THOUSANDS TO MARCH FOR CONTINUATION OF ERGENEKON TRIAL

Today’s Zaman
July 17 2009
Turkey

A coalition known as "70 Million Steps Against Coups," a platform
bringing together many anti-coup civil society groups, will hold a
demonstration on Saturday to call for the continuation of the Ergenekon
trial, where 88 suspects including political party leaders, former
army officers and university rectors stand accused of membership
in a clandestine organization charged with plotting to overthrow
the government.

The demonstration, titled "We want Freedom/Try coup leaders" is
organized in a bid to protest a recent attempt by the Supreme Board
of Prosecutors and Judges (HSYK) to replace judges and prosecutors
conducting the Ergenekon trial, which has been a source of indignation
for many in the country.

In the demonstration, scheduled to be held in Beyoglu’s Tunel
Square, the group will ask for the trial of past coup perpetrators
and protest against any kind of anti-democratic formation. A number
of civil society organizations will attend the rally, whose slogan
will be "We want the Ergenekon trial to go to the very end, we want
the Ergenekon gang to be tried and dissolved."

Several artists and intellectuals also support the rally, which
will be held in cooperation with such NGOs as the Young Civilians,
a group noted for its use of sarcasm in protests, the Association of
Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed Peoples (MAZLUM-DER), the
Revolutionary Socialist Workers’ Party (DSÄ°P), the Confederation of
Turkish Real Trade Unions (Hak-Ä°Å~_), the Women’s Rights Association
Against Discrimination (AK-DER) and Say No to Racism. In the rally,
demonstrators will speak out against anti-democratic initiatives and
coup attempts with slogans and banners that advocate democracy and
freedom. Other demands of the group include women wearing headscarves
to be allowed to attend universities, Kurds to not be shot at, acid
wells to not be used, Armenians to not be harassed and activists to
not be abducted.

Turgay Ogur, a representative of the Young Civilians, stressed
that with the second indictment in the Ergenekon trial, whose first
hearing will be held on July 20, the masterminds of the Ergenekon
gang will stand trial, in contrast to the previous one, at which
the group’s hitmen and bombers were tried. "We will march to mark
this historical day. There has been no significant resistance to
previous coups. We should show our opposition so clearly that no one
will be able to attempt another coup," Ogur said. Zeynep Tanbay,
a modern dance performer, also said: "It has been clear in Turkey
that we unfortunately do not have a democracy but pretend to have
one. The Turkish Armed Forces [TSK] are governing the country. This
system should be changed. Everybody should be equal before the law
and officers should also be tried, regardless of their rank."

Å~^enol KarakaÅ~_ from DSÄ°P said Turkey has been passing through
an extraordinary period. "Recent developments — such as attempts to
replace Ergenekon prosecutors — are significant. The Ergenekon gang
is playing a significant role in all top issues. We call everyone to
participate in our rally to win the fight for freedom," he added.