Turkey's Islamist government allows intelligence to buy battle tanks, raising eyebrows
ANKARA — Turkey plans to enable the intelligence community to
continue to purchase heavy weapons, including main battle tanks and
submarines.
The government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has approved the renewal
of a law that would allow the law enforcement and intelligence communities
to procure heavy weapons without permission from the military or Defense
Ministry. Both communities have come under the direct control of the
Islamist government.
"What will the police departments do with these heavy weapons?"
opposition parliamentarian Hulusi Guvel asked. "Are they going to replace
the military? I really wonder what they're after."
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Erdogan's approval for the renewal of the weapons procurement law comes
amid strained relations between the government and secular military. The
military has been racked by the arrest of more than 100 current and former
officers on charges of planning a coup.
Under the law, the police and National Intelligence Organization could
also order main battle tanks and air defense systems. Officials said the
legislation has been examined by parliament's Interior Committee.
On April 20, a panel in the Interior Committee inserted a clause that
would enable the law enforcement and intelligence communities to purchase
military platforms. Parliamentarians said the clause was restored upon the
insistence of the military's General Staff and the Defense Ministry.
The opposition has warned that legislation to allow bodies other than
the military to purchase heavy weapons marked a dangerous trend.
Parliamentarians said this could fuel a rivalry between the militaries and
security forces under Erdogan's government.
"We turned back where we had left off," Guvel said.