ERGENEKON PLANNED ASSASSINATION OF ALEVI FEDERATION LEADER

Today’s Zaman
Jan 11 2009
Turkey

The operation conducted on Wednesday within the scope of the
investigation into the Ergenekon terrorist organization has also
revealed assassination plans intended to create chaos in the country.

It has been understood that former Special Operations Department Deputy
Chief Ibrahim Sahin, who gave directives to individuals loyal to him
to "finish off Sivas Armenian community leader Minas Durmaz Guler,"
had formed teams to conduct a series of killings. According to the
information obtained, a four-stage assassination plan was found on
a computer seized in Sahin’s Istanbul residence. The individuals
targeted were Alevi Bektasi Federation (ABF) General Chairman Ali
Balkiz and Pir Sultan Abdal Culture Association (PSAKD) General
Chairman Kazim Genc. It is stated that these people were selected in
order to create Alevi/Sunni tension prior to the local elections. It is
claimed that Ergenekon planned for two first lieutenants apprehended
the day before yesterday to lead the four-person assassination teams
established for the killings. It is alleged that the directives were
conveyed personally by Ibrahim Sahin to the officers. The assassins’
escape plans, their concealment, and the disposal of the weapons were
planned in detail separately. According to the plan, Balkiz and Genc,
known for their stances in opposition to the government, were to be
killed, and incidents were to be provoked at their funerals. It has
been learned that Ibrahim Sahin has availed himself of the right
to remain silent in his questioning at the Istanbul Department for
Combating Organized Crime. Meanwhile, it has been learned that special
security protection has been assigned to Ali Balkiz and Kazim Genc.