{UAH} Kiyingi wrong on Turkey

inister Kiyingi wrong on Turkey

Written by VOLKAN SAHINKAYA

Created: 09 September 2016

The discussions in the media about the failed coup attempt of July 15 in Turkey are revolving around a distorted paradigm.

Seemingly, this results from two reasons: first, being ill-informed about the facts due to, inter alia, media manipulation and, second, being part of the smear campaign targeting Turkey.

It is hard to know exactly under which one of these categories Asuman Kiyingi falls, but the discourse in his Observer article titled "What does Uganda learn from the Turkish coup?" gives an idea on this issue.

From the onset, he begins criticizing Turkey's post-coup actions to eradicate FETÖ (Fetullahist Terror Organization) terrorism, let alone condemning the plot. A genuine democracy defender is supposed to stand against coups and terrorism under all circumstances.

Contrary to what is claimed, the whole saga had nothing to do with the tightening of President Tayyip Erdogan's grip on power domestically. Nor is it a tug of war between the president/government, on one side, and the opposition, on the other. Such reflections are distortion of the facts. Erdogan was elected president in 2014 with 52 per cent of the vote and has never lost an election since his first coming to power as prime minister in 2003.

What happened on July 15 was obviously a treacherous coup attempt masterminded by the stooge FETÖ, targeting the constitutional democratic order of Turkey and the will of the nation.

This clandestine terrorist network infiltrated all state organs via illegal means, creating a parallel state over decades, so as to ultimately take over power. Moreover, FETÖ's pawns in various sectors finance its terrorist activities as well as somehow collaborate with it such as in promoting its terrorist discourse.

Overall, FETÖ is a supremacist, secretive cult and also a global terrorist network controlling vast assets in the form of schools, hospitals, businesses, dormitories, NGOs and so on. 

In fact, FETÖ is an imminent threat not only for Turkey, but also for 170 countries worldwide where it is established. Because it intends to take over state power in these countries as well. Particularly, students who study at FETÖ-affiliated schools or stay in their dormitories need to be rescued from this criminal gang, for they are indoctrinated with ill-minded teachings distorting true Islam in accordance with FETÖ's own secret agenda.

Kiyingi must know that Mustafa Atatürk's secular Turkey, which boasts of world renowned philosophers such as Yunus Emre and Mevlana Rumi, does not need the help of such a terrorist organization's window dressing activities to enlighten the world in terms of peace, tolerance and civilization.

As FETÖ poses a grave threat to the survival and security of the nation and the state alike, the Turkish state has been fighting against it in a comprehensive manner. It is through this legitimate struggle within the due process of the law that FETÖ-affiliated public servants, journalists and professors have been dismissed from office.

Calling for an international investigation with regard to the coup plot aims at nothing but diluting the legal process. Which state would let terrorist military officers who apprehended the top commanders and who attempted to assassinate the head of state remain in office? Could any Ugandan judge or prosecutor retain his/her job, even when s/he took instructions from a terrorist organization rather than his superiors?

Could a police officer wire-tapping the president's phone calls illegally and then sharing this information with his terrorist network abroad be forgiven in Uganda? I don't think so. Thus, all FETÖ members will be cleansed from the state organs.

Perceiving Turkey's just war against the stooge FETÖ as the "purge of political opponents" reveals Kiyingi's lack of analytical skills and a prejudiced approach. In fact, all the segments of Turkish society, including the main opposition political parties, have united in solidarity in the face of the FETÖ terrorism. The five-million strong August 7 rally which was held in Istanbul is a good case in point. Kiyingi, who is a Struthonian, seems to be dissatisfied with this unity.

Turkey stands against all forms of terrorism in a principled manner, irrespective of the name, ideology and identity under which it is committed. As such, Turkey has embarked upon a major military operation against DAESH in Syria, only six weeks after the July 15 coup attempt.

Apart from DAESH, Turkey's combat against all other terrorist organizations such as PKK, PYD/YPG, al-Qaeda, etc, are continuing with determination. On the other hand, Turkey is normalizing its relations with Russia and Israel as well as striving to further improve its existing bilateral and multilateral relations with many international actors.

For the attention of Mr Kiyingi, Turkey isolates itself only from terrorists, not from its friends and allies. I would like to also remind him that the death penalty was long removed from Turkey's domestic legislation and that Turkey is fully aware of its international obligations concerning its abolition.

The expectation for reinstating the death penalty, as voiced by the Turkish people after the July 15 coup attempt, should be seen as a reflection of the strong reaction they have felt against the treasonous crimes committed on that night.

In this regard, we note with concern Kiyingi's prejudging and speculative comments, given that this debate has not even been brought before parliament.

The author is the deputy chief of mission at the embassy of Turkey in Uganda.

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H.OGWAPITI
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"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that  we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic  and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."
---Theodore Roosevelt

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