Departure at Sözcü newspaper: We have overcome many hardships

Journalist and author Aytunç Erkin, who has been with Sözcü newspaper since 2013, has left the publication.

Announcing his departure in his column today, Erkin stated, "I am leaving SÖZCÜ Newspaper, which I joined on November 18, 2013, today. We have overcome many hardships... The struggle I waged against the operation conducted against the newspaper remains in the newspaper's archives, and for that, I am proud."

Aytunç Erkin bid farewell to Sözcü readers by saying, "First of all, I would like to thank dear Metin Yılmaz, who never withheld his support during my transition from editor to columnist, and my colleagues. I also wish success to dear Kenan Kurtkaya, who manages the newspaper today, and his team. Until we meet again, dear reader!"

The full text of Erkin's article is as follows:

"Until we meet again, dear reader!"

Aytunç Erkin's article titled 'Farewell' is as follows:

The title of my article on May 19, 2022, was: "Operation on May 19th."

Ali Tatar... He was a Navy Lieutenant Commander. He was arrested in the Ergenekon case on the allegation that he was "going to assassinate admirals." He was released. However, a detention warrant was issued for him. When the police showed up at his door again on December 19, 2009, he committed suicide with his service weapon.

One day later... That is, on December 21, 2009, Zaman Newspaper ran the headline "Night of secrets in Ergenekon" and wrote the following sentences: "Lieutenant Commander Ali Tatar was found dead in his lodgings." Sabah Newspaper also ran the headline "Lieutenant Commander Tatar died with his secrets." Vakit, on the other hand, linked the suicide to a "panic atmosphere" with the headline "Panic in the ETO /Ergenekon Terror Organization/"!

What about SÖZCÜ Newspaper?

The newspaper's headline was: "The honorable suicide of the Lieutenant Commander." SÖZCÜ, which also announced Tatar's funeral ceremony on its front page, said "He granted his right of absolution": "Naval Forces Commander Admiral Eşref Yiğit, who was alleged to be the target of an assassination plan prepared by Tatar, attended the funeral ceremony of Lieutenant Commander Tatar with his wife, giving the best answer to the conspiracy."

Let us continue with Lieutenant Commander Ali Tatar.

The suicide of Ali Tatar!

Find the Hürriyet Newspaper dated May 14, 2022... Look at the announcement titled "Council of Judges and Prosecutors General Secretariat." It is four full pages! It is an announcement where the HSK (Council of Judges and Prosecutors) decisions regarding judges and prosecutors dismissed due to FETÖ—Fikret Seçen, Resul Çakır, Davut Bedir, Mehmet Karababa, Murat Üründü, Hadi Çağdır, Nurullah Çınar, Bilal Bayraktar, Sedat Sami Haşıloğlu, and Hüseyin Ayar—were published.

It explained the traps set for the "National Army," the ÇYDD and Türkan Saylan operation, Ergenekon, Odatv, etc., one by one... SÖZCÜ Newspaper has been writing about this announcement for days. I am watching the media with astonishment because it did not see this announcement, or did not want to see it. The part that moved me the most was the one about Ali Tatar. Let us read from the announcement:

"Because they formed a parallel structure within the state, in line with the instructions of the Fethullah Gülen community, contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights, the Constitution, and the laws in force... Because they organized investigations to create fake evidence by a structure that included police, judicial, and military authorities... Because they accused individuals in an organized manner, carried out purge operations in the army, and caused the arrest of Ali Tatar due to unfair proceedings carried out against him, and his suicide on December 19, 2009, as a result of his psychological deterioration due to unfair arrests, who is the husband of complainant Nilüfer Tatar and the brother of complainant Ahmet Tatar..."

Who was the newspaper that uncovered the fake evidence and shed light on the behind-the-scenes of the sledgehammer brought down on the army? SÖZCÜ, under the leadership of the newspaper's Editor-in-Chief Metin Yılmaz!

Newspapers close to the AKP and Fethullah were on the "psychological warfare" side of these operations. However...

"Archives Write the Truth"

May 19, 2017...

Turkey woke up to the day with an operation conducted against SÖZCÜ Newspaper. On the day the fire of the national struggle was lit, slander was cast upon the newspaper that had resisted Fethullah and the PKK and was walking on the path of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Lawsuits were filed against its owner, its executives, and its writers!

However...

The memory of history works differently and takes notes. What does it note? How the organization, which was allowed to organize within the state since the 1970s, was crowned by governments... Even that they became the "state"... And how they set traps, primarily for the "National Army," by drawing power from the government!

So who took on the role of the pole star against them? SÖZCÜ Newspaper...

Do you think history did not archive Fethullah's letter-writer during the December 17-25 process? Or those who played a role in the Ergenekon, Balyoz, Odatv, Fenerbahçe, and similar operations since 2007? It archived them! There is also a written archive...

One of the books I read over and over is Bilal Ak's book "Archives Write the Truth/SÖZCÜ conspiracy." The SÖZCÜ operation is not just an operation against a newspaper! It is an action against the "Last Fortress" targeted by organizations aiming at the Republic of Turkey. Let us drop one more note into history.

Atatürk said: "Do not be afraid to speak the truth."

Yes...

I am leaving SÖZCÜ Newspaper, which I joined on November 18, 2013, today. We have overcome many hardships... The struggle I waged against the operation conducted against the newspaper remains in the newspaper's archives, and for that, I am proud. First of all, I would like to thank dear Metin Yılmaz, who never withheld his support during my transition from editor to columnist, and my colleagues. I also wish success to dear Kenan Kurtkaya, who manages the newspaper today, and his team.