Handan Kazancı
21 July 2016•Update: 22 July 2016
By Tanju Ozkaya
ANKARA
A retired Turkish officer said Thursday purge of pro-coup soldiers would empower the country’s military after last week’s coup attempt, which martyred hundreds.
Adnan Tanriverdi, a retired officer and honorary chairman of the Istanbul-based Association of Justice Defenders, said that Turkish army will be stronger once it is cleansed of pro-coup soldiers.
“The Turkish Armed Forces will be more powerful and effective after purging pro-coup [soldiers],” he said.
Asked if the arrests of generals doing important duties could weaken the army, Tanriverdi dismissed the concern, saying that officers can take up the work of their superiors.
The wake of the coup attempt saw the rounding up of more than 100 generals and nearly 5,000 officers.
After the failed coup that martyred at least 246 servicemen and civilians, hundreds of former soldiers are volunteering to return to the Turkish Armed Forces and replenish its ranks.
Tanriverdi said that former servicemen wanted to serve their country.
Saying that more than 400 people have told his group of their wish to serve again in the Turkish army, Tanriverdi went to say:
“After the putsch [attempt] our retired friends, who want to support the army which was purged of pro-coup [soldiers], have made their wishes known.
“We have forwarded their request firstly to the Presidency as well as the Prime Ministry and Defense Ministry,” Tanriverdi added.
Turkey's government has said the attempted coup was organized by followers of U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen,
Gulen is also accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through infiltrating Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming a “parallel state.”
Mustafa Hacimustafaogullari, another retired senior soldier, echoed Tanriverdi, saying that firing FETO terrorists from the army would not cause weakness, but instead would actually strengthen the military.
*Handan Kazanci contributed to this report from Istanbul.
