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Feb 13, 2007
Source Turkish Zaman
The footage, broadcasted
on a satellite channel, shows members of the Kuvayı Milliye Association
(National Forces) taking an oath by putting their hands over two pistols and
Koran in a ceremony held at a public building generally used for wedding
ceremonies in the Mediterranean province of Mersin. Chairman of the group,
retired colonel Fikri Karadag, quotes from a speech made by the founder of
modern-day Turkey Kemal Ataturk and says, "Dear friends; you may get killed,
you may kill in this endeavor."
Prosecutors in
neighboring Antalya have launched an investigation into the group after the
footage was broadcasted.A similar ceremony took place in the Kemer district
of Antalya late last year, but prosecutors then did not take any action.
The footage comes amid
fears of rising nationalism, something experts say had a role to play in the
murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink by a 17-year-old assailant.
The assailant reportedly told the police he had killed Dink because he had
“insulted Turkish blood.” The Kuvayı Milliye members say they are pure Turks
“born from a Turkish father and a Turkish mother and have no converts among
their ancestors.” “I am aware of the historic responsibility I take on my
shoulders. I swear on my honor and dignity that I shall work determinedly
for the peace, wellbeing and eternal existence of my nation and my state in
order to make the Turkish nation the master of the world… and to willingly
sacrifice my life when necessary for the homeland, the Republic and the
flag.”
In a statement published
in a local newspaper in Mersin, Kuvayı Milliye Association provincial
representative Kemal Canay said Karadag had identified some 13,500
“traitors” across Turkey and vowed to make them account for their actions.
Canay also quoted Karadag as saying that “Mersin has been invaded by
Zionists and the outlawed PKK.” Karadag also said 90 percent of criminals in
Mersin come from southeastern Anatolia because “Turkish children don’t
commit crimes.” Responding to accusations in the media at a press conference
on Saturday, Karadag said these 13,500 people were “important people” and
that he would not announce their names before confirming certain
information.
Karadag also said the
guns used in the ceremony were air guns. He said the oath taking ceremonies
would continue across Turkey. “I don’t understand why this bothers you,” he
told reporters at the press conference. “One day we will see tens of,
hundreds of thousands of people take this oath.” |
