WHAT IS THE ERGENEKON OPERATION?

Hurriet
Monday, October 20, 2008 14:17
Turkey

The Ergenekon operation started with the investigation of 27 hand
grenades found in a house in Istanbul last year.

Then the investigation widened and transformed into an operation to
crackdown on the "Ergenekon Terror Organization", which allegedly
aimed at paving the way for a military coup against the government.

More than 100 people were taken into custody in the seven waves of
the operation, while 86 of them were arrested, including journalists
and retired commanders.

The Ergenekon organization was claimed to be the mastermind behind
the assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, and a
plot to kill Nobel prize-winner, Turkish author, Orhan Pamuk.

However the Ergenekon operation intensified after the closure
case was filed against the ruling Justice and Development Party
(AKP). The operation was not limited to retired army members or
ultra-nationalists, but widened to prominent opponents of the AKP.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has previously said the closure case
was a response to the government’s determination in the Ergenekon
operation. However some observers say the wider Ergenekon operation
could be seen as an instrument to suppress the opponents of the
government.