16/12/2010 14:57
Coup trial begins in Turkey
Today the first hearing of the trial about the so-called "Sledgehammer" ('Balyoz') coup plan will be heard in Istanbul. The coup plan initially made the headlines of Taraf newspaper in 2003, alleging that the 1st Army Command had plotted to overthrow the government of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). 196 defendants are indicted in the scope of the Sledgehammer Coup Plan Trial, BBC reports.
According to documents published on 20 January 2010, the "Sledgehammer Operation Plan" was prepared by the military junta under General Çetin Doğan, then 1st Army Commander. Plans with the code names "Chador", "Beard", "Suga" and "Thunderstorm" were prepared with the aim to create the basis for a coup.
Furthermore, it was said that the Fatih and Beyazit Mosques, two major mosques in Istanbul, should be bombed in order to force the government to declare martial law. It was supposedly planned to make a Turkish jet plane crash over Greek air space with the aim of creating tension between the neighbouring countries. Additionally, it was apparently part of the plan to arrest democratic-minded journalists after the coup.
Retired General Doğan was accused of being the brain behind the plan but he rejected the allegations.
The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) had announced that these plans were part of scenarios of Planning Seminars held on 5-7 March 2003.