Editorial by Ilnur Cevik

Turkish daily news

The revelations of businessmen Korkmaz Yigit in a video tape which was

televised live on his two TV channels resulted in a censure motion against the

government which will certainly force it out of office next week or the week after...

Yigit pointed the finger at Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, State Minister Gunes Taner as well as

businessmen Kamuran Cortuk and Motherland Deputy Jefi Kamhi, who were allegedly involved in

an influence buying scheme to allow Yigit to purchase the state-owned Turkbank...

All four categorically denied the charges on another live TV program on Wednesday night and

early Thursday but this hardly impressed the nation. On the contrary the sequence of events

described by Yigit were confirmed by all those accused. Yigit had said these people helped him to

buy Turkbank by using their influence. Those accused claimed they had not encouraged Yigit to

buy the bank or that they had helped him in any way. But they all confirmed they had met him on

the dates and in places as Yigit had alleged.

So it is now the word of Yigit against the words of those accused...

Yigit is not just an ordinary person. He is a businessman who made his wealth through land

development and selling luxury housing. He then went into a buying spree purchasing banks,

historical buildings, TV stations and newspapers. So when he says something and makes

accusations we simply cannot turn our backs on him and say "these are the words of a

disreputable person." On the contrary, the nation has listened carefully to Yigit's accusations and

the end result is that while many people have been shocked, those who knew how "things work in

Turkey" were not at all surprised. It was just a matter of time that someone somewhere would

display the corrupt and crooked face of how things work in our country...

So we have to get to the bottom of this scandal. We cannot expect healthy results as long as this

administration remains in office and has the ability to manipulate the police and the judicial

officials.

That is why Prime Minister Yilmaz has to quit. Then he should allow the judicial process to work

without any interference and thus allow justice to prevail. If Yilmaz and his friends are cleared then

he will certainly strengthen his position in the next elections. If not, then he will face the facts and

accept the outcome.

It is certain that the government will be pushed out of office through a censure motion. Thus we

feel we should not waste time and the government should tender its resignation without any delay.

If Yilmaz does not quit then his main partner Bulent Ecevit of the Democratic Left Party (DSP)

should pull out of the government and force a resignation. The DSP cannot and should not present

the image that it is covering up corruption and irregularities.

We feel the system in Turkey has really been messed up and this latest scandal gives the

opportunity to put our house in order.

Corruption and irregularities are widespread and this has become a way of life over the past

decade which has to end.

There are too many examples of corruption that many foreigners have also experienced in Turkey.

It is no coincidence that an Italian company building a road tunnel in Turkey had to enlist the help

of a influential businessman close to the president and the prime minister to ease his problems

because of the implementation of his contract...

It is no coincidence that a businessman won a contract to build a school after he bought a car for

the wife of a deputy from a government party...

It is no coincidence that people are asked to deposit some money to a bank before they win

tenders in mass housing.

It is clear that contracts are given out with the approval or direct intervention of state officials and

that those close to leading officials always win tenders...

This system has to end. If the latest scandal will serve the cause to wipe out corruption,

irregularities, influence buying, favoritism and nepotism then we feel heads should roll and justice

should prevail. That means everyone involved from top to bottom should be held accountable for

their actions irrespective of the crucial post they hold in the state.