ISTANBUL: NATIONALIST ORGANISATION SUSPECTED OF POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS ATTACKS UNVEILED

AsiaNews.it
Jan 24 2008
Italy

The group, called "Ergereken", could also be behind the killing of
Dink. Meanwhile, prime minister Erdogan seems to want to recognise the
patriarchate’s title of "ecumenical", and its role within Orthodoxy.

Istanbul (AsiaNews) – The Turkish police have arrested 35 persons
suspected of belonging to a secret nationalist organisation called
Ergereken, from the name of the place where, according to legend,
the Turkish race was born.

At a press conference, Istanbul governor Muammer Guler said that the
investigations began eight months ago, following the explosion of
a weapons cache at an apartment in the Umraniye area of Istanbul,
which belonged to a member of the organisation. Surveillance was
later carried out after various attacks in Istanbul, Izmir, Malatya,
and Adana.

The organisation is suspected of involvement in politically motivated
violence against persons and institutions, like the killing of a
Turkish journalist of Armenian origin, Hrant Dink, and of planning
other attacks against Christian figures (like the killing of
Bartolomeo, covered by AsiaNews on 1/08/2007), as well as Turkish
institutions and personalities, which until recently were generally
attributed to to other groups.

The organisation was formed mainly by retired military members,
journalists, and lawyers. The people arrested include some prominent
figures like the retired general Veli Kucuk, the presumed founder of a
clandestine military police unit, which is thought to be responsible
for a variety of attacks and assassinations, like that of the
lawyer Kemal Kerinisiz, a nationalist activist, of Sami Hostan –
a key figure who emerged after the famous automobile accident in
Susurluk in 1996 that brought to light the connections between the
so-called "deep state" and nationalist, political, secret service,
and organised crime groups – and of Sevgi Erenerol, spokesman of the
so-called Turkish Orthodox patriarchate.

The news media have showered praise on this institution, founded
in 1924 by Fr. Eftim, a married Orthodox priest, who in spite of
this demanded to be ordained a bishop. Over the objections of
the patriarchate, he created, with the approval of the Turkish
authorities, the "Turkish Orthodox patriarchate", with the twofold
objective of undermining the prestige of the ecumenical patriarchate
in the Christian world, and of attracting Turkish-speaking Orthodox
Christians. The effort did not meet with the desired success, neither
among the Orthodox Churches nor among the few Orthodox Turks. But it
did succeed in obtaining, with state approval, the historic church
of the Madonna of Kafatiani in Galata, with its important properties
and foundations. From that time, the "Turkish Orthodox patriarchate"
became nothing more than a family business for Fr. Eftim, whose nephew
was arrested, and a centre of nationalist propaganda.

"Ergereken" is a large operation, the deputy of Erdogan’s party, Dengir
Mir Mehmet Firat has said, adding "I am very curious over the results
of the investigation". In other words, as is said in journalistic and
diplomatic circles, dismantling has begun on the organisations believed
to be linked with various sectors of the public administration.

And there is no mere coincidence in statements that Erdogan made today
in a joint press conference with Greece’s prime minister Karamanlis,
on the occasion of the first visit of a Greek premier to Turkey in 50
years. Replying to a question from journalists about the ecumenical
patriarchate and the theology school of Halki, Erdogan spoke for
the first time about the title of "ecumenical" as applied to the
patriarchate, saying that "all are aware of our interest in this matter
and the efforts we are making in its regard". In essence, he continued,
the ecumenical status of the patriarchate is of interest to the entire
Orthodox community, and his government wants to streamline its internal
procedures. As for the theological school of Halki, which was closed
in 1971, he said his administration is analysing the situation.

It’s a sign that things are on the move in Turkey, and not only in
the economy. At least we hope so.