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Gov't And General Staff Split Over Controlling Gendarmerie

24.10.2014 09:36

A government-initiated security package about which Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu gave details on Tuesday has reportedly caused a crisis between the government and the General Staff due to one of its articles, which prescribes the subordination of the gendarmerie, currently under the jurisdiction of.

A government-initiated security package about which Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu gave details on Tuesday has reportedly caused a crisis between the government and the General Staff due to one of its articles, which prescribes the subordination of the gendarmerie, currently under the jurisdiction of the General Staff, to the Interior Ministry.

The Taraf daily reported on Thursday that the Gendarmerie General Command (JGK) will be put under the jurisdiction of the government if the security package is approved in Parliament, and all issues regarding the command will be under the authority of the Interior Ministry, except for military issues. Also, members of the gendarmerie will wear a special uniform, to be designed by the ministry.

However, according to the news report, the General Staff has opposed the proposal, saying the planned change may create security vulnerability; the government, meanwhile, is insistent upon redesigning the gendarmerie because of the fear that the military unit might be used in a potential corruption operation against the government.
Ministry: Regulations on gendarmerie proposed
As the discussion continues regarding whether the gendarmerie will be put under the jurisdiction of the government or the General Staff, the Interior Ministry made a statement on Thursday announcing that regulations concerning its authority, tasks and commands -- which will subordinate the JGK and the Coast Guard Command (SGK) to the Interior Ministry -- as well as the offices of governors have been made in the draft bill.
Fears of gendarmerie being used in gov't graft operation
The news report also argued that the government is insisting on implementing the regulations regarding the gendarmerie in an effort to block any possibility of using the gendarmerie in a corruption operation into the government. After the General Staff officially conveyed the concerns about the government's intentions to the Office of the Prime Ministry, the Interior Ministry made the statement downplaying the General Staff's concerns.

In a written statement released by the General Staff on Wednesday evening, the military institution reportedly warned the government that the current atmosphere is not appropriate for making such changes, which may cause a weakness in security. The statement is considered a covert message to the government, which is trying to make the change without any consultations with the General Staff.

"The General Staff has sent a 'confidential and secret' official letter to the Office of the Prime Ministry regarding the planned changes over the gendarmerie's authority and tasks, and the General Staff's proposal for it. It is the government's responsibility to share the content of the letter and inform the public," the General Staff announced.

According to talk in Ankara's corridors, the issue became more complicated when it surfaced that the government did not previously inform the General Staff of the planned change.

According to current law, the gendarmerie can take part in police-led operations if a prosecutor makes such a request. This means that prosecutors may instruct the gendarmerie to take part in a corruption operation. In the course of a corruption investigation that went public on Dec. 25, the prosecutor instructed the gendarmerie to conduct the operation since the police refused to obey orders to launch it. But the gendarmerie also declined to take part in the operation. (Cihan/Today’s Zaman)



 
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