Army coup feared in Turkey

Press, 4 January 1980, Page 5

Army coup feared in Turkey

NZPA-Reuter Ankara In a warning seen by diplomats as hinting at a possible Army coup, Turkish military leaders.said anarchists and separatists were preparing for an uprising. “The developments in our region could turn into a flagrant conflict at any time,” ] the armed-forces command- ! ers said in one of their . toughest statements in 1 years. “The anarchists and separatists in the country are re- 1 hearsing for a general up- j rising.” : The military chiefs called 1 on Turkey’s bickering politicians to unite to overcome i

the country’s political and economic problems. The Prime Minister (Mr Suleyman Demirel), clearly distressed after discussing the statement with President! Fahri Koruturk, said: “We are now in a serious situation. But my Government has been in power for only 30 days, so obviously we cannot take responsibility for the problem.” Turkey has experienced a wave of political killings in the last two years, 1800 of them last year alone and about 200 since Mr Demirel took office. Because Turkey has no money to pay for oil im-

I ports, most homes are without heating or hot water and ■ cities are without light for • up to nine hours a day. ; Many basic goods are i “The Turkish armed forces have decided to issue a warning about the political, ' economic, and social problems of the country,” the military leaders said. The reference to anarchists meant the Right-wing and Left-wing extremists who carry out vendetta street killings. The term, separatists, was, the strongest reference to; date to the Kurdish move-I ment in eastern Turkey.

-i There are at least 8 mil--1 lion Kurds in Turkey, twice -(as many as in neighbouring . Iran, but they have been : considered well integrated into society. ; However, some separatist i groups exist, and signs of , nationalism have spread ■ across the border from Iran. The military leaders also assailed “those who are call- ■ ing for a religious order.”! reflecting fears that Islamic! ; groups, encouraged by the . revolution in Iran, may step up' their activities. I Although it is 98 per cent (Muslim, Turkey has been a (secular State for more- than '5O years.