BÝA, Turkey
Jan 28 2008

Suspects in Nationalist Gang Known for Causing Trouble

Veli Kücük, Kemal Kerincsiz and Sevgi Erenerol, arrested under
suspicion of membership in the ultra-nationalist Ergenekon gang, are
all names known for their interest in trials opened for `crimes’ of
thought and belief, as well as ensuing violence and pressure.

Býa news centre

28-01-2008

Erol ÖNDEROGLU
The public has often heard the names of retired brigadier general
Veli Kücük, lawyer Kemal Kerincsiz and the spokesperson for the
Turkish Orthodox Patriarchate, Sevgi Erenerol, when trials concerning
the freedom of press, expression or belief were opened and they
wanted to be co-plaintiffs.

Some of the trials which they joined or attempted to join as
co-plaintiffs paved the way for the murder of Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink, who himself had been on trial and sentenced
for `denigrating Turkishness.’

Kücük pulling the strings?
The Sabah newspaper has reported claims that Veli Kücük may be the
person behind the murders of Hrant Dink and academic Necip
Hablemitoglu, the murders of three Christians in Malatya, the murder
of Ibrahim Ciftci (who was a key suspect in the Hablemitoglu murder
and was killed by a hand grenade thrown into his office), as well as
the attack on the State Council.

Involvement in case against Turkish Protestants
Erenerol tried to become a co-plaintiff in a trial against Hakan
Tastan and Turan Topal, both accused of Protestant missionary work
and charged with `denigrating Turkishness, inciting to hatred and
hostility and collecting data in an illegal manner.’ Erenerol’s
request was refused.

The plaintiffs in the case are lawyer Kerincsiz and his team. Because
the defense lawyer and the defendants were threatened and insulted,
there were extraordinary security measures at the last hearing. The
court case will continue on 13 March.

Hrant Dink was frightened of Kücük
After Hrant Dink was killed on 19 January 2007, lawyer Erdal Dogan
told several newspapers that the journalist had said before, `When
Veli Kücük started watching the trial, that’s when I started to get
frightened.’ Kücük filed a complaint against Dogan, demanding
compensation of 10,000 YTL, arguing that Dogan had portrayed him as a
murderer. The trial continues.

Veli Kücük’s name is also mentioned in the Susurluk scandal, which
rocked Turkey in 1996. A car crash showed connections between the
police, an MP, the military and ultra-nationalists. Ever since,
people in Turey speak of a `deep state’, i.e. illegal forces working
behind the front of an illusionary democracy.

Harrassment at Agos trial
When Agos journalists Hrant Dink and Aydin Engin were on trial for
`attempting to influence the judiciary’, Kerincsiz, Kücük and
Erenerol were present at the trial. The bigger group which they were
part of was frequently warned during the hearing. In front of the
court, two people were beaten by the nationalist group which attacked
verbally and physically.

Kerincsiz was the defense lawyer for Muzaffer Tekin and Ergün Poyraz,
both also in prison for suspicion of being members of the Ergenekon
gang. Kerincsiz has argued that his profession means that he cannot
have connections to the organisation.

Writers targeted
However, Turkey and the world know Kerincsiz from writer Orhan
Pamuk’s trial. Pamuk was threatened and insulted in the corridors of
the court building and eggs were thrown at him. Later, writer Elif
Shafak and Hrant Dink had to experience similar harrassment.

Kerincsiz and his associate lawyers also sued those writers who
criticised their attempts to stop the Ottoman Armenian conference in
September 2005. In the case against Hrant Dink, Aydin Engin, Serkis
Seropyan and Arat Dink from the Agos newspaper there was again a very
tense atmosphere.

Akkus a "model student"

Recep Akkus, who has been seen at the same events as Kerincsiz, is
the person behind criminal complaints against Taner Akcam, a
historian and writer for Agos newspaper, Arat Dink and Serkis
Seropyan of Agos newspaper, Karekin II, the head of the Armenian
church, as well as Joost Lagendijk, the co-chair of the EU Turkey
Joint Parliamentary Committee. (EÖ/TK/AG)