For Turkish friends: how do you see the issue about protecting the secular state, but by threat of the army?

Question

Is this a dead-end for democracy? Because democracy and Ataturk's heritage is the secular state, which is what makes Turkey different than oppressive Islamic regimes, but the intervention of the army in politics is totally unaccepted in democracy (reminds of the dictatorships we had in Greece in the 60's and so on). So how do you feel about it? Is democracy on a tight rope?

Answer 1

Of course we don't want this but there is a permanent threat from the remnants of islamic cultists who constantly want to seize power to convert the state into something like Iran. You know what abdullah gul said 12 years ago? "The secularist republic is over with, we are committed to get rid of it" These people got a total of 37% of all votes, even if it had been 99% they wouldn't have the right to destroy turkey's democracy and secularist regime. Army involvement is kind of a necessary evil.

Answer 2

I´m not Turkish, I´m an outsider looking in.
I see that whenever the govt. in power (like the current one) wants to make progress, and this progress will threaten the self-interests of certain groups, these groups pull some strings and let the army threaten to take over. Those who do this are not interested in what is actually good for the majority of the voters, nor for the freedom/real democracy of the population. Nor are they really making decisions for the long-term development of Turkey -- much to the contrary. This constant blocking of progress has made the country suffer. It could be a lot farther along now (economic, academics etc) if it had been allowed to develop freely, in the direction that the voters want it to go in, and not just to serve the interests of a certain elite.

As for claims that the "islamists" are trying to take over, create a regime..... give me a break. Take Canada as an example: it is full of all sorts of contrasting cultures and religions, and it gives them all equal rights and freedom, so basically everyone is happy, and no-one wants to change the whole system. A real democracy in Turkey would give all groups the feeling that they are taken seriously, and they would not act radical after that. (In a peaceful context the few trouble-makers would be easy to pick out after that, and could be properly dealt with). Contrary to the cries, an Islamic govt. does not cancel out democracy.

I get some strange looks when I tell people I want to move to Turkey. And when I remember seeing things like fist-fights in the parliament and police pushing around women at the Unis, I can understand why people think Turkey is somewhat screwed up.
One doesn´t have to agree with AKP´s principles to see that they are finally cleaning up some of the mess, and there is so much left to do. If any other party wants to do a serious job, go ahead. But if the others block everything at this moment, it will backfire and make even more people vote AKP in the next election, because they see who is trying to go forwards, and who is messing things up.

Turkey´s lifestyle has greatly improved over the last 8 years, you can see that everywhere. Voters are waking up to the fact that they have power, and they don´t want things to go backwards again.

Answer 3

Christina this is a fact.People in Turkey want so much the democracy, oyu can see it, and they are opened people, they want the developement of their country, because their country produces so many things..I have so many friends who are University teachers, and they really wish it, because some things bring Turkey behind.And except of the very traditional and religious people, Turkey is a free couintry concerning the coverage at the head comparing to all other islamic countries, and also free to its tourism..
However i thank turks for their hospitality they give me everytime i go, and the turkish friends of this forum who supported me when i complained about Skopje...
Because if we have some problems with Turkey, arte in political level, not in private like with the Balkans, and greeks and turks are not responsible of the decisions of the big forces.We all want peace, because be sure that none will be the winner, just the americans, we ll always be the victims...

Answer 4

I can say this:

despite army's actions
Turkey is now entering into a crıtıcal period
The most critical of its history - I think

A period where the 2 opposıte forces wıll conflict
and the result ıs to be separated the wolves from the lamps

I hope and I wısh that Turkey wıll come out unharmed from this period
and Turkish people to come united as one, as the supposed to be, as Ataturk wanted them to be
And I hope
that our look alike neighbors, will re-create a strong country, relieved from the inner stings and that they will remain strong and peaceful, as we all want
So that they can enter the new era of globalization, keeping their tradition and heritage but having thrown away all the garbage that make themunclean

Good luck Turkey

our thoughts for you

Answer 5

Our army is "forced" to intervention in politics in Turkey and they are totally right i think!

Foreigners can't understand this situation,they think the military wants to act like a dictator ( as you think) but the real fact is different.Our military is protecting our country from being an iran or saudi arabia! if our military didn't be so powerful,Turkey would already be an iran.... and our government,AK Party's biggest ambition is what i told above!
they don't deserve to be our government, in Ataturk's Turkey!

Things are not as they seem to be in Turkey !!!

Answer 6

The government is acting like a kid, trying to do everything as they wish. This is not democracy. They close their eyes and ears to other ideas and to concensus. They are the main reason behind the chaos we have today. Military intervention is of course unaccepted. However, AKP, the ruling party, already knew that their persistence will bring things to this point. The prime minister shouldn't have kept on acting like a dictator, and do things as he wishes ignoring the public's opposition to his presidential candidate.

Answer 7

I cannot answer the question properly about Turkey other than to say that people who have questions never worry me. They seek answers best fitting the situations. The ones that frighten me to tears are the ones that know and have answers. Re: George Bush and all the fundamentalists anywhere.

Answer 8

a mundane state. A theocracy might want to be negative, there might want to be battling over which faith is in capacity. An atheist state might want to ban freedom of religion, something i do not trust (an i'm an agnostic atheist). a mundane state might want to be positive, like we've. the only issue is the diverse communities questioning they ought to get particular remedy.

Answer 9

The army is trying to look out for the rights of the 65% of the voters that didn't vote for the current government. The government seems to have forgotten that it's supporters are a minority. None of these discussions would occur if they made an election first, than chose a new president.

Answer 10

Nothing is on a tight rope, just that somebody is getting their bananas through this kind of phantom threats. Shame on us.

woooof, star wars episode 1 on stage
The chancellor assumes the power of the parliament on the pretext that the republic is in danger.

We don't need no education,'
We don't need no mind control
hey, majors, leave us folks alone