“Commanders’ statements that cause anxiety regarding democracy and human rights”
The statements, which smell absolutely threats, of General Yaşar Büyükanıt who will take over the position of Chief of the General Staff officially in 30th August handover ceremony of Land Forces Command, are highly desperate and worried regarding our democracy and human rights.
Army Forces’ position under the order and control of civilian institutions is one of the fundamental criteria in democratic governments. In democracy any person or institution is not out of the criticism or untouchable. Thus; criticism against army institutions, like others, are democratic rights even a task for all citizens. Some of the criticism can be unjust or wrong. Yet it does not give right to the commander, who is the most authorized in the army institution, to regard criticisms as dividing the country, changing the regime or harmful for army forces even before taking over his position. The General Büyükanıt regards as the same both “armed movement” and democratic fight by telling “armed or unarmed centres“and continuing as army force will fight against them. It is apparently that such a statement is compatible with neither Fundamental Law nor democratic law state mentality. Moreover, we cannot ignore that such a statement causes to think in a critical manner for fundamental institutions of democratic law state, such as legislation, law enforcement and judgement.
Beside the articles 3 and 4, which are referred by new Chief of the General Staff, in Fundamental Law, we should not ignore the article 2 that identifies state as “democratic law state”.
Discussion on purpose of democracy and human rights concepts, which depend on civil fight for years, by army institutions and limiting these concepts according to army mentality cannot be accepted under any circumstances. As human rights defenders we state once again that like in the past we will carry out human rights fight, according to just our conscience and principles that take up reference international conventions, in the future.
We hope and want to believe that the statement by general is the one, which exceeds its intention and aim.
HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION