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Former Turkish Army Chief Is Convicted in 1980 Coup Former Turkish Army Chief Is Convicted in 1980 Coup
(2 months later)
ANKARA — A former Turkish president and army chief who came to symbolize the military’s dominance over the country’s political life for decades was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday for leading a coup in 1980 that resulted in widespread torture, arrests and deaths. ANKARA — A former Turkish president and army chief who came to symbolize the military’s dominance over the country’s political life for decades was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday for leading a coup in 1980 that resulted in widespread torture, arrests and deaths.
The sentencing of the former leader, Gen. Kenan Evren, 96, represented an important symbolic moment in Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s taming of an army that forced four governments from power in four decades.The sentencing of the former leader, Gen. Kenan Evren, 96, represented an important symbolic moment in Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s taming of an army that forced four governments from power in four decades.
Hundreds of army officers were convicted in 2012 in a supposed plot to topple Mr. Erdogan, but separately on Wednesday, Turkey’s top court ruled that the rights of 230 officers had been violated in the case, a move that opened the way for a potential retrial.Hundreds of army officers were convicted in 2012 in a supposed plot to topple Mr. Erdogan, but separately on Wednesday, Turkey’s top court ruled that the rights of 230 officers had been violated in the case, a move that opened the way for a potential retrial.
The Constitutional Court said that digital evidence had been misused; lawyers for defendants have said that evidence was “false” or “fabricated.”The Constitutional Court said that digital evidence had been misused; lawyers for defendants have said that evidence was “false” or “fabricated.”
In the case of General Evren, who was president from 1982 to 1989, never expressed regret for the coup. He said it saved Turkey from anarchy after thousands were killed in fighting between militant left-wingers and right-wingers.In the case of General Evren, who was president from 1982 to 1989, never expressed regret for the coup. He said it saved Turkey from anarchy after thousands were killed in fighting between militant left-wingers and right-wingers.
In a 1984 speech, defending the hangings of political activists after the army takeover, General Evren asked, “Should we feed them in prison for years instead of hanging them?”In a 1984 speech, defending the hangings of political activists after the army takeover, General Evren asked, “Should we feed them in prison for years instead of hanging them?”
Fifty people were executed, about 500,000 were arrested, and many disappeared.Fifty people were executed, about 500,000 were arrested, and many disappeared.
Too frail to attend court, General Evren and another accused general, Tahsin Sahinkaya, the former air force chief, participated in their trial via video links from military hospitals in Ankara and Istanbul.Too frail to attend court, General Evren and another accused general, Tahsin Sahinkaya, the former air force chief, participated in their trial via video links from military hospitals in Ankara and Istanbul.
General Sahinkaya, 89, also received life in prison. The two men were accused of setting the stage for an army intervention, then conducting the coup.General Sahinkaya, 89, also received life in prison. The two men were accused of setting the stage for an army intervention, then conducting the coup.
Some critics argued that nationalist militants or American agencies had engineered the street clashes to justify army action on Sept. 12, 1980. Such accusations were echoed in the 2012 trial of hundreds of military officers, known as the Sledgehammer case, for the code name of the supposed plot to destabilize Mr. Erdogan’s government.Some critics argued that nationalist militants or American agencies had engineered the street clashes to justify army action on Sept. 12, 1980. Such accusations were echoed in the 2012 trial of hundreds of military officers, known as the Sledgehammer case, for the code name of the supposed plot to destabilize Mr. Erdogan’s government.
News reports said that the Sledgehammer officers’ release, pending a possible retrial, could begin as soon as Thursday.News reports said that the Sledgehammer officers’ release, pending a possible retrial, could begin as soon as Thursday.
Speaking of the 1980 case, Oral Calislar, a columnist for the newspaper Radikal, said, “This is the first time those who have staged a coup have been convicted.” Mr. Calislar was imprisoned for four years and spent another four as a fugitive after his arrest in 1980 for leading a legal left-wing party.Speaking of the 1980 case, Oral Calislar, a columnist for the newspaper Radikal, said, “This is the first time those who have staged a coup have been convicted.” Mr. Calislar was imprisoned for four years and spent another four as a fugitive after his arrest in 1980 for leading a legal left-wing party.
“We had other coups, but those responsible continued to run the country with impunity,” he said.“We had other coups, but those responsible continued to run the country with impunity,” he said.
Throughout the trial, General Evren largely remained silent, and on Wednesday, he declined to speak on his own behalf. Because of his age and infirmity, he may never serve any prison time.Throughout the trial, General Evren largely remained silent, and on Wednesday, he declined to speak on his own behalf. Because of his age and infirmity, he may never serve any prison time.
But Mr. Calislar said that was not important.But Mr. Calislar said that was not important.
“What matters is that those behind the coup are held responsible for all of the uprooted lives and dozens who were executed,” he said.“What matters is that those behind the coup are held responsible for all of the uprooted lives and dozens who were executed,” he said.
Naciye Babalik, a retired teacher who was arrested and tortured for belonging to a women’s group that taught villagers how to read and write and lobbied for day care at factories, said, “These were crimes against humanity, but I have little faith they will pay.”Naciye Babalik, a retired teacher who was arrested and tortured for belonging to a women’s group that taught villagers how to read and write and lobbied for day care at factories, said, “These were crimes against humanity, but I have little faith they will pay.”
She was a 41-year-old mother when, she says, soldiers stormed her home, blindfolded her and dragged her off in front of her two young daughters. She spent the first week in a cramped cell where captors used electric shock in a bid to force her to confess to crimes such as collaboration with communists, but she resisted.She was a 41-year-old mother when, she says, soldiers stormed her home, blindfolded her and dragged her off in front of her two young daughters. She spent the first week in a cramped cell where captors used electric shock in a bid to force her to confess to crimes such as collaboration with communists, but she resisted.
Mr. Erdogan’s dominance of the political landscape and an erosion in freedom of expression and other rights means “the coup is alive and well,” Ms. Babalik said.Mr. Erdogan’s dominance of the political landscape and an erosion in freedom of expression and other rights means “the coup is alive and well,” Ms. Babalik said.
“This way the wounds never heal,” she said. “Every day, I relive Sept. 12.”“This way the wounds never heal,” she said. “Every day, I relive Sept. 12.”