ahlam1399
07-18-2016, 04:16 AM
There could be many reasons why a coup attempt was foiled in Turkey, but the manner in which the people came on the street and resisted military takeover is **thing short of people's revolution. There is a lesson for all, particularly for Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who will **w have far greater challenges to safeguard democracy and promote democratic culture of tolerance.
The whole Turkish army may **t be behind the coup and as reports suggest that even the army chief was made hostage, but the arrest of hundreds of junior ******rs and some generals indicate that it was a major attempt. In the post-coup scenario, we may see a major purge in the Turkish armed forces. Thus, the coup attempt has foiled but the crisis is **t yet over and it may take some time. We may see trial of many army ******rs as the Turkish president and prime minister have stated that the plotters would be punished.
The manner in which Erdogan overcome the crisis with the people's backing showed the confident and trust he has in the people when he said, “I live in the heart of the people and can't be ******* through illegal means.
It appeared as democracy is still taking roots in Turkey, but July 15th would certainly go in Turkish history as historic day for democracy, when people defeated dictatorship and showed faith in the political system.
There is also a lesson for other democracies, particularly in this part of the world like in Pakistan, which has lot of resemblance with Turkey when it comes to civil-military imbalance and political uncertainty.
Pakistan has lot to learn from this foiled attempt and the manner, in which the Pakistani Parliament stood behind the system in 2014 during dharna, was a sign of hope for all democrats. However, support for democracy does **t mean support for those in government, who get elected through democracy. Governments can be ******* through means, available in the Constitution. Yes, people's power can also force them to resign, but under ** circumstance the parties are suppose to welcome or support unconstitutional means.
Therefore, our rulers also have to learn a lot from Turkey, and why people came on street to defend democracy and Erdogan. It is important that the government must remain in touch with the people, while good governance and deliverance is equally important. People can only come to defend the rulers, when they feel he or she looked after their interest.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has issued a very meaningful statement in support of Erdogan and congratulated the people of Turkey for defending democracy.
His statement could be seen in the backdrop of some reports of uneasy civil-military relationship on certain issues. Pakistan always has a fragile democracy but we have seen continued of democratic system in the last eight years, though we are still far from establishing examples of good governance. However, many believe that if the system continues, the civil-military relationship would also improve and people's faith on democracy may also be established.
The way people showed resistance and stood for democracy reminded of the famous Arab Spring and the mini-revolution in Egypt. However, the people of Egypt could **t show that kind of resistance in support of Morsi when compared with Erdogan in Turkey, hence democracy still a dream in Egypt.
People came out on streets on a one call of Erdogan and his message was spread through social media, the forum which he himself curbed in Turkey. The journalists, who were jailed under Erdogan and media, which were banned by him, also stood behind the government and the Turkish Parliament, and rejected the coup attempt. Will Erdogan **w respect the freedom of the press and expression? It will be quite a challenge.
Opposition parties, including Kurdish groups, which have long-standing dispute and some of them are at war with Erdogan, also opposed the coup. They indirectly stood behind Erdogan and thus played their role in defending the Parliament and democracy. How the Turkish president would deal with the opposition in post-coup scenario would be interesting to watch.
There are two possibilities. Erdogan would either become more powerful, developing in dictatorial tendencies the process, or more democratic, taking the opposition along on major issues.
Some of his domestic and international policies remained highly controversial, but his strength has always been staying in contact with the people and some of his pro-people eco**mic policies. Erdogan is a right wing leader and **t a secular, but he maintained a fine balance between Islamic reforms and centuries-old traditions and did **t promote extremism. Some of his policies resulted in the rise of terrorism in Turkey in the recent months, for which Daesh claimed the responsibility.
His decision to revive Turkey's relationship with Israel, review his policy towards Syria, apology to Russia and continued better ties with the United States are the policies which got mixed reaction within Turkey.
There could have been more bloodshed had the whole army staged the coup but the people, who came out on streets and stood in front of army tanks like a human chain, would have shown the same resistance.
The foiled attempt certainly reflected Erdogan's popularity but his post-coup policies would be quite challenging. Turkey, which historically remained under military control for many years and has a bloody history, finally emerged as a strong nation under Erdogan. Despite being a right wing leader, certain reports suggest the key players in the plot also have right wing tendencies.
Turkey, which has come a long way to reform itself as a true democratic state, faced ****** of suicide attacks and attempts to destabilise the government and its system. The reign of terror in the last few months had badly affected its tourism, which always been one of the most attractive tourist resort.
The revolution of social media also played a key role at a time when the coup plotters had taken over official media and also some private channels. Erdogan’s appeal spread across the country like a fire and thousands of pro-democracy people, including those from opposition parties, to defend democracy.
Let’s hope and pray that anything similar to what happened in Turkey is never replicated in Pakistan. We have a very disciplined army which has protected democracy during the last few years. One can only hope that the ‘scripted politics’ would be replaced by true democratic order in the next few elections. It all depends on how our democratic and civil leaders act and how our military refrains from any interference in the system.
The Turkish people have shown their confidence in democracy but it became possible only when the rulers started delivering in people's interest. Thus, both government and opposition can learn few lessons from the developments in Turkey.
The writer is a senior columnist and analyst of Geo, The News and Jang.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/com/YEor/~4/7eqXTsd3Qns
أكثر... (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/com/YEor/~3/7eqXTsd3Qns/135728-Peoples-revolution-in-Turkey)
The whole Turkish army may **t be behind the coup and as reports suggest that even the army chief was made hostage, but the arrest of hundreds of junior ******rs and some generals indicate that it was a major attempt. In the post-coup scenario, we may see a major purge in the Turkish armed forces. Thus, the coup attempt has foiled but the crisis is **t yet over and it may take some time. We may see trial of many army ******rs as the Turkish president and prime minister have stated that the plotters would be punished.
The manner in which Erdogan overcome the crisis with the people's backing showed the confident and trust he has in the people when he said, “I live in the heart of the people and can't be ******* through illegal means.
It appeared as democracy is still taking roots in Turkey, but July 15th would certainly go in Turkish history as historic day for democracy, when people defeated dictatorship and showed faith in the political system.
There is also a lesson for other democracies, particularly in this part of the world like in Pakistan, which has lot of resemblance with Turkey when it comes to civil-military imbalance and political uncertainty.
Pakistan has lot to learn from this foiled attempt and the manner, in which the Pakistani Parliament stood behind the system in 2014 during dharna, was a sign of hope for all democrats. However, support for democracy does **t mean support for those in government, who get elected through democracy. Governments can be ******* through means, available in the Constitution. Yes, people's power can also force them to resign, but under ** circumstance the parties are suppose to welcome or support unconstitutional means.
Therefore, our rulers also have to learn a lot from Turkey, and why people came on street to defend democracy and Erdogan. It is important that the government must remain in touch with the people, while good governance and deliverance is equally important. People can only come to defend the rulers, when they feel he or she looked after their interest.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has issued a very meaningful statement in support of Erdogan and congratulated the people of Turkey for defending democracy.
His statement could be seen in the backdrop of some reports of uneasy civil-military relationship on certain issues. Pakistan always has a fragile democracy but we have seen continued of democratic system in the last eight years, though we are still far from establishing examples of good governance. However, many believe that if the system continues, the civil-military relationship would also improve and people's faith on democracy may also be established.
The way people showed resistance and stood for democracy reminded of the famous Arab Spring and the mini-revolution in Egypt. However, the people of Egypt could **t show that kind of resistance in support of Morsi when compared with Erdogan in Turkey, hence democracy still a dream in Egypt.
People came out on streets on a one call of Erdogan and his message was spread through social media, the forum which he himself curbed in Turkey. The journalists, who were jailed under Erdogan and media, which were banned by him, also stood behind the government and the Turkish Parliament, and rejected the coup attempt. Will Erdogan **w respect the freedom of the press and expression? It will be quite a challenge.
Opposition parties, including Kurdish groups, which have long-standing dispute and some of them are at war with Erdogan, also opposed the coup. They indirectly stood behind Erdogan and thus played their role in defending the Parliament and democracy. How the Turkish president would deal with the opposition in post-coup scenario would be interesting to watch.
There are two possibilities. Erdogan would either become more powerful, developing in dictatorial tendencies the process, or more democratic, taking the opposition along on major issues.
Some of his domestic and international policies remained highly controversial, but his strength has always been staying in contact with the people and some of his pro-people eco**mic policies. Erdogan is a right wing leader and **t a secular, but he maintained a fine balance between Islamic reforms and centuries-old traditions and did **t promote extremism. Some of his policies resulted in the rise of terrorism in Turkey in the recent months, for which Daesh claimed the responsibility.
His decision to revive Turkey's relationship with Israel, review his policy towards Syria, apology to Russia and continued better ties with the United States are the policies which got mixed reaction within Turkey.
There could have been more bloodshed had the whole army staged the coup but the people, who came out on streets and stood in front of army tanks like a human chain, would have shown the same resistance.
The foiled attempt certainly reflected Erdogan's popularity but his post-coup policies would be quite challenging. Turkey, which historically remained under military control for many years and has a bloody history, finally emerged as a strong nation under Erdogan. Despite being a right wing leader, certain reports suggest the key players in the plot also have right wing tendencies.
Turkey, which has come a long way to reform itself as a true democratic state, faced ****** of suicide attacks and attempts to destabilise the government and its system. The reign of terror in the last few months had badly affected its tourism, which always been one of the most attractive tourist resort.
The revolution of social media also played a key role at a time when the coup plotters had taken over official media and also some private channels. Erdogan’s appeal spread across the country like a fire and thousands of pro-democracy people, including those from opposition parties, to defend democracy.
Let’s hope and pray that anything similar to what happened in Turkey is never replicated in Pakistan. We have a very disciplined army which has protected democracy during the last few years. One can only hope that the ‘scripted politics’ would be replaced by true democratic order in the next few elections. It all depends on how our democratic and civil leaders act and how our military refrains from any interference in the system.
The Turkish people have shown their confidence in democracy but it became possible only when the rulers started delivering in people's interest. Thus, both government and opposition can learn few lessons from the developments in Turkey.
The writer is a senior columnist and analyst of Geo, The News and Jang.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/com/YEor/~4/7eqXTsd3Qns
أكثر... (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/com/YEor/~3/7eqXTsd3Qns/135728-Peoples-revolution-in-Turkey)