ANKARA
Ankara High Criminal Court found guilty 6 former generals for their role in an ongoing post-modern military intervention investigation.
The investigation into the February 28, 1997 bloodless military intervention had reached the former commanding echelon of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), with several retired force commanders and other generals being taken custody in the fifth wave of operation on Monday.
The investigation managed by a specially authorized prosecutor in Ankara, Retired Generals Engin Alan, Cetin Dogan, former air forces commander Ahmet Corekci, retired lieutenant Gen. Metin Yavuz Yalcin, Vural Avar, former Land Forces logistic commander Kamuran Orhon, former gendarmerie commander Teoman Koman, former National Security Council (MGK) Secretary Ilhan Kilic, former Land Forces commander Hikmet Koksal and retired Col. Hakan Cemal Pelit had been arrested on Monday.
All former high rank generals' inquiry was completed Tuesday morning, and following the inquiry Ankara 12th High Criminal Court has ordered to arrest 6 former military staff for their role in February 28 coup probe.
On the other hand, Engin Alan, Kamuran Orhon and Hakan Cemal Pelit were released. Teoman Koman also released due to serious health problems in the same inquiry.
However, retired generals Alan, Dogan and Yalcin have been behind bars in the "Balyoz" (Sledgehammer) coup plan case.
More than 70 retired and active-duty military officials have been questioned so far in the February 28 coup, and 51 of those have already been jailed during the first four waves of the investigation, including retired Gen. Cevik Bir, who is known to have played a crucial role in the coup. Retired Gen. Erol Ozkasnak has also been put behind bars earlier, who was the secretary-general of the General Staff Ismail Hakki Karadayi in 1997. It is believed that Ozkasnak also had a great role in enabling communication with the media. At the time the media had been used by military officials to put pressure on the former Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan's coalition to resign.
The 1997 military memorandum refers to the decisions issued by the Turkish Military leadership on a National Securtiy Council meeting at 28 February 1977 which initiated the 28 February process that precipitated the resignation of prime minister Necmettin Erbakan of the Welfare Party and the end of his coalition government. As the Erbakan government was forced out without dissolving the parliament or suspending the constitution, the event has been labelled a "postmodern coup" by Salim Dervisoglu, a label that has stuck.
