The Ergenekon investigation began 19 months ago, after a weapons cache was found in the Istanbul suburb of Ümraniye.
This has been followed by four more finds. In total, 88 hand grenades, 15 kilograms of explosives, two shoulder-held missile launchers, dozens of guns and revolvers, hundreds of bullets, as well as mines and explosive devices, have been found.
It is assumed that these weapons were taken from army depots and were to be used for purposes other than the defense of the country. This threat to civilian safety has led to the media asking questions to the army.
However, the General Staff has remained largely silent. Its only recent statement related to the arrest of Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa Dönmez who gave himself up on 12 January. The source of the weapons found on soldiers, either retired or still on active duty, has still not been explained.
The find of the weapon caches raises the question whether the weapons were on the army inventory, and whether any action has been taken over missing weapons. Minister of Defense Vecdi Gönül has said that the weapons found buried in a place in Ankara marked on a map by Dönmez had been identified as belonging to the Machine Chemistry Industry (MKE). He said that the serial numbers on the previous finds had been scratched off, but that they were intact in the latest find.
Asked whether the Turkish Armed Forces received all their weapons from MKE, Gönül said: “No. We also buy from outside. We have registration for all of them.”
The following finds have been made:
Yenikent, Ankara:
Found according to a map from Dönmez, the following weapons were found on 12 January:
10 kilograms plastic explosives, 15 defense hand grenades, 10 offense hand grenades, 9 smoke bombs, 10 anti-tank mines, 15 bomb throwers, more than 800 G3 rifle bullets, 500 BKC bullets, many flares and Kalashnikoff ammunition.
It was announced that the serial numbers of the missile launchers and the hand grenades had been scratched off. Furthermore, nine Glock revolvers were found in Şahin’s home.
Sapanca, Western Turkey
On the same day, the summer house of Dönmez in Sapanca was searched. 22 hand grenades, 1 Egyptian machine gun, 2 Kalashnikoffs and 8 Kalashnikoff cartridge clips were found.
Emek told the court that these weapons had been obtained during the struggle with the PKK.
Ümraniye, Istanbul
On 12 June 2007, the following weapons belonging to retired Major Oktay Yıldırım were found in a house in Ümraniye:
18 MKE hand grenades and fuses, 7 NATO standard hand grenades, 2 German-made hand grenades. (EÜ/AG)