THE TRAGEDY OF TURKEY’S COUNTER-COUP
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MEANINGS are given in BOLD and ITALIC
The incredible images from Turkey, over the weekend, showed Turks armed with nothing other than flags foil (prevent (something considered wrong or undesirable) from succeeding) a coup (a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government) attempt by a section of the armed forces. It was, by all means, a victory of democracy. The irony of this, however, is not lost on anyone.
As the hours pass by, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the country’s conservative Islamist President, is using the ‘gift of God’, as he put it, to not only take revenge but also expand his powers, something that he has always desired.
Over 6,000 have been rounded up and arrest warrants issued against 2,745 judges and prosecutors on the pretext (a reason given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason) that they are part of the Fethullahci Terror Organisation, allegedly inspired by Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish preacher and political figure who has been living in exile in the US.
The world is understandably concerned, for, what happens in Turkey has far reaching implications. As a stable NATO partner, it’s crucial in the war against ISIS and its geo-strategic position is key to controlling the flow of refugees from the blood-soaked lands of Syria and Iraq.
The consequences of an unstable and undemocratic Turkey are unimaginable. While none supports the overthrow of a democratically-elected government — it is undeniable (unable to be denied or disputed) that Erdogan enjoys popular support — his actions, not only in the immediate aftermath of the coup attempt but also in the last few years have given the impression that he’s taking Turkey away from its secular moorings (a place where a boat or ship is moored). It is not an exaggeration to say that the attempted coup was waiting to happen.
Erdogan, for over a decade in power, has suppressed (forcibly put an end to) freedom of press. He has now vowed (solemnly promise to do a specified thing) to cleanse the ‘virus’ within all state bodies, making it clear that he intends to purge (an abrupt or violent removal of a group of people) all elements critical of him.
It’s no wonder then that as Turkey slides into authoritarian rule, world leaders have called for restraint (a measure or condition that keeps someone or something under control). But that is likely to fall on deaf ears. Erdogan’s new-found friendship with Putin indicates which way the wind is blowing.
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