Lesson number one when staging a coup “ win. Once you cross that line, there’s no going back, there’s no actual forgiveness. Considering that most coups usually happen in countries that have long reigning dictators, or other heads of state who are dictators in actuality, failure to win a coup usually results in death.
In Turkey’s case, there was blood and there will be more. On July 16, a group of soldiers attempted to take over Turkey, in the absence of President Tayyip Erdogan. This was no small disgruntled group, this was a movement by a few thousand military men. They released a statement, saying they had seized control “to reinstall the constitutional order, democracy, human rights and freedoms, to ensure that the rule of law once again reigns in the country, for law and order to be reinstated". Tanks rolled through the streets, fighter planes flew overhead; all happening while Erdogan was out of the country on holiday.
What the rebels didn’t count on was that Erdogan still had loyalists in the army. Many commanders went on television to condemn the attacks. The coup attempt slowly crumbled and ‘order’ was restored. Erdogan flew back into the country and make a passionate speech through the Apple app FaceTime, urging the Turkish people who supported him to come out onto the streets. They did. Loyalists and rebels clashed. Many died. Now over 2500 military officers have been detained. That number might grow. Turkey is even looking to invoke the death penalty. Moral of the story: Always win a coup.
It’s been over half a century since the last coup in Turkey. That one was successful, but most people involved in the recent one were either not yet born or were perhaps kids then. They couldn’t learn from the past. Erdogan on the other hand has been facing a lot of resistance and protests in his 13 year rule in Turkey. He’s not new to rebellion, and perhaps this might not be the last time he will have to face one.
But things are changing in Turkey. Over the past two years or so, Turkey has become a more violent nation. It is also the gateway to Europe for many refugees passing through from Syria. Trouble is around the corner, always. A win for the military would have made things worse for Turkey. The last thing they would want was a battle between a military administration and the people, a clear majority of whom support Erdogan and want a free country.
Erdogan is attempting to reform the constitution, via a referendum. But that is just the face of changing Turkey. Beneath the surface, many say there lies a very devious man, who enjoys power and will look to keep it. No wonder there are calls from his government to impose the death penalty on those who led the attempted coup, although they are yet to be found. He is also trying to get the US to extradite a cleric who has been a thorn in his side for years, and who he blames for the coup.
The coup failed because there was no unity, there was no leader to step in and lead the country and there was no strategy in terms of communication etc. Next time might be different. Post this, Turkey might turn out to be the democratic nation that many of its residents want, or Erdogan might turn around and be the sly despot that many claim he is. All said and done, this coup has opened a can of worms.
