Hurriyet, Turkey
April 9 2010

Turkish soldiers go on trial for anti-government plot

Friday, April 9, 2010
ISTANBUL ‘ Daily News with wires

A Turkish admiral and 16 other suspects went on trial Friday on
charges of involvement in a plot to discredit and unseat the
conservative government, Anatolia news agency reported.

It was one of several cases to emerge from a long-running probe into a
network of both soldiers and civilians, which allegedly plotted to
foment political chaos and prompt a military coup against the ruling
Justice and Development Party, or AKP, Agence-France Presse reported.

The judge rejected applications from defense lawyers that the case be
transferred to a military court. The suspects include Admiral Levent
Görgeç, 14 navy officers and two retired soldiers — all of whom have
denied the charges.

They are accused of involvement in plans to stage false-flag attacks
against Istanbul’s tiny non-Muslim communities, notably Armenians —
including abductions, arsons and bombings — and create the impression
that AKP policies encouraged Islamist extremism and violence in
Turkey. The plan is often referred to as "Kafes" (Cage).

The charge sheet says the suspects also planned to bomb a navy
submarine, exhibited at an Istanbul museum, during visiting hours.

The investigation that landed the soldiers in court was launched last
year when police dug up hand grenades, light anti-tank weapons and
explosives from a field in Istanbul, used as a training ground by the
navy.

The prosecution is seeking life sentences for five defendants, up to
39 years for another, and up to 15 years for the other 11, including
the admiral. Dozens of other suspects are already on trial as part of
the investigation into the so-called Ergenekon network.