Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Jan 18 2009

Ergenekon’s economic agenda looks bigger than its political goals

The economic and political goals of the Ergenekon terror organization,
accused of provoking chaos to overthrow Turkey’s democratic order,
complement each other, but analysts note that although Ergenekon’s
political goals are more visible, it’s economic goals are actually
bigger and more significant.

Noting that the economic resources of the organization are mostly
illegal, economists stress that its financing system is as complicated
as its organizational structure. According to the indictment against
Ergenekon, the organization had plans to participate in the registered
economy via foundations and corporations. Former Finance Ministry
General Director for Revenues Nevzat SaygılıoÄ?lu
stresses that the connection between the organization and the economy
is twofold: `It is like the economy also has its own Ergenekon. Like
the Ergenekon that allegedly provokes chaos in the country, there are
actors eager to make sure that the economy also becomes chaotic.’

Stressing that the organization’s complex financing system has
domestic and international connections and dimensions, experts also
note that the size of its budget may exceed $100 billion. Sadık
AvundukluoÄ?lu, a member of the parliamentary commission set up
to investigate unresolved murders, is opposed to calling the
organization Ergenekon, a name taken from a legend about the origins
of the Turkish people. `It is not easy to measure the size of its
financial system because the actual size of the organization is
immeasurable. In addition to the financial instruments controlled by
the organization, the individual goals of its members pose a more
difficult problem. But if we are talking about a terrorist
organization, I think attempts to call it Ergenekon, the opening saga
of Turkish history, are part of a separate plan,’ he says.

Ergenekon documents stress the importance of controlling financial
instruments. A report written by the organization in October 1999
says, `Ergenekon must sponsor activities in the field of economy and
control money flows because of the circumstances and conditions of the
current age.’

The report, which also discusses the collection of sensitive
information, explains, `The key to a strong intelligence agency in the
21st century will be to block financial organizations.’ An analyst,
speaking on condition of anonymity, stresses that these remarks show
the magnitude of Ergenekon’s economic plans. `Considering that
Ergenekon is not a legal entity, its economic activities will not be
legal, either. Likewise, the money it says it should control will be
revenues from illegal activities, including drug smuggling. If it is
to work as a strong intelligence agency, it feels it should enlarge
its budget relying on illegal money and fund new illegal entities to
achieve its economic and political goals.’

`Outsider’ involvement

Speaking on the subject of the identities of those who are seeking a
chaos in the country, SaygılıoÄ?lu says: `I should
note that the people who did this are foreigners who settled here or
citizens who distanced themselves from their own roots. They enjoy the
deterioration in economic conditions; they make large sums of money
through these activities.’

Noting that the government’s need to borrow from the public should be
minimized to protect the economy against Ergenekon’s activities,
SaygılıoÄ?l u also says: `They are taking the
economy to the brink of collapse while they spill crocodile
tears. They constantly rely on a discourse of economic and political
stability. However, they exploit this chaotic environment. It should
be noted that the only viable option to get rid of these Ergenekon
activities is to minimize the government’s public borrowing need.’

SaygılıoÄ?lu also says: `Ergenekon inflicts great
harm on the economy, particularly the real economy. The deteriorated
market condition, declining demand and the withdrawn cash destroys
everything. Domestic political developments and uncertainties affect
everyone. This makes domestic and international investors postpone
their investment decisions. Nobody wants to make decisions in such a
fragile environment. Unemployment is a typical outcome of
this. Thousands become unemployed every day. No transaction takes
place because of the liquidity shortage in the markets.’

The damaged economy eventually makes the Ergenekon members rich,
SaygılıoÄ?lu adds. He notes that ordinary citizens
and small business entrepreneurs are most affected by Ergenekon’s
economic activities.

Economic goals spelled out in indictment

A document submitted as evidence in the Ergenekon indictment stresses
that the organization should seize control of the boards of banks and
holdings, adding that exports and imports should also be taken under
control via manipulations in the value of Turkish currency.

The document, under the heading of `Finance,’ further emphasizes that
the organization should create affiliated holdings and banks to
maintain a favorable balance.

According to the document, the organization seeks to have full control
over monetary flows in foreign trade, Turkish currency and
international financing institutions operating in Turkey.

The secret documents of the organization list legal and illegal
activities as financial sources. The indictment stresses that the
organization regularly collects donations from the National
Association of Industrialists and Businessmen (USÄ°AD) and that
USÄ°AD Chair Kemal Ã-zden served as mediator between retired
Brig. Gen. Veli Küçük and the business
world. Documents also underline that USÄ°AD members close to the
AK Party may extend help and assistance in public procurement bids.

Drug and arms smuggling

Stressing that the organization gets revenue from illegal activities,
including blackmail, land seizure, bank robbery and fake business
enterprises, the indictment also notes that Sami HoÅ?tan
provided part of the drug smuggling revenue and that
Küçük received his share from drug trafficking
through JÄ°TEM. The indictment also argues that money laundering
activities were managed by corporations such as DoÄ?uÅ?
Factoring, where Alparslan Arslan, the perpetrator of the Council of
State attack, served as an attorney. Revenue through connections with
land mafias and information theft from banks in different countries is
also listed amongst the organization’s resources.

`Restructuring the state,’ another Ergenekon document, stresses that
the commercial and economic activities of the organization will be
assumed by separate units specializing in commercial and industrial
affairs, as well as macro-economic and international economic
activities. The legal commercial activities of the organization
include cargo transportation and projects in the medical industry. The
indictment recalls that both fields are work well for making large
sums of money and money laundering. The document also states that the
executive boards of strong domestic holdings and multinational
enterprises should be seized.

Two examples of corrupt dealings

A striking example of Ergenekon’s monetary resources concerns the
Turkish Metal Union. The former chair of the union’s Manisa branch,
Mehmet Ali Ã-zaltın, argues that there have been a number of
corruption incidents in the union. `The resources of the union were
transmitted to Ergenekon. The union fully funds a group affiliated
with ultranationalists,’ he claims.

Statements by businessman Turgut BüyükdaÄ? refer
to the economic ties between the Susurluk scandal, in which a 1996 car
accident revealed shadowy links between the state and the mafia, the
Feb. 28, 1997 `postmodern coup’ and
Ergenekon. BüyükdaÄ?, who was making large sums of
money until 1996, when he first met Küçük, argues
that a minister asked for a bribe of $30 million. Speaking to the
Taraf daily, BüyükdaÄ? said he was employed in
numerous different fields, including textiles, banking and
construction. He noted that he was discarded when he expressed his
eagerness to work in the media sector.

Claiming that his factories were appropriated during the Feb. 28
process, BüyükdaÄ? says he started a legal process
to regain his properties but that he was arrested because of reports
in the Cumhuriyet daily.

BüyükdaÄ? gave a deposition to Ergenekon
prosecutor Zekeriya Ã-z when he noticed remarks about himself in a
statement by Osman
Yıldırım. BüyükdaÄ? filed a
criminal report against Ã?evik Bir, Korkut Eken, Mehmet
AÄ?ar, Hasan Ã-zdemir and Ä°smail Ã-zmen. `I cannot
understand the developments. They took our deeds illegally; they
mortgaged our banks; they withdrew $50 million. This is all
documented. I did not have the chance to survive that process. I was
saved by Küçük upon Tuncay Güney’s
mediation. Now they argue that Küçük is involved
in those things. I am really confused. Now I understand that all of
this was planned. I experienced all of this; this is a fact. I will
speak out no matter what; I will reveal the truth even if they kill
me,’ he had said.

The organization seems to have even considered creating a bank for its
purposes. Ergenekon documents summarize the group’s needs as follows:
`Ergenekon needs production facilities, commercial holdings and
banks. We need civilian employees who will well fit in with Kemalist
ideology and have experience in media, international business and
banking.’

Ergenekon’s financial resources

-Fake corporations in different fields
– Collection of money from rich people through blackmail
– Information theft from foreign banks
– Drug and arms smuggling
– Cargo transportation
– Money laundering through foundations

Ergenekon’s goals

– To seize control of corporations and holdings
– To acquire control of banks
– To found consulting and security corporations
– To control the value of Turkish currency and foreign trade

18 January 2009, Sunday
ALÄ° ASLAN KILIÃ? ANKARA