IZMIR, Turkey
Details about Friday's failed coup have come to light through documents found on the person on one of the accused plotters, former Aegean Army Command Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Memduh Hakbilen.
A 27-page document entitled “Special for Service” was found on Hakbilen, who tried to carry out the coup in Izmir and was detained after the coup attempt, security sources said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.
The document shows that the coup plotters were planning to seize power on Saturday, July 16, at 3.00 a.m. (0000GMT), to take control of all airports, ports, and customs gates at 03.00, and to impose a curfew across the country as of 06.00.
If the coup had succeeded, the document would be sent from the General Staff to the Turkish Land Forces Command, Air Forces Command, Naval Force, Gendarmerie General Command, and Coast Guard Command.
The document also called on military personnel that were on leave to return to their units.
It also says that headquarter managers were assigned to all service commands and that the 1st Gendarmerie Commando Brigade Command in the southeastern province of Sirnak's Cakirsogut region and suitable troops of the Special Forces Command would go to Ankara without delay as part of rapid developments across the country.
Martial law
If the coup attempt had succeeded, a document called “Martial Law” would have been sent to all ministries.
The document included the coup plotters' plan to seize power and proclaim martial law on July 16 at 3.00 a.m. while taking control of all airports, ports, and customs gates, and impose a curfew at 6.00.
The documents say that a ban on leaving the country would be imposed, all governors would be discharged, and that the offices of the governors and mayors for Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and Kayseri would be quickly filled by “The Committee of Peace at Home.”
On Friday night, a news anchor of the state broadcaster TRT was forced to read a declaration live from coup leaders claiming to have taken control of the nation as the Committee of Peace at Home.
Among the martial law restrictions would be halting the activities of all political parties and prohibiting any activities which would “disturb the public order” such as meetings, demonstrations, and marches.
Commanders list
The documents also include martial law commanderships lists and the roster of military commissions.
Under the document, the Istanbul martial commander would be Lt. Gen. Erdal Ozturk, Ankara’s martial commander would be Maj. Gen. Osman Unlu, and Maj. Gen. Memduh Hakbilen would be Izmir and Manisa’s martial commander.
The names of 413 military personnel are on the assignment list for military commissions.
In addition, according to the documents, if the coup succeeded, 450 military personnel on the list would be assigned to the Prime Ministry Undersecretariat, several ministries, and general directorates of state institutions and organizations.
At least 240 people were killed and around 1,500 injured in the attempted coup, which has led to a crackdown on potential supporters of Fetullah Gulen believed to be behind the takeover bid.
A wave of arrests and suspensions has hit the military, judiciary, police, civil service, and schools. The government has said the plot was organized by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization, which is accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state.
