is becoming hollower everyday and a civilian is becoming its secretary-general. Civilian authorities interfere more and more in armament policies. Civilian authority does not agree with the military’s stance on the matter of Cyprus and opposing policy. The military, which was the prime decision-making body on the issues of northern Iraq and Kurds, is slowly being pushed aside.
In short, the immunity enjoyed by the military in the past is slowly eroding.
The main reason behind this is that Turkey is undergoing an internal process of transformation. Turkey, which is aiming to become an EU member, is gradually putting its internal dynamics in order.
What is especially praiseworthy is that the military is also aware of the truth and is not resisting this process.
The long-term continuation and success of this process primarily depends on civilian society taking over the reign of responsibility.
In other words, it should protect and preserve the secular-democratic system and the principles of the republic. If those who said, "Where are you Pasha?" when faced with the simplest problems in the past, can find it in themselves to carry the responsibility, then the dynamics in the country will be put in order. If not, we all will lose.
Those who misperceive the developments on the erosion of immunity of the military and say: "Yes. The military is in retreat. It is ending its protection and preservation duties," are very mistaken.
The military will adhere to the EU criteria. However, if it sees that the secular system and the integrity of the country is at risk, it will once again perform its "protection" duties and will protect the republic.
No one should doubt this fact.
