Lieutenant Çelebi expelled from that association

Müyesser Yıldız - 12punto.com.tr

The 6th ordinary general assembly meeting of KUMPASDER, which was founded 10 years ago, was held today at the conference hall of the Turkish Retired Officers Association (TESUD). The meeting was chaired by retired Vice Admiral Abdullah Can Erenoğlu, the former Southern Sea Area Commander who served 3.5 years in prison during the Balyoz conspiracy. The board members included retired Vice Admiral Atilla Kezek—who resigned from his post as Chief of Staff of the Naval Forces Command following the upholding of convictions in the Balyoz conspiracy and was recently appointed as the Head of the National Defense Policy Board in the Presidential Candidate Office Executive Board, known as the shadow cabinet, announced by the CHP yesterday—and retired Colonel Oğuz Kaan Yavuz.

The meeting began with a moment of silence for the founder of our state, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, his comrades-in-arms, and our martyrs, followed by the national anthem. In his opening speech, KUMPASDER President Ahmet Tatar stated that this association must continue and that it holds significance, saying:

“We have a cause. This cause has not yet reached its conclusion. One day the tide will turn, and this cause will reach where it needs to go. That is why this association must continue. We have martyrs in this cause. Out of respect for their memory, we must keep the association alive and continue to pursue these cases in solidarity.”

After retired Lieutenant Colonel Seyfettin Alevcan, one of the association's executives, read the management and audit activity reports and provided information about the 2025-2026 budgets, a vote was held on proposals regarding the expulsion of certain members who did not attend general assembly meetings or pay their dues, as well as new names planned to be admitted as honorary members.

As a result of the vote, it was decided to expel 6 individuals from KUMPASDER, including Mehmet Ali Çelebi, who was imprisoned during the Ergenekon conspiracy, later became a deputy from the CHP, and joined the AKP in 2022. Meanwhile, the spouses of the late retired staff colonels Cengiz Köylü, Nihat Altunbulak, and Ergün Balaban, as well as journalist Müyesser Yıldız, were elected as honorary members.

The General Assembly meeting concluded with the elections for the Board of Directors and the Audit Board. Ahmet Tatar was re-elected as KUMPASDER President, while Koray Özyurt, Seyfettin Alevcan, Ömer Faruk Cenk, and Alican Türk were elected as members. Oğuz Kaan Yavuz, Selçuk Güneri, and Mustafa Önsel became members of the Audit Board.

News Source: Müyesser Yıldız