How Many Elephant Hamdis Are There In The Foreign Ministry?

The contradicting scenarios regarding a leak in the content of a secret meeting on the Syrian war at the Foreign Ministry are raising questions.

Reports on these scenarios which give the impression that they were made by the same source are just contradictory. Turkey is waiting for the identification of those who wiretapped, recorded and then leaked an important meeting. Turkey still remains a state that is unable to maintain safety and security during a top-secret meeting held with the participation of the foreign minister, National Intelligence Organization (MİT) undersecretary and top officials from the General Staff. Nobody will feel safe in the country unless this problem is resolved. However, there is a growing possibility that we are facing an operation to cover up some things.

Every report published by the pro-government media reminds us of Aziz Nesin's "Fil Hamdi" (Elephant Hamdi) story. Let me briefly summarize the story: An award is set for those who catch Elephant Hamdi, a man who broke out of prison. Dozens of Elephant Hamdis are being caught in every city. When the authorities realize that they do not have room for any further Hamdis, the process of catching Elephant Hamdis is suspended. You will better understand what I am trying to say when I give you a list of the moles the pro-government media has so far identified.

What devices were used in the wiretapping is not clear. Some argued that it was a bugging device, but this was not confirmed. Then a diverse set of scenarios were offered. Now we have a broad portfolio including scenarios that have the perpetrators using silicone bugging devices to wiretapping mechanisms. It was also noted that the offices are regularly scanned before meetings for any possible bugging devices and that proper security protocol is meticulously followed. Then what should be said? Some argued that the landline or one of the cell phones in the room was transformed into a wiretapping device via remote control. But it was also noted that jammers were activated during the meeting. So, a bugging device or a phone cannot transmit data outside the room. The Akşam daily thought it had resolved the issue of what the device could be, but then it became evident that this solution did not hold water. Akşam wrote in a news report, “Aerial attack against Foreign Ministry.” It said: “Akşam has learned that the parallel structure acquired a spying device not listed amongst the inventory of intelligence agencies. The wiretapping was allegedly performed by this device.” The General Staff denied this allegation by Akşam, but added that the spying device was transferred to MİT upon instruction from the Prime Minister's Office. This nice scenario was ruined by a simple truth. Without this statement, there would be no further need to seek a bugging device or a person who would install this device in a room that would host a top-secret meeting. However, because we are not a tribal state, it was not that easy to find an institution that would admit they lost such an expensive and delicate device. This is why the general staff made that statement.

Going back to the bugging device story

When the aerial attack argument failed, it was inevitable that they would have to go back to the bugging device story. Well, naturally, they would need a perpetrator as well. The Takvim daily, another pro-government media outlet, argued that a police officer was arrested in connection with this matter: “The mole who leaked the content of the wiretapped conversation was caught in a joint operation by the intelligence agency and other intelligence units. The police officer was working for the parallel state," it wrote. A week after this report, the Sabah daily made another Elephant Hamdi report: “In an event referred to as the espionage activity of the century, how the wiretapping was performed was clarified and the perpetrator was also identified. The perpetrator was allegedly a low-level diplomat at the Foreign Ministry.”

The confusing and clashing stories and reports are not limited to these. Government speaker Bülent Arınç said: “Syria, al-Qaeda and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) will benefit from this. Intelligence analyst Mahir Kaynak noted: “Who will benefit from this? Syria downed our aircraft and bombed Akçakale where dozens of people died. And we changed our rule of engagement.”

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said in an interview: “I would look at who owned up to the thing when something happens. Look who owned up this? The figures who are pro Syrian President Bashar in Turkey, the parallel state elements and pro-Iranian analysts and writers.” The question directed at Davutoğlu was this: “Who is behind the wiretapping scandal?
I think there is an Elephant Hamdi.

BÜLENT KORUCU (Cihan/Today's Zaman)