When and why the Turkish nationals slapped the terrorists in the face

Jul 28, 2016

It is a shame that the narrative in the media, including in the Ugandan one, regarding the bloody coup attempt against the democratically elected legitimate government and constitutional order of Turkey, is continuously taken up in a biased approach.

By Sedef Yavuzalp

The Ugandans have watched and read from the mainstream media about the unfolding of the most brutal act targeting democracy in the history of our republic.

It is a shame that the narrative in the media, including in the Ugandan one, regarding the bloody coup attempt against the democratically elected legitimate government and constitutional order of Turkey, is continuously taken up in a biased approach.

 The reporting in the media by not condemning outright the FETÖ (Fethullah Gulenist Terror Organisation) terrorist group, turning a blind eye to its acts and criticising the Turkish Government, gives the impression of a tacit justification of FETÖ's actions to bring about a military dictatorship in Turkey. This is rather shocking to the 78 million Turkish people who shall never give up their fundamental rights and freedoms preserved by the rule of law.

 In fact, in the past few years various efforts to overthrow the legitimate and democratically elected government and to take over the Turkish State were ongoing. But on July 15, the worst was to come when a terrorist faction, which had illegally established itself within the Turkish Armed Forces throughout the decades, attempted to stage an armed coup to invade the Turkish State. It was the latest and most vicious act masterminded by the FETÖ leader and carried out by his illegal criminal gang, exposing their motives to bring an end to the secular democracy in Turkey.

 In this most heinous attack against the integrity and indivisibility of the Turkish nation, brainwashed FETÖ terrorists hiding in army uniforms stole jet fighters, tanks, helicopters and heavy assault weapons belonging to the Turkish people. The FETÖ elements started to carry out strikes and bombardments against the Turkish Parliament, Presidency complex, headquarters of the National Police Special Forces, intelligence and other state institutions, fired with snipers at innocent civilians, blockaded the Bosphorus Bridge, raided and took over state and private TV stations, Turksat satellite centre and the Istanbul Atatürk Airport, among others. They plotted to assassinate our President and his family.

 This terrorist act had nothing to do with the entirety of the Turkish armed forces which is made up of patriotic soldiers loyal to our people and ready to shed their own blood in their defence.

The majority and the top level command of the Turkish Armed Forces condemned and resisted this plot strongly. But the most important aspect of this treacherous plot was that the Turkish nation together with the Police took this matter into their own hands.

They took to the streets, stormed the state institutions under attack, blockaded the army barracks, freed the airport and the Bosphorus Bridge and stood in front of the tanks defiantly.

Through this truly heroic stance, they defeated the most technologically advanced weaponry in the hands of the terrorists and take back our institutions. The Turkish people were able to repulse and dislodge the coup attempt in a matter of 12 hours. The nation paid a heavy price of more than 250 martyrs and thousands wounded.  Ever since that night, the Turkish nation in an unprecedented unity, by the hundreds of thousands are out on the streets and squares every single night, on duty guarding democracy.

 In fact, a judicial process within the rule of law was underway for the past few years to remove the people who pay allegiance to FETÖ, who had been illegally infiltrated into the Turkish state institutions including the General Staff. Now full scale operations are continuing within the Armed Forces and other institutions to dismantle the remnants of these serial killers and the undercover networks which continue to pose a great danger to our national security. The three-month state of emergency neither targets nor affects the daily lives of our citizens.

It is a measure, just like in France and Belgium recently, taken in line with the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights in order to ensure a swift action against the coup perpetrators.

In the meantime, the Turkish judiciary will act in accordance with the rule of law and democratic principles to bring the executors of this uprising attempt to justice.

 Even after such a deadly attack on the Turkish nation and the State, thanks to Turkey's strong macroeconomic fundamentals and solid financial structure, the financial indicators have not changed at all. The Turkish economy has proved strong enough to absorb the aftershocks of the failed coup attempt.

To the regret of some, the growth figures of the economy are in a better position than most European Union countries. Our foreign currency reserves and banks are in good state. Moreover, Turkey will launch additional economic reforms with a view to ensuring that the economy continues to function flawlessly.

 In conclusion, this bloody plot of July 15 is probably one of the rarest terrorist acts against the territorial integrity and security of a state in modern history.

 But the most important feature of this date which history books will undoubtedly record is that the brave Turkish nation did not give in to the most advanced weapons and took back its most coveted value, secular democracy, which was hijacked against its own will.

 We thank our friends and allies for their strong support and solidarity in these hard times.

The writer is the Ambassador of Turkey to Uganda

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