USA Turkish Times - Cannot advance with rigid nationalism, says coup leader

Cannot advance with rigid nationalism, says coup leader

One needs to keep in step with the times; the country cannot advance with such a rigid interpretation of nationalism, said former President Kenan Evren, who was also the leader of the military coup in Sept. 12, 1980. Speaking to Milliyet's Hasan Cemal, who also is an expert on Kurdish issues and is the author of the book “Kurds,” Evren said all the criticisms directed against him because of his suggestion that Turkey become a federal state were politically motivated. Evren had said adoption of a federal system could solve the Kurdish problem, in interviews given to the Hürriyet and Sabah dailies. Evren said, “Turkey will one day certainly decide on federalism, otherwise, there will be no peace.” He also complained about the 10 percent election threshold that "obstructs Kurds from getting into Parliament." Evren dismissed criticisms directed against him by politicians, accusing them of partisanship and losing themselves in petty party interests. “I feel the need to voice the facts. One needs to keep in step with the world,” he said. When asked what he meant, the coup leader said rigid interpretation of nationalism would not advance the country's interests.

Cemal noted that many of the top commanders of the military today were junior officers under Evren when he became president after the coup, and added that he felt it important to note that Evren intended to voice his opinions to them when he went to Ankara in April.The Muğla Prosecutor's Office initiated a criminal inquiry against Evren on Friday for saying that the country could become a federation.

The former president and prime minister that Evren toppled in the military coup, Süleyman Demirel, criticized the coup leader, noting that federalism was suggested by many before but was dismissed because it would run counter to the country's interest.Far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli accused Evren of committing a crime by voicing such opinions, arguing, “Such nonsense will support separatism.”The jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, supported Evren, who he described as a military genius.In a report in the Gündem daily, based on statements made by his lawyers, Öcalan reportedly said even Evren had seen the danger and was now proposing a federal system.

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