BY FIKRET BILA
MILLIYET - Following months of intense public attention, yesterday the Ergenekon trial finally began. Not only Turks but many observers worldwide are watching. The case involves thousands of pages of files concerning a vast alleged terrorist plot.
The case will be closely watched by both domestic and foreign legal and political circles. It could even go as far as the European Court of Human Rights.
Such a large, bold case will test the Turkish judiciary. Every stage of the trial will be scrutinized.
Physical conditions
On the first day of the trial, serious problems were faced due to the unsuitable physical conditions. Amid chaos, the trial had to be postponed for several hours. The panel of judges decided to try the defendants and suspects in separate hearings, to limit the number of lawyers, reporters and observers, so as to ensure proper physical conditions for a fair trial.
These first day problems showed that the Justice Ministry failed to take proper preparations. For instance, it failed to calculate the number of defendants, lawyers, family members and reporters who would want to attend the trial, and so a courtroom designed for only 200 people was trying to squeeze in about twice that many.
Importance of the case
The Ergenekon case will have a special place in Turkish judicial history for its size and the content of the allegations. It covers a series of events from the attacks on the Council of State and the offices of Cumhuriyet daily, and allegations of a gang within the state, a terrorist organization and unsolved murders.
The court will have to tackle all this.
Drawing political battle lines
The case has also led to the drawing of political battle lines. Scenes outside the courtroom are important signs of the political meaning attached to the case.
Members of the Workers' Party (IP), the Kemalist Thought Association and other groups are protesting the government during the trial.
On the other hand, the Democratic Society Party (DTP), Socialist Platform for the Oppressed, Ozgur-Der and Socialist Democracy Party have gathered on the other side.
This situation risks sowing tension around Turkey's Kurdish issue.
Whatever the political sides and disputes, it is important that the trial present the facts to the judges.
The judges' burden will be heavy and not at all easy.
But we have to trust in them.
The facts will come out in the course of the trial.