One-man Rule Remains Bane Of Turkey’s Democracy -By Ofem Uket

Democracy is a government constituted by the people to advance the interest of all and provide basic needed amenities to rural communities and the urban centres within the states.

Clearly, the major stakeholders in any democratic rule are the electorates who of course are citizens at support base and followership yearning to promote good governance through the enthronement of credible leadership.

Often times, the struggle and trust of the people are betrayed by unscrupulous politicians whose singular interest and attractions translate to oppression, despotism and widespread poverty in the land.

At electioneering campaigns, we are told there would be good roads, potable drinking water, quality health care, good education, improved yields in agricultural production in cash crops and an enhanced and stable economy for citizenry.

Perhaps the interest has always been for one man; it is common phenomenon for intolerant kings and maximum rulers to poses the throne and personalise the affairs of the kingdom even when it is very clear that they are not part of the future of the kingdom.

They are not part of the future of the kingdom because the gods are hesitant to make available to them solutions to the challenges confronting the land, haven’t derailed and abandoned the people.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a Muslim by all known standards, why would he decide to oppress his people who have done him no wrong, just to fulfil and meet the minimum standard for maxims.

Therefore, a select group of leading intellectuals, politicians and journalists issued a joint declaration recently condemning the authoritarian policies in Turkey, concluding that a desire for a strong autocratic government by one man remains the fundamental challenge.

The Abant Platform, a prominent discussion forum known for dealing with pressing issues that have faced Turkey since 1998, tackled challenges on the rule of law, politicized judiciary, Kurdish problem and fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and assembly, and the right to dissent.

Organised by the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV), a civic organisation championing the principles of diversity, multiculturalism and dialogue, the Abant Platform held its 34th meeting, titled “Democracy’s Challenge with Turkey,” at the Gazelle Winter Resort in Bolu province between January 30 and 31.

The participants, most of whom are well-known intellectuals from all walks of life, agreed on the absence of appropriate conditions for drafting a modern constitution, warning that a new charter will only serve to provide legitimacy for the one-man rule.

“The drafting process for the new constitution is being used as a vehicle to deliver a dictatorship under the banner of ‘Turkish style presidency’,” the statement said, according to the draft version seen by Today’s Zaman, a Turkish daily newspaper.

Veteran professor of constitutional law and former member of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe Ergun Özbudun said the conditions for making a new constitution no longer exist in Turkey.

Özbudun, who had  been intimately involved in attempts to draft a constitution for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government, underlined that Turkey has the technical expertise to make a constitution but said the political commitment to strong checks and balances is lacking.

Many AK Party officials have been referring to the system they would like to introduce as a “Turkish-style presidential system,” the details of which are unknown to the public.

The Abant Platform witnesses an extensive participation from a wide range of scholars, civil society representatives, journalists and politicians. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Yakar Yakış, former Minister of Tourism and Culture Ertuğrul Günay, author Perihan Mağden, Ankara-based Center of Law, Ethics and Political Studies (HESA) President İbrahim Cerrah, columnist and Professor Mehmet Altan were among the guests. Representatives from the opposition Republican People’s Party, pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Alevi and minority groups also attended the free-flowing debates.

Journalists were among those who attended the discussions, underlining the sad state of press freedoms in Turkey, with many journalists jailed, investigated and prosecuted because of their critical views of the government. Abdülhamit Bilici, the editor-in-chief of Zaman, Said Sefa, editor-in-chief of the Turkish news portal Haberdar; Ömer Laçiner, editor-in-chief of Birikim magazine; Mihail Vassiliadis, editor-in-chief of Greek daily Apoyevmatini; Ünal Tanık, editor-in-chief of the online news site Rota Haber; and Mehmet Aysan, editor-in-chief of Baro Tğrk magazine were all participants.

The platform noted that when the media is under intense pressure and many journalists are incarcerated for their views and writing, it is impossible to chart a path for a new constitution in Turkey. It said the government has already undermined freedoms and rights protected by the current constitution and trampled the rule of law. It concluded that the renewed call for drafting a new constitution is not sincere under the circumstances.

Reha Çamuroğlu, moderator of one of the first panel discussions, stated that Turkey is going through an “extraordinary period” that is not likely to end in an ordinary way. Writer and scholar Murat Belge defined the current period in Turkey as “frightening,” while citing examples from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s instructions to local governors to disregard official regulations.

Placing responsibility on the elites of the country, columnist for Zaman and Today’s Zaman Şahin Alpay said Turkey now is encountering a tutelary system backed by the people who replaced the military tutelage.

–Uket sent in this piece from Abuja