Turkey’s Erdogan and the Doomsday Clock on decree 687

By Frederick Alumhe

Few weeks ago, the Doomsday Clock, a symbolic instrument informing people when the world is facing imminent disaster, was moved closer to its final hour.  One of the United States-based scientists, who orchestrate the clock, said it was an attention-catching signal that was meant to acknowledge “what a dangerous moment we’re in, and how important it is for people to take note.”

Though the rise of far-right politics,   climate change,  threats of nuclear weapons  as well as United States’ President, Donald Trump’s pledges to reverse done deals  on both fronts were adduced as reasons for moving the clock closer to midnight,  events in Turkey in recent times have the capacity  to  ferociously push the clock to its darkest hour on issues bordering on freedom and human right.

This is not unconnected to the recent Turkish government’s decree number 687 that makes the sale of companies seized from critics and perceived enemies possible, and seeks to transfer the proceeds to the state treasury. The decree, which is apparent a show of shame by the President Recep Tayyip Erdogan led government is coming on the heels of  torrent of anti-freedom policies, churned out by  the president to suppress opposition and stifle legitimate dissent.

The draconian decree, drafted under the purported emergency power put in place after the July 15 failed coup, ensures that Turkey’s Saving Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) has the  authority to sell companies seized by the state through the appointment of trustees. According to a parliamentary inquiry, the Turkish government had already capitalized on the decree by effectively nationalizing 809 companies with a total value of nearly 10 billion  United States dollars by taking over their management or turning them over to the treasury as of January 2017 as part of the crackdown on opposition and critical groups in the country.

It is really frightening and surprising that in a world where many civilized countries are doing everything possible to support and protect private businesses in their lands, the Turkish government is busy closing down  and taking over private establishments under the guise of fighting an imaginary  enemy of the state. It is crystal clear that the decree which is targeted at the Gulen Movement will do more harm than good to the already struggling Turkish economy. It will not only  lead to colossal loss of jobs but would scare away   investors, tourists and further subjected the Turkish government to public opprobrium in the international arena as it has become an open secret that Erdogan is obsessed with stifling anything that is connected to the Gulen Movement.

Most of the affected companies were seized due to their owners’ alleged links to the faith-based Gülen Movement that is inspired by the United States-based Turkish cleric,  Fethullah Gulen, which  the government accused of masterminding the July 15, 2016 failed coup  despite the lack of any credible evidence to that effect.  The Movement also strongly denies any involvement  in the coup with the highly-respected and peace-loving Gulen calling for an international investigation into the coup attempt.

But Erdogan, leaning on his forceful induced-support of the Turkish ruling  Justice and Development Party (AKP)   as continued to use the failed coup as a perfect launch pad to fully exhibit his autocratic credentials, hence,  the government initiated a widespread purge aimed at cleansing sympathizers of the Gulen  Movement from within state institutions, dehumanizing its popular figures and putting them in custody.

Since the failed coup, nearly 100,000 persons have  been cramped  into the unfriendly Turkish detention cells, another 37,000  have also been arrested  all because of  either suspected link to Gulen Movement or because they share ideas that appear not to support government positions in many of its anti-freedom policies.  Even the  judiciary, education institutions, members of parliament,  the media, among others are not spared of Erdogan’s power intoxication.

But the media appears to be one of the worst hit as apart from the detention of scores of journalists witnessed in the country in recent time,  the new decree also empowers Turkey’s media watchdog , Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) to transfer broadcasting licenses, rights of broadcasting and channels utilization of media outlets that are shut down especially during the state of emergency declared following  the failed coup.

It is sad and shameful that  Erdogan has failed to acknowledge the dangerous signal from his iron-fist rulership  and has now decided to complicate issues with a new decree  nakedly targeting on opponents in a veil attempt to perpetrate himself  in power for an indefinite period.

The Dooms Day clock on suppression of human rights and freedom is fast ticking away in Turkey, and is not too late for Erdogan and his supporters to retrace their steps and jettison decree 687 and other anti-freedom policies.

Frederick Alumhe, an international affairs analyst and public commentator, wrote in from Abuja