While elected governments were dismissed with the coups of 1960, 1971, 1980 and postmodern coup February 28, thousands of people faced years of grievances. While Turkey's history of coups harbors dark relations, betrayals and deaths in the same pot, the political picture that emerged on and after February 28, what happened in the world and in our geography, shows us that we need to remember that dark period again.
One of the darkest processes in the history of the Republic of Turkey is the period of February 28. For our country and Islamic countries, the events that led to February 28 and what happened after that process are more important. As a result of the political events in the country after 1980 and the developments in the world, National Vision (Milli Gorus), the main view of the nation, became stronger. After the legendary municipal services, as a result of the general elections held in 1995, the Welfare (Refah) Party became the first party. After the Refah Party emerged as the first party in the 1995 Turkish general elections, despite all the obstacles, on 28 June 1996 the Refah-Yol government was established. The Welfare-Yol government, which was established under the premiership of National Vision leader Prof. Dr. Necmettin Erbakan Hodja, accomplished legendary things.
WORKERS, CIVIL SERVANTS AND RETIRED PEOPLE SMILE
With the Refah Party's coming to the government, the face of Turkey changed; workers, civil servants and pensioners smiled. Legendary raises were made to workers, civil servants and pensioners without imposing a penny of debt and additional taxes. The civil servants received a 130 percent raise in one year. In 1996, a 101 percent increase was achieved in the ‘minimum wage’. With the conclusion of the collective bargaining negotiations in a record time like three months, as the worker wanted, a 102 percent increase in salaries was achieved. 116 percent real raise was made in one year for civil servant retirees. A real increase of 121 percent was made in one year for retirees. Social Security Organization for Artisans and the Self-Employed (Bağ-Kur) retirees were given a 221 percent real salary increase in one year.
FARMERS, INDUSTRIALISTS AND TRADESMEN SMILE
The funds allocated from the budget to agricultural support increased with 150 percent; Wheat, hazelnut, beet, tobacco and all base prices increased up to 312 percent. A 100 percent increase in fertilizer support was achieved. The price of agricultural purchases was paid to the farmer in the short term. Civil servants, workers, pensioners and farmers saw money in their pockets and the shopkeepers laughed. Tradesmen credit limits have been doubled. It was made easier to pay premium debts (not like now, without adding interest). The bureaucratic obstacles to the luggage trade have been removed. Industrial production was increased from 30 percent to 90 percent. Border trade was developed.
STRONG FOREIGN POLICY
The Refah-Yol Government, which displayed a personal foreign policy, not only revived its relations with Islamic countries, but also established the D-8, the Organization for Cooperation of Islamic Countries, which will be considered the first step of the ‘Islamic Common Market’ and resonated all over the world. The terrorist organization (PKK) supporter, Hammer Power, which is believed to be ‘can't handle’ by everyone and every segment, has been removed. 20 million dollars were taken from Libya, which has not been received for years. Erbakan Hodja, contrary to the custom, visited Islamic countries, not the United States of America (USA). An example of independent and dignified foreign policy was shown. The internal and external circles that wanted to hinder all these services took action and the steps of February 28 were taken. In the following period, the Refah Party was closed by the Constitutional Court on January 16, 1998, at the end of the 8-month trial.
ERBAKAN HODJA DID NOT PERMIT THE WILL OF THE NATION BEING OPPRESSED
The actions of the Refah-Yol government in the political, foreign policy, economy and spiritual fields disturbed the Western and pro-Western circles. After the D-8, which was established under the leadership of Turkey with the great efforts of Erbakan Hodja, the Western world, especially the USA and Israel, began to openly express their discomfort. These groups, led by the Western mentality, their supporters and the media in our country prepared the preconditions for the postmodern coup. Baseless accusations against the government were made in the media; Islam and Muslims were vilified. Despite all this, Erbakan Hodja, did not act as other politicians who addressed the junta members, but stood upright and did not crush the will of the nation against some high-ranking soldiers under the influence of the USA.
GANG OF 5 AT WORK
According to the protocol of the Refah-Yol government, a rotating prime ministership was envisaged. In the first 2 years of the Refah-Yol government, which will last for 4 years, Erbakan Hodja will be the prime minister, and in the remaining 2 years, Tansu Çiller will be the prime minister. However, as a result of the provocation of some media under the command of the Zionists, junta members and a five-member gang that looks like an Non Governmental Organization (NGO) during the February 28 process, Tansu Çiller's term as prime minister was brought forward for the welfare of the people and the homeland. Thereupon, 282 deputies signed that Tansu Çiller would receive a vote of confidence. Ignoring all these signatures, then President Süleyman Demirel gave the task of forming a government to Motherland Party (ANAP) Chairman Mesut Yılmaz instead of the True Path Party (Doğru Yol Partisi).
ERBAKAN HODJA PROVED WITH ENCRYPTED LETTER THAT THE COUP ORDER CAME FROM USA
As in every coup in Turkey, on February 28, the main actor was the USA and Western powers, emerged later on. National Vision (Milli Görüş) leader Prof. Dr. Necmettin Erbakan proved that America was behind the coup by revealing the encrypted letter sent by the US to the US Embassy in Ankara. In the confidential and encrypted letter that US Secretary of State Warren Christopher wrote to Ankara Ambassador Marc Grossman in October 1996; It is ordered that the USA is disturbed by the actions of the Refah-Yol government and that the Refah-Yol government should be removed from office as soon as possible. In the letter signed by Christopher, Ambassador Grossman in Ankara is asked to force the pro-US soldiers in the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) to remove the government from power and to plan for this.
WHAT WAS WRITTEN IN THE ENCRYPTED LETTER?
The important parts of the secret and encrypted letter written by US Secretary of State Warren Christopher to Ankara Ambassador Marc Grossman in October 1996, 4 months after Refah-Yol came to power, are as follows:
“Our department is deeply concerned that Prime Minister Erbakan, inspired by his ideology, is separating foreign policy from the West and reorienting it towards the Arab and Muslim world. In our opinion, Turkey's current stance on strengthening its ties with Iran, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria and Sudan is against our national interests (hostile). Since the True Path Party has failed to moderate Erbakan's radical Islamic rhetoric (commitments), its coalition with the Refah Party appears to be unproductive. We believe that Tansu Çiller's withdrawal from the coalition will overthrow Erbakan and lead the country to early general elections. Although the result is not certain, the Refah Party will most likely come out of the elections stronger than before. Turkey is bound to remain the key strategic partner of the United States, and our success in achieving and maintaining this position will directly affect our national interests. The Turkish military must be compelled to take action so that it will make greater efforts towards achieving it. We look forward to your action plans and comments on this matter.”
EFFECTS OF FEBRUARY 28: TODAY’S POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND FOREIGN POLICY ENVIRONMENT PREPARED
After February 28, the Refah Party was closed down. Some practices were put forward, almost as if a war was waged against Islam. A coefficient was applied to graduates of Imam Hatip high schools, headscarved people were prohibited from working in government institutions and studying at universities. ‘Persuasion rooms’ were set up at the university for young girls to remove their headscarves. Many people whose spouses were wearing headscarves were blacklisted, madrasas and religious education institutions were closed. People were not even allowed to donate their sacrificial skins to foundations and associations. With and after February 28, the current political, economic and foreign policy environment was prepared.
With the postmodern coup of February 28 that was realized with the cooperation of internal and external circles led by the USA, that anniversary we left behind, Turkey experienced one of its darkest periods. With the postmodern coup, which took place on February 28, both the country was blocked and the current political, economic and foreign policy environment was prepared.