Turkey’s former military chief faces terrorism charges

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey's former armed forces chief faced terrorism charges on Monday, March 26 in a trial that demonstrates the ebbing power of an army that once ranged above political leaders in the country, Reuters reported.

The court, sitting in the Silivri high security prison complex, underlined the fall of the military by denying General Ilker Basbug's opening appeal to have his case considered by the Supreme Court.

Basbug, chief of staff from 2008 to 2010, is accused of being a leader of a shadowy network dubbed Ergenekon, behind a string of alleged plots against the government of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. His lawyer, however, said at the weekend the case targeted not only Basbug, but also "the Turkish armed forces and even, in political terms, the state."

The trial encroaches on sensitive territory in a country that saw three coups in the second half of the 20th centrury.

The case against Basbug features websites allegedly set up by the military to spread "black propaganda" against the government until 2008. Basbug is the most senior officer among hundreds of secularists facing conspiracy and terrorism charges.

For many Turks it had appeared increasingly likely that the special prosecutors, given free rein to investigate by the government, would work their way to the top of the military chain of command in their hunt for anti-government conspiracies.

During his pre-trial detention Basbug has shared a cell with two other generals in the top-security prison at Silivri, west of Istanbul, where an extra large courtroom has been specially built to hear Ergenekon and Sledgehammer-related cases.

Basbug's case was heard in a smaller courtroom in the same complex, as a Sledgehammer hearing was being held in the main courtroom.