Over one hundred former members of the main opposition secular Republican People’s Party (CHP), declared their support for the threatened 104 ex-admirals who accused the AKP-government of opening up the Montreux-convention and ‘islamisation’ of the army, Cumhuriyet newspaper reported on Monday.
The 124 ex-MP’s declared that “the basic principles of the republic are not for discussion”, and endorsed the critique of the ex-admirals about the Canal Istanbul project of the governments and plans for ‘opening up’ the Montreux Convention, which ensures the free passage of international traffic in the straits.
Last Friday more than 120 retired Turkish ambassadors released a statement warning that the Istanbul Kanal project could put the Montreux Convention in jeopardy and negatively affect Turkey’s “absolute sovereignty” over the waterways.
On Saturday, the retired admirals delivered their critical statement and since then receive accusations and threats by religious groups affiliated with the government. The newly set-up “National Will Platform” declared a “Country Watch”, and accused the ex- admirals of a coup.
On Monday, the Ankara chief public prosecutor’s office issued arrest warrants for 14 admirals deemed to be behind the preparation and propagation of the declaration on charges of “conspiracy to commit crimes against the security of the state and the constitutional order.’’
Meanwhile, over 900 associations, 408 foundations, 27 universities, 550 unions have filed criminal cases against the declaration, Fox News Turkey reported on Monday.
In reaction to these developments the former MP’s said that it is the ex-admirals and ex-ambassadors “inalienable duty and right” as citizens to inform the public about matters that concern their future. “The Montreux Convention is annulled unconstitutionally by the president”, they declared, and added “the actions by the president prompted the public declarations”, they said. According to the MP’s the Kanal Istanbul will be “in the interest of states who are against the Turkish republic. We don’t agree with this.”, they added in their statement.
Finally, they also condemned the threats that the ex-admirals are receiving for informing the public and using their freedom of expression. “To silence and threaten the society is not acceptable”, the MP’s said.
Ahval