KEMAL ATATURK: "BLESSED BE WHO CONSIDERS HIMSELF A TURK"
AZG Armenian Daily
22/03/2007
More than two months have passed since the murder of "Agos"
editor-in-chief Hrant Dink. Although the case is not discovered by
now, it gave new impulse to discussions of the 301st article of the
Turkish Penal Code. Prime Minister Erdogan’s readiness to revise
the article was an unpleasant surprise for the Turkish nationalists,
who are considered involved in Dink’s murder. As article 301 makes
possible the existence and activity of nationalist parties in Turkey,
based upon the ideas of Kemal Ataturk, doubting the convenience of the
301st article also makes dubitable the timeliness of Kemalism. Taking
into consideration public discussions of the 301st article, shattering
the positions of Kemalistic nationalism makes clear why a number
of nationalistic Turkish parties (such as "National-Republican" and
"Motherland") and single politicians declared Prime Minister Erdogan
a traitor to the nation.
It is noteworthy that during a discussion on the Turkish TV,
February 13, National-Republican party leader Baykal rued that the
present republican system of Turkey, nationalism, the activity of
Ataturk, religion and ethnic origin are argued. To his words replied
"Motherland" party leader Erkan Mumcu: "They are coping to alter the
301st article. Is there anything special in it? It just says that
defaming the statehood and the nation is a crime. So, all they want
is that the crime to be punishable no more".
The next day Yasar Buyukanit in the following words supported Baykal
and Mumcu: "Since 1923 Turkey had never faced such risk, threats
and problems.
Nevertheless no man or no institution can alter the Constitutional
order of Turkey. Turkey is a republic established by Ataturk and
shall forever exist by the same order. They who think otherwise will
be disappointed".
Putting together those 3 statements makes clear that the reason for
unwillingness to revise the Penal Code is not defamation of Turks or
Turkey, but eagerness to save the Turkish statehood, founded on the
ethnic territory of other nations, and to preserve the negligence
of other ethnic groups in Turkey so as to insure the identity and
integrity of the Turkish nation.
Moreover, abolition of the 301st article of the Turkish penal code
will encourage some intellectuals to speak openly about the Armenian
Genocide. Revising the modern official approach of Turkey to the
issue of the Genocide, also implies revising the history of the
years of foundation of the Turkish republic, as Kemal Ataturk and
all his companions were active members of Teskilat-i Mahsusa secret
organization. In that case their active participation in organizing
eth Armenian Genocide will be revealed. That will mean putting under
doubt the appropriateness of the foundations and principles of the
Turkish statehood.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
