Gen. Ilker Basbug, who
retired in 2010, is the highest-ranking officer to be caught up in a widening
investigation into the so-called Ergenekon network, an ultra-nationalist group
accused by prosecutors of conspiring to topple the government.
The Ergenekon case is seen as
part of a power struggle between AK, which has roots in a banned Islamist party
and swept to power in 2002, and the secularist armed forces, which have ousted
four governments in 40 years.
The investigation, carried
out by state prosecutors, centers on allegations Turkey’s military set up
websites to spread anti-government propaganda with the intent of destabilizing
Turkey.
The armed forces have seen
their influence decline in recent years. Reforms aimed at strengthening
civilian rule and winning Turkey’s membership of the European Union have curbed
the power of generals.
State-run Anatolian news
agency said an Istanbul prosecutor had sent a notice to Basbug, who was chief
of general staff from 2008 to 2010, calling him to answer questions as a
suspect.
Television news channels said
Basbug would appear on Thursday.
The so-called “Internet
Memorandum” case is just one of many strands of investigations into Ergenekon
that began five years ago.
Several hundred defendants,
including retired senior officers, lawyers, academics and journalists, have
been put on trial in cases relating to the investigation.
Opposition parties have
accused the AK-led government of using Ergenekon to go after its critics. The
government denies the accusations.
Retired Gen. Hilmi Ozkok,
also a former chief of the general staff, testified in the Ergenekon case in
2009 but only as a witness, not a suspect.
