![]() ![]() Indeed, much of the paper's information comes straight from disgruntled “deep throats” within the army. In a limp rebuttal, the top brass said it had “not approved” any such document, but stopped short of denying its existence. The blueprint was drawn up after the AKP was returned to power for a second five-year term in July 2007. The paper, whose news coverage remains spotty, made its biggest splash so far when it recently published a document detailing alleged plans by the general staff to mobilise public opinion against the government and its sympathisers. ![]() Last week 7,000 of them gathered in central Istanbul in a rally against coups, many of them brandishing Taraf. Amid speculation that the army may be preparing a direct coup, Taraf has become a standard-bearer for the rising numbers of young and increasingly vocal Turks who say the people, not the generals, should determine the country's future. It has thus become even bigger than “the most honest and prestigious newspaper” that was the dream of its 39-year-old owner, Basar Arslan. ![]() Since its launch last November under the motto “to think is to take sides”, Taraf (which means side in Turkish) has published a string of stories exposing the army's efforts to undermine the AKP government. This follows the generals' threatened “e-coup” of April 2007, when they tried unsuccessfully to stop Mr Gul becoming president.įew Turks would have known of the meeting had news of it not been broken by a small daily newspaper, Taraf. Indeed, it reinforces the view of many Turks that lying behind the case is an attempt by the generals to use the courts to overthrow Turkey's mildly Islamist government in a “judicial coup”. This decision makes the meeting between Mr Paksut and General Basbug, who is tipped to replace Yasar Buyukanit as chief of the general staff when he retires in August, all the more suspicious. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |