A hammer to coup plans

Forty-five military members, including two former commanders, have been arrested in connection to the ‘Balyoz Plan’ (Sledgehammer Plan), which allegedly involves intentions of toppling the AK Party government.

AN OPERATION UNPARALLELED IN THE HISTORY OF THE REPUBLIC… 

DOCUMENTS ARE ORIGINALS 

When the Police Department Criminal Laboratory and TUBITAK, the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey issued reports authenticating the uncovered documents detailing the ‘Balyoz Plan’ as ‘originals,’ the button was pressed on putting the operation in play. Yesterday in the early morning hours, simultaneous operations were staged on homes and military quarters located in six different districts, Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Bursa, Kocaeli and Hatay. The military officials detained are being accused of ‘attempting to stage a coup on the current government in power.’  

THOSE WHO SIGNED OFF ON THE PLAN 

Forty-five retired and active duty military officials have been detained, while four admirals, Aziz Çakmak, Turgay Erdağ, Ramazan Cem Gürdeniz and Semih Çetin have already provided testimonies. Former Air Forces Commander Ibrahim Fırtına was detained in Ankara, while Naval Forces Commander Özden Örnek was detained in Istanbul. First Army Commander Çetin Doğan was also amongst the 45 military members detained. 

FIRST ARMY COMMANDERS 

The houses of all retired First Army Commanders in command after 2002 were searched in connection to the ‘Balyoz Plan.’ Allegations are that the ‘Balyoz Action Plan’ which was established on March 5-7th, 2003 intended to create chaos amongst the public in order to overthrow the AK Party government.   

RETIRED ADMIRALS 

Also amongst the detainees, former Admiral Engin Alan was arrested in Bursa. Alan was known for being the commander in charge in Turkey of conducting the operation in which PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan was brought from Kenya to Turkey. In Istanbul, former Naval Field Commander, retired Admiral Feyyaz Öğütçü, retired First Army Commander General Ergin Saygun, retired Lieutenant General Ayhan Poyraz, former General Staff DIrector of the Center for STrategic Research and Studies retired Brigadier General Süha Tanyeli, retired Brigadier General Özer Karabulut, Vice Admiral Ali Deniz Kutluk, Colonel Emin Küçükkılıç, retired General Staff Colonel Ahmet Metin Dikici, retired Colonel Kubilay Aktaş, Ali İhsan Çuhadaroğlu, Suat Aydın, Bülent Tuncay, Mustafa Çalış, Yusuf Ziya Toker, Hasan Aslan, Hayri Alak and Veysi Aldağ were all detained. Also amongst the detainees are former South Naval Field Commander retired Admiral Lütfi Sancar, retired Brigadier General Baki Erdoğan and retired Naval General Staff Colonel Ümit Özcan, who was arrested in Izmar. Sancar and Özcan were later brought to Istanbul. After undergoing medical check-ups, the suspects were then taken to the Police Department.