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Journalism of Courage
Watched with a northwest-ward gaze from India, Turkey is one of the first vibrant democracies to show up on the horizon. It carries much influence in the Middle East 8212; because of its history, its unique geography and its recent economic successes. It is also watched keenly in the region for the manner in which its strong military interacts with the elected government. In particular, the mystique of the Kemal Ataturk years continues to draw discussion on how to be secular in a largely traditional and richly multicultural society. This is the issue that has brought hundreds of thousands of people on to the streets of Ankara this past fortnight, and it is the issue on which apprehensions of military intervention against the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan have been expressed. For now, a confrontation has been averted with general elections advanced to July 22. But with Erdogan hoping for forceful re-election, Turkey may not be able to avert debate on what amounts to its founding principle.
Erdogan8217;s AK Party had nominated Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul for the post of presidency, which falls vacant this month. His candidature drew objections from the fiercely secular army and from protestors over Gul and his party8217;s Islamist past. From the army this was no light threat; it has many times 8212; the last as recently as 1997 8212; intervened. A constitutional court last week, however, annulled Gul8217;s election on a technicality, prompting the advancement of elections.
