Presidency's Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun said, "Attempts at taking to the streets rather than trusting the ballot box and seeking to make opposition over the claims of criminal organisations are one and the same."
Presidency's Directorate of Communications held an international conference titled "An Assault on Nation's Will: The Coup of May 27, 1960."
The opening address of the online conference was delivered by the Director of Communications Altun.
Director of Communications Altun commemorated with mercy Prime Minister Adnan Menderes, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fatin Rüştü Zorlu, and Minister of Finance Hasan Polatkan, who were sentenced to death by a "so-called" court in the aftermath of the coup of May 27, 1960, and said that the nation would always remember their determination, struggle, and services with respect and gratitude.
Altun noted that the coup of May 27, 1960, could be referred to as "the birth of the tutelage regime," and that the coup era which began with the betrayal of the principle of "Sovereignty unconditionally belongs to the nation" lasted for many years, and that the road paved by the coup of May 27 reached up to February 28 process by passing through the March 12 memorandum and the coup of September 12.
Stating that there was a severe struggle during this period between a handful of pro-Western elitists who deemed themselves to be the owners of the state and those who stood up to their project of a "minority management," Altun said, "A series of socio-political movements inherited from the Democrat Party (DP) assumed the role of representing the nation's will against tutelage, and to counter this, these movements were attempted to be cut off by new coups. Efforts by a pro-Western minority group to seize power with external help at various times inflicted irreversible damage on our nation. They had brother fighting against brother. Our country's development was brought to a halt. The coups hampered our economy's growth and severely harmed our national interests in foreign policy."
"Tutelage and coup enthusiasts appear on the scene at all periods of time"
Director of Communications Altun pointed out that the most powerful one of the socio-political movements in question have been incorporated into Turkish politics in the early 2000s, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Stating that these days were achieved by surmounting numerous obstacles ranging from political bans to closure cases, disinformation campaigns and coups attempts, through President Erdoğan's determined, insightful and strong leadership, Altun noted, "During the February 28 process, our President, who was imprisoned because of a poem he recited, relied solely on our nation, repelling attacks such as the 2007 e-memorandum and the July 15 coup attempt with the support of his nation. Thanks to our President's courage, state-nation unity has been restored, and our democracy has been re-established on solid grounds."
Indicating that the tutelage and coup mentality persists, despite all of the steps taken under the leadership of President Erdoğan, Altun noted the following:
"Throughout the years, this mentality has strived to actualise itself in various ways and methods. Tutelage and coup enthusiasts have attempted to appear on the scene at all periods of time, acting on external instructions. Their only constant characteristics since May 27 has been the hatred and animosity they harbour toward our nation. We note with dismay that some of those who yearn for a coup and tutelage today are not shy about pontificating on freedoms and democracy. Our nation has directly witnessed that those who preach in this regard at every opportunity, who collaborate with dark powers, and who support e-memorandums, sip their coffees and watch the occupation attempt on television with great pleasure during the heinous July 15 coup attempt. These are those who kill the lamb with the fox, eat it together with the shepherd and mourn with the lamb's owner. Some of these people can't stop revealing their yearning for a coup despite all of the lessons learned in the past. Some of them have the nerve to disgracefully threaten our President by saying, "Hope you don't end up like Menderes," and moreover, these individuals continue to sit in their seats conducting their activities in our Veteran Parliament."
Underlining that they know all too well the end goal of these tutelage fanatics, Director of Communications Altun said, "We know all too well those who penetrate into the capillaries of our state on behalf of foreign services, who plant the seeds of disorder under the guise of civil society, who wish to condemn Turkish foreign policy to a pro-Western trap of dependence. We know very well those who are disturbed by us for eradicating terrorist organisations from our territories and borders with the help of our army, security forces, and nameless heroes. We know too well those who lean back against terrorist organisations, who say, "The terrorist organisation is not a threat to Türkiye," and who doubt us questioning "What is our business in Syria, Libya, Karabakh, or Cyprus? Do not have the slightest concern; our august nation is well aware of all of this as well."
"Opposition attempts to overcome its incapacity through non-political mechanisms"
Underlining that the attempts at taking to the streets rather than trusting the ballot box and seeking to make opposition over the claims of criminal organisations are one and the same, Altun said, "As long as the opposition sees every means possible for coming into power, our nation will not find them worthy of power."
Stating that the opposition attempts to overcome its incapacity to do politics through perception management operations and non-political mechanisms, Altun said that these were futile efforts.
Director of Communications Altun stated that, under the leadership of President Erdoğan, the AK Party governments in the last 20 years have embraced the entrustment of the nation and have fought important battles and achieved great success in every field to prevent Türkiye from returning to the chaotic days of the past.
Altun stressed that while breaking the back of the criminal organisations in Türkiye and sweeping state authority to the most remote parts of the country, import of war economy and criminal organisations into Türkiye from regional countries that lack state administration has been prevented as well.
Director of Communications Altun stated that thanks to the national security policies they have implemented that took into account the nexus between terror and criminal organisations, they have both routed terrorist organisations like DAESH, PKK, FETO, and eradicated the illegal structures that feed on terrorism.
"Our nation is aware of this game"
Altun underlined that under the leadership of President Erdoğan, Türkiye stood as an island of stability in the region today, and noted the following:
"Thank God, there is no longer any room left within Türkiye for the terrorist organisations and illegal structures to operate. Throughout history, foreign powers that opposed Türkiye sought a local stooge while criminal organisations that lost their grip in Türkiye sought a foreign patron for themselves. The scenarios are the same and the games played have always been the same. We once again stress the fact that certain actors that have diplomatic and legal issues with Türkiye have abandoned legitimate channels and resorted to illegal organisations demonstrates their desperation. We will continue to fight them. Türkiye has had answers to give to these attempts and will surely continue to do so.
We have reached the current day by fighting the mentality, organisations, system and gangs of the 1990s. This is exactly what we mean when we say 'Old Türkiye.' Criminal organisations and gang members cooperated with shadowy structures to destabilise our country and increase our country's dependence abroad. Murders by unknown assailants were the agonising reality of the previous dark era, it was not our era. We have also fought these filthy mechanisms. We have fought against terrorism. We have prevented Türkiye from becoming a country that is designed through terrorist organisations. While doing so, we confronted the groups of tutelage. We have routed them as well. May Allah bless our President. We have taken out the pawns of foreign forces thanks to the struggle conducted by our President. Today, we say to those who bring up the crimes and dirty collaborations of those days before us that the owners of those crimes are the elements with whom you are still intimate and from whom you seek assistance today."
Director of Communications Altun said, "Those who nowadays appeal to the accusations and slanders of shadowy actors of 1990s previously relied on FETO and the PKK. But they must not have hopes in vain. Our nation is aware of this game."
"No matter what you do, you will not be able to stand in the way of Türkiye's blessed march"
Director of Communications Altun stated that it was hardly unexpected that those attempting to acquit the coup of May 27 also opened the presidential system of government to question and were seeking to return Türkiye to the era of instability and coalitions.
Stating that the millions who shielded their breasts on the night of July 15 for democracy felt in the heart the sorrow of their failure to prevent what happened to Adnan Menderes and his comrades, Altun said that if the coup attempt had succeeded, our state would once again have been subjected to the tyranny of the tiny minority.
Noting that faced with these threats, our nation took the matter in its hands and stopped the tanks with their bare hands, Altun said, "That is why some people try to overshadow this glorious struggle by using expressions like 'civilian coup' or 'theatre play.' They use such expressions that hurt our martyrs, veterans and august nation because they cannot get over the defeat of their friends. These elements of malice are disturbed by the increased strength of our state and its success in combatting terrorism as well as resistance against operations following the cleansing of the viruses after July 15."
"On the anniversary of the coup of May 27, 1960, we would like to give a clear message," Altun said, adding, "No matter what you do, you will not be able to stand in the way of Türkiye's blessed march, no matter what plots you make, you will not be able to stop our nation. No matter who you partner with, you will not be able to sever our ties of affection with our nation."
In the conference's first session, the theme of "Before and After the Coup of May 27" was discussed. Prof. Emine Gürsoy Naskali, the granddaughter of Türkiye's third president, Celal Bayar, spoke at the first session, recalling that the military coup of 1960 was the first in the Republic's history and that those who carried out subsequent coups used it as an example.
Stating that the coup was staged by a group of military officers, Naskali made the following assessment: "May 27 is a military officer's movement. Obviously, there is a civilian branch to the coup. That is the Republican People's Party (RPP). It has progressed from a dual branch."
Describing her grandfather's experiences on the day of the coup, Naskali conveyed that Celal Bayar greeted the military officers who arrived at the Çankaya Palace to take him away with the following words: "I was elected with the people's votes. I shall leave with the people's votes. Who are you to have a say?"
Stressing that Bayar drew his gun with the intent to shoot the officers but gave up his decision, Naskali noted, "Something inside him says not to be a murderer. Then he raises the gun and points it towards his temple. When the gun misfires, the military officers seize the chance and take the weapon away from him."
Touching upon the Yassıada trials, Naskali stated, "The Yassada trials were staged to justify the coup. The court board was made up of individuals who would work under the guidance of the Committee of National Unity. Naturally, the Yassada decisions were predetermined. It was a file that was hidden beneath the carpet. Similarly, preparations for the execution had begun long before the trial's conclusion."
Explaining that the putschists redesigned the state's institutions to reflect their own mentality, Naskali stated that two hundred thirty-five generals, almost 5000 military officers and non-commissioned officers were immediately retired, that the 147s; a list of 147 academics and associate professors were dismissed from their positions, and that 66 of 241 members of the Court of Cassation, 28 of 54 members of the Council of State, 520 of 3 thousand 123 judges and prosecutors on duty were retired without their consent.
Naskali expressed that there were attempts to support this coup in its aftermath and ensure that it remained in minds, and added, "İnönü Government declared May 27 as National Holiday in 1962. May 27 was forced to be celebrated for 20 years."
Stressing that the putschists took certain steps to legitimize themselves, Naskali made the following assessment: "The putschists are concerned with being legitimate. A variety of justifications must be presented, as well as a foundation. When I hear statements that sound like they could be used to prepare the foundation for a coup, I instantly suspect that there is such a thought behind them."
"A dagger stuck in the back of the nation"
Journalist Yavuz Donat described the coup of May 27, 1960, as "a dagger stuck in the back of the nation whose scars still remain."
Donat stated that the ramifications of the 1960 coup are still being felt in politics and added, "One of the biggest ills brought by the 1960 coup is the institutionalization of the enmity of politics and politicians in our country, and this enmity still exists. May 27 is the mother and father of the subsequent coups. A truck has smashed Turkish politics to such an extent that it is yet impossible to reverse its effects."
Donat pointed out that the May 27 coup created a new class in Türkiye, saying, "The system's hidden masterminds. Those who regard the people as 'Haso, Memo' still exist, as do those who dismiss them, asking, 'Is the vote of a professor and a shepherd on the mountain the same?"
Stating that the coup's impacts are still being felt, Donat noted the following:
"Although many years have passed since May 27, the spirit of May 27 continues to live on. If the spirit of May 27 had perished, there would have been no posters calling for the military to take control, nobody would have said that the lights of the General Staff building had been turned on, and nobody would have gone to Kenan Evren and inquired, "Pasha, what are you waiting for?" Today, there is a so-called democrat group in Türkiye that does not believe in democracy and national will. Many people would have applauded if the coup had been successful. Some politicians are among them. Some people are still pining for the coup. May Allah never bring Türkiye back to those days."
"Those who staged the coup developed a force that continues to exert influence to this day."
"Academic and author Rasim Koç said that May 27 disrupted both the bureaucratic structure of the country and the functioning of the state administration."
Explaining that the perpetrators of the coup were a minority group within the army and that this group of 38 people had differing notions in itself, Koç reminded that there were purges inside the group following the coup.
Expressing that May 27 had a great impact on the subsequent coups, Koç said, "Those who staged the coup developed a force that continues to exert influence to this day."
Koç made the following assessment after noting that the Democrat Party (DP) was closed on May 27 while the RPP's corporate identity continued: "It is a coup against a single political party. On July 15, a specific political party was targeted. In 2007, a single political party was targeted as well. These are a continuation of one another, a conception of power based on the tutelage of a particular class, rather than on law, democracy or freedom."
During his presentation titled "The May 27 Coup from An International Perspective," a faculty member from Coastal Carolina University, Christopher Gunn (PhD), argued that the idea that the US was unaware of the May 27 coup did not reflect the truth.
Gunn asserted that the US government was clearly aware of the coup, saying, "Even ten years ago, there was a myth that the United States was completely unaware of the coup and was taken by surprise by it. The materials that have surfaced today, on the other hand, seriously contradict the official narrative. I believe the US was aware of and even anticipating this coup, and it would not have come as a surprise. Because Türkiye, which had NATO's second-largest army, was extremely essential to the US and its NATO allies."
Following his expression that the Turkish army was equipped with the financial support of the US, Gunn noted that the US was a major military power in Türkiye at the time, with 26 military bases and 13 thousand military personnel.
Emphasizing that in researching the coup of May 27, he concentrated on these questions: "Was the United States aware that a coup was about to take place?", "Was it involved?" and "To what extent was it active?", Gunn noted the following:
"If the evidence indicates that the US was unaware of the coup, it reveals a flaw in US intelligence, which is impossible. What became clear very quickly from both State Department sources and New York Times news coverage was the fact that the myth that the United States was taken by surprise is not true. The United States was clearly aware that a coup was impending in May 1960. So was the State Department. You could have gotten this information only if you were watching the New York Times. We can see that there was full coverage in the New York Times almost on a daily basis of the events in Türkiye, the increasing unrest that was on the streets leading up to the coup."
"The US was aware of the imminent coup"
Gunn said that the US administration advised caution against the State Department "becoming involved in the dispute between Adnan Menderes and İsmet İnönü."
Pointing out that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), National Security Council (NSC), and Operations Coordination Board (OCB) were all well aware of the events, Gunn stated, "The US was aware of the imminent coup and, at this point, the questions: 'Why did not it help Menderes?', 'Why did not it save him?', 'Why did not it intervene to facilitate a peaceful transition in Türkiye?' and 'Why did Washington pretend to be naive?' are also extremely important."
Stating that the US was not disturbed by this coup, Gunn made the following assessment: "They knew it, they did not panic, and felt it would work in a normal fashion. The Eisenhower administration was clearly frustrated by the Menderes government. There was a perception of economic mismanagement, which was thought to be threatening the alliance's stability. They also believed that the military reforms suggested by the United States had been ignored. The United States provided suggestions on this matter, which Menderes rejected. Another key reason why the US remained silent about the coup was Menderes' relationship with the Soviet Union."
"We must be extremely vigilant"
The chairman of the GNAT Committee on Foreign Affairs, Akif Çağatay Kılıç, spoke at the second session of the conference. Expressing that today's communication channels are also used for malicious purposes, Kılıç added, "Those who will attempt undemocratic and unlawful interventions in the coming period, I believe, will not utilize the conventional means we are familiar with, but will also grossly misuse social media and try to manipulate public opinion with fake news."
Reminding that following the 1960 coup, the radio and newspapers were used to defame the government and that there were stories of "young people being thrown in meat grinders" in the media, Kılıç said, "We need to realize that the forces behind those coups used those opportunities back then, and now they are trying to use different options. They can still derive profit through some manipulations without the need for a coup in the traditional sense. That is why we must be extremely vigilant in this regard."
Kılıç made the following assessment after stating that there is a perception management operation in Turkish politics that incorporates various sections of the opposition: "This is something we see in the GNAT as well. Perception management operations are being set up based on incorrect information, as though a perceptual infrastructure was being built in preparation for some illegal, non-democratic interventions. Of course, we all have that kind of perception."
Expressing that the stance that should be taken regarding the sensitivities of the country and the nation is clear, Kılıç said, "While putting forward all these, trying to attribute some certain determinant to the July 15 coup attempt such as 'controlled', 'organized', 'theatre play' and so on will not go beyond serving in the hands of the coup mentality."
"It is important for the development of democracy consciousness"
Prof. Burhanettin Duran, a member of the Presidential Security and Foreign Policy Committee, drew attention to the importance of assessing the damage caused by the 1960 coup in a multifaceted perspective for the development of democracy consciousness.
Referring to the common elements of the Turkish coups, Duran added, "We saw that an environment was created that exacerbated conflicts between social and political groups, that the economy was handled in a negative manner, that a constant campaign was launched to convince people that politics was a failure, that the media waged a psychological war inside, and that an attempt was made to create an institutional crisis. These were not unique to the coup of 1960. Events like (National Intelligence Organization) the MIT trucks and December 17/25 were similar."
Explaining that today there is a stronger social consciousness of democracy in the country, Duran said, "The people who took to the streets on the night of July 15 in response to President Erdoğan's call were also confronted with May 27, 1960. And, when viewed in this light, they buried it in history. Following that, they wrote history to demonstrate that no tutelary group could determine the country's fate. In our research regarding the night of July 15, we saw that people were outside because they did not want President Erdoğan to experience the fate of Menderes."
"The beginning of the putschist tradition"
Mehmet Uçum, the Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Legal Policies Council, remarked that the 1960 coup was the beginning of the putschist tradition in the Republic's history, and its ramifications were visible in subsequent periods.
Pointing out that the Republic is a system that unconditionally gives sovereignty to the nation, Uçum said, "The 1960 coup is not just a coup against the democratic order; it is also a coup against the Republic."
Explaining that all of the coups were debated over anti-democracy, but the coups also had an anti-Republican sentiment; Uçum continued his words as follows:
"The consequences of the coups being against the Republic are related to the establishment of a system in the form of the fragmentation of national sovereignty. Looking at the Constitution of 1961, the regulation on the principle of sovereignty was changed. In the Constitutions of 1921 and 1924, there is a provision that "Sovereignty unconditionally belongs to the nation". The Constitutions of 1921 and 1924 did not place institutional structures next to the nation's sovereign power. They did not describe competent authorities. However, after the Constitution of 1961 stated that 'Sovereignty unconditionally belongs to the nation', it established a regulation allowing sovereignty to be exercised by the competent authorities specified in the Constitution. The Constitution of 1982 reaffirmed this regulation. This arrangement is intentional. The purpose of this regulation is to curtail national sovereignty. The sovereignty that, in essence, should be exercised by the national will, through elections, referendums and other initiatives, is divided into institutional sovereignty and national sovereignty."
Noting that the putschist traditions were somehow eradicated in other countries, but that their influence and existence in Türkiye had lasted for more than 50 years following the 1960 coup, Uçum explained, "The main reason for this is that the putschist tradition created a position of sovereignty within the legal systems."
Expressing that the remnants of the regulations introduced with the 1960 coup can also be observed in the Constitution of 1982, Uçum added the following:
"Accepting a new civilian democratic constitution is the only way to entirely eradicate this institutional sovereignty, which has associated itself with national sovereignty and is constructed in an anti-democratic posture. A new, civil constitution must be the final step in the reform process. Although other political parties debate the goal of a new constitution, which was brought to the agenda by President Erdoğan in the 2023 process and supported by the People's Alliance, over system change, recent constitution studies reveal how strong Türkiye's need for a new constitution is."
The third session of the conference focused on the topic of "Democracy Experience Around the World."
The session moderated by the Member of Presidential Security and Foreign Policies Council Prof. Mehmet Akif Kireççi, was attended by Former Deputy Foreign Minister of Guatemala Rodrigo Montúfar, Director of the Centre for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA) of Sabahattin Zaim University (İZÜ) Prof. Sami Al-Arian, Faculty Member of Qatar Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Louay Safı (PhD) and Chairman of Thembekile Mandela Foundation Liaqat Azam (PhD) as speakers.
"We must draw lessons from experiences"
Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to participate in such an event, Montufar evaluated Guatemala's coup history and democracy experience.
Indicating that he would convey the coups that he personally witnessed as well as his personal experience, Montufar said, "This is an important topic. We must draw lessons from experiences."
Montufar recalled that the action taken against the government in 1954 was more of an international intervention than a coup and that the coup was staged in 1963, although the government was led by a person of military origin.
Stressing that the government was weak in the coup of 1963, although it was led by a military officer and this facilitated the coup, Montufar mentioned that a constitutional committee was established subsequent to these coups and steps were taken to consolidate the democracy.
Montufar said, "Concerning the outcomes of the coups, we see that they harmed society, hampered democracy and complicated the development of the nation."
"We need to look deep into the history of coups and the Türkiye's experience of democracy struggle"
Director of the Centre for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA) of Sabahattin Zaim University (İZÜ) Prof. Sami Al-Arian mentioned that the issue of Islam and democracy had been debated for long years.
Drawing attention to the fact that there are no debates concerning Christianity and democracy, Judaism and democracy, and Hinduism and democracy, Arian stressed that democracy has its own history, and some cultures throughout history have proven to be compatible or incompatible with it.
Indicating that democratic values appeared in Muslim societies in different periods and that it was enough to look at the history to see its examples, Arian said, "It is seen that elections were held in the early periods of Islam. People elected leaders to govern them following the death of the prophet and caliphs; they were talking about who would lead them."
Stating that this example demonstrates the response to the issue of Islam and democracy, Arian said, "When you look at the ambitions of the masses in the Arab Spring, you see their wish for democracy."
Drawing attention to the fact that democracy is used as a tool to govern and also to control, Arian said, "Israel is supposedly the most democratic state in the Middle East, and yet we can see how there is an apartheid system today that is defended by the West in order to control a whole nation, the Palestinians. Yet, they call it democracy."
Arian also said, "I believe that we need to look deep into the Turkish experience of coups and democracy struggle. We must discuss how to consolidate democracy, and it should be sustained in every aspect of life."
"The CIA was behind all the coups in the Muslim world"
The faculty member of Qatar Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Louay Safi (PhD), said that according to the archives of the US intelligence service CIA and memoirs that were written, the CIA was behind all the coups staged in the Muslim world.
Stating that "Every military coup that has taken place in the Muslim world has immediately been supported by Western powers without hesitation", Safi mentioned that May 27 coup was a symbol both for Türkiye and the whole world.
Indicating that coups that took place in Syria and Iran were important for the Muslim world, Safi continued as follows:
"We know that today, because of the archives of the CIA and the number of memoirs that were written that the CIA stood behind all the coups staged in the Muslim world. The coup in Syria was done through the encouragement of an American operative called James Meade, who encouraged Husni al-Zaim to undertake a military coup against the first elected President, Shukri el-Kuwatly. That was really the beginning of the unwinding of this early democratic experimentation."
"The coups were staged for global powers to gain control over the Islamic world"
Stating that coups that took place in the Muslim world harmed democracies, Safi noted that global powers carried out or supported the coups to dominate and control the people in the Muslim world.
Safi said, "Every military coup that has taken place in the Muslim world has immediately been supported by Western powers without hesitation. We see that some leaders in the Muslim world tried to protect the interests of global powers to secure their positions. Coups that were carried out in the Muslim world were tried later on in South America."
Underlining that people in the Muslim world were more demanding in terms of transition to democratic regimes, Safi indicated that the search for democracy was prevented both by the West and the authoritarian leaders.
"Under Mandela's leadership, South Africa transitioned to democracy"
Chairman of Thembekile Mandela Foundation Liyaqat Azam (PhD) shared information on the democracy experience of South Africa under the leadership of the former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela during his presentation titled "South Africa's Democracy Experience".
Indicating that South Africa was colonized by the West and governed by kingdoms for long years, Azam said, "Under Mandela's leadership, South Africa transitioned to democracy, and the continent started to be liberated with Nelson Mandela. There will always be those who would like to destabilize a nation and those who have hidden agendas. What is important for us now is to be able to promote active citizenship and to understand our rights."