Professional Documents
Culture Documents
No of Copy : 1/5
Headquarters Preparing : Special Operations Force Command
Place of Preparation : ISTANBUL
Date and Time Group : 300950 C MARCH 2009
Code Number : KF – 03
TIME FRAME: C
1. SITUATION:
a. General: Public opinion developed in the wake of the operations involving Priest
Santoro, Malatya Zirve Publishing House and Hrant DINK2 that non-Muslims living
in Turkey were the target of (Islamist) reactionary groups. However, intensive
propaganda activities were staged by the AKP (Justice and Development Party) with
the support of opposing media, depicting the said incidents as having been organized
by Ergenekon.
b. Enemy Elements:
(1) Commissioned various news reports in the [government-friendly] media reflecting
support of non-Muslims
(2) Received intensive support in the wake of the incident at Davos3
(3) Experienced a drop in the level of confidence they enjoy following allegations of
corruption4 by the main parties, particularly the CHP
(4) Are faced with the belief that they are not successful enough in administration due
to the increase in the unemployment rate as a result of the economic crisis
1
The original Turkish version of the document can be found here:
http://www.ergenekonteror.com/filecat.php?id=27.
2
ESI explanation: Andrea Santoro, an Italian Catholic priest was killed in the Santa Maria church in the
Black Sea town of Trabzon on 5 February 2006.
The Zirve Publishing House in Malatya is the centre of the small local Protestant community. Three of
the Zirve employees, one German and two Turks were brutally killed on 18 April 2007 by five men in
their early 20s. The trial against the murderers is still ongoing.
Hrant Dink was the founder and editor in chief of the weekly AGOS, which is published in Turkish and
Armenian. Agos is more than an Armenian community paper, it has an important stance in Turkey’s
democratization movement, Dink was one of the protagonists for Turkey-Armenia rapprochement, the
coming to terms with the past and the situation of non-Muslim minorities. He was assassinated on 19
January 2007 in front of the Agos building by a young man from Trabzon with links to the “deep state”,
the trial is ongoing.
3
ESI: At the World Economic Forum in January 2009 Prime Minister Erdogan criticized harshly the
Israel attack on Gaza during a panel discussion with Shimon Peres. Erdogan in anger left the stage after
he was interrupted by the moderator. He was welcomed in Turkey very supportively by the people and
also among Arab societies his popularity increased.
4
ESI: These allegations mainly focus on a scandal involving a charity organization in Germany. The
Lighthouse e.V. collected donations from Turks living in Germany to be used for business purposes. A
court in Frankfurt in September 2008 convicted three managers of the charity for embezzling 14.5
million Euros. Several people based in Turkey, including some bureaucrats appointed by the AKP and
some businessmen close to the government, were implicated.
(5) Did not achieve the success they expected in the local elections of March 29,
20095
c. Friendly Elements
(1) The campaign in favour of the members of our staff arrested under the Ergenekon
Case – organised by political parties, various organizations, establishments and
associations – has been successful.
(2) The propaganda activities by the commonsensical press and publication organs
against the reactionary groups continue at an increased tempo.
(3) The success scored in the local elections has boosted our morale.
(4) Although a part of the weapons, materials and equipment has been captured by the
security forces,6 [the rest] is still sufficient for future operations.
(5) A temporary difficulty is experienced in recruiting new members for the
organization and the training level of the present staff is high.
2. DUTY:
To question the security of non-Muslims living in Turkey, increase pressure by both local
and foreign communities on the AKP Government, to keep public opinion pre-occupied,
and to change the agenda, particularly [with regard to] the Ergenekon Case.
3. EXECUTION:
a. Operation Draft:
(a) To ensure that the Special Operations Force Command extends support to
those under arrest as part of the Ergenekon Case, to render the AKP’s and its
supporters’ psychological war counter-actions ineffective, to boost the morale
of the organization, and to win public support, fear propaganda will target non-
Muslims. Through black propaganda such activities will be shown as if they
were executed by the AKP and other evil hubs supporting the AKP.
(b) The psychological operation activities to be executed are indicated in Annex B
Psychological Operation Campaign Control Form.
5
ESI: The municipal elections were held nationwide on 29 March 2009. The AKP got almost 39 percent
(in 2004 41.7%), the CHP 23 percent, the MHP 16 and the DTP almost 6 percent. The AKP won the
mayorship in Istanbul and Ankara, the CHP in Izmir and the DTP in Diyarbakir.
6
ESI: The Ergenekon investigation began in the summer of 2007 after a weapons cache was found in the
Istanbul suburb of Ümraniye. This has been followed by four more finds (Yenikent, Ankara; GölbaĢı,
Ankara; Sapanca; EskiĢehir). In total, 88 hand grenades, 15 kilograms of explosives, two shoulder-held
missile launchers, dozens of guns and revolvers, hundreds of bullets, as well as mines and explosive
devices, have been found.
(1) The names and addresses of the non-Muslim population7 will be
determined
(2) The subscription lists of the newspapers, magazines, etc., owned by non-
Muslims will be obtained
(3) The students, parents and employees of educational facilities owned by
non-Muslims will be identified.
(4) The community lists of the foundations and places of worship owned by
non-Muslims will be obtained.
(5) The religious festivals / major holidays of non-Muslims, as well as
locations where religious services and ceremonies are held, will be
collected.
(6) The cemeteries of non-Muslims, which would be suitable for operations
will be identified.
(1) The lists of subscribers to AGOS Newspaper8 which have been obtained
will be published on the Internet, particularly on share sites and reactionary
web sites.
(2) Phone threats will be made and threatening letters sent to the subscribers to
AGOS Newspaper.
(3) Threatening slogans will be written on widely used routes in the Adalar
[Princes Islands] region.
(4) The lists of subscribers will be duplicated and left in locations where they
are easily visible to citizens living on Adalar.
(1) It will be ensured that the lists of subscribers are published by the press, thus
receiving coverage.
(2) Columns will be commissioned about the issue.
(3) The issue will receive coverage in debate programs, with the insensitive attitude
of AKP government being raised.
(4) The media will again cover the Incidents of 6-7 September [1955] and the [1942]
Wealth Tax.9
(5) The level of activity of anti-AKP web sites will be increased.
(6) Web sites in favour of minorities will be supported in terms of content.
(7) By developing new websites like www.tehditaltindayiz.com (“We are under
threat”) and www.agosasahipcikalim.com (“Let’s protect Agos”), in addition to
7
ESI: There are about 125,000 Turkish citizens of Christian and Jewish faith. The biggest group among
them are Armenians with around 60,000 persons. Most of them live in Istanbul and in Istanbul in
certain disctricts like Sisli, Bakirköy, Samatya and on the Princes Islands.
8
ESI: Agos is a weekly paper established in April 1996. The founders were all Turkish citizens of
Armenian descent. It is the first paper to be published both in Turkish and Armenian and has also many
non-Armenian contributors. Today it has a circulation of around 5,000. After Hrant Dink's
assassination, the editor-in-chief of the weekly became Etyen Mahçupyan.
9
ESI: On 6-7 September 1955 the shops, stores and religious places of non-Muslims in Istanbul were
rioted by a mob. 4300 stores, 2000 houses, 83 churches, 27 pharmacies, 21 factories, 12 hotels, 11
doctors’ offices, 5 associations, 3 newspaper houses, 2 cemeteries, 26 schools and 5 sports clubs were
vandalized. It was a concerted action by the Armed Forces, the secret service (mainly from the army),
parts of the government and unions and student organizations.
the present ones, broadcasting will be made in line with pre-determined themes.
Such sites will be effectively promoted.
(8) Web sites that appear to be sourced by the AKP and pro-government media will
be established. Such sites will be promoted as required. Publications with
religious content will be mixed with messages depicting the media of minority
groups, particularly AGOS Newspaper, as targets.
(9) By showing the AKP and reactionary groups as the culprit of the actions executed,
“black propaganda” will be carried out.
(1) Bombs will be detonated at various quarters in the Adalar district/the Princes
islands near Istanbul.
(3) Sound bombs will be placed in identified locations such as the vicinity of AGOS
Newspaper.
(4) By placing suspicious packages at many spots and informing the police of them,
the security forces will be kept preoccupied.
(5) Actions with bombs will be carried out at piers from which boat journeys to
Adalar originate.
(7) One or several popular non-Muslim businessmen and artists will be kidnapped.
(8) In regions with a dense non-Muslim population, vehicles, houses and workplaces
will be set on fire at close intervals.
(9) Similar actions will also be conducted in provinces with a high population of non-
Muslims, such as Istanbul and Izmir.
c. Coordination:
(1) The activities at the psychological terror stage will be coordinated by the regional
commands. Planning details will be communicated to the special plan cell leader
immediately.
(2) The identification and organization of opinion leaders, artists, academicians,
journalists and writers as well as other key communication figures to be used
during the public opinion building stage is subject to the orders of the Consultative
Assembly President.
(3) Detailed plans necessary for the operation stage will be prepared by the regional
commanders and communicated to the special plan cell leader through a secure
channel. The plans will be prepared in a manner corresponding to the requirements
identified below:
(4) Support may be obtained from Lawyer Serdar ÖZTÜRK10 in any legal cases that
may occur following approval from the Special Operations Force Command.
10
ESI: Serdar Öztürk is the lawyer of retired Col. Levent GöktaĢ, also currently under arrest as an
Ergenekon suspect. Öztürk was arrested for alleged membership in the Ergenekon organisation and sent
to Istanbul's court in BeĢiktaĢ on 7 June 2009. The document that led to Dursun Çiçek's arrest was
seized during a police raid on 4 June at Öztürk’s office.
4. ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS:
b. The list of overall weapons, munitions and materials which will be needed under
Operation Cage as per assessment, is provided by Annex C.
c. The regional commands will first endeavour to meet the additional requirements at the
local level. Requests for any requirements that cannot be met at the local level will
immediately be requested from the Special Operations Force Command.
a. Command:
(1) Operation Cage shall be led and managed by the Special Operations Force
Commander.
(2) The Special Operations Force Commander will be stationed at the main headquarters.
b. Battle: Communication?
Ercan KIREÇTEPE11
Naval Officer
Acting Special Operations Force Command
ANNEXES :
Annex A (Action Units Task Status)
Annex B (Psychological Operation Campaign Control Form)
Annex C (List of Weapons, Munitions and Materials)
11
ESI: Colonel Ercan Kireçtepe whose signature appears on the Cage plan, was arrested during an
investigation in April into a hidden arms cache in Poyrazköy. A forensic report in December 2009
confirmed that the signature was his.
ANNEX - A
DISTRIBUTION OF TASKS
CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY :
Vice Admiral A. Feyyaz ÖĞÜTÇÜ12 : President
Vice Admiral Kadir SAĞDIÇ : Deputy President
Junior Rear Admiral M. Fatih ILGAR : Member
12
ESI: Senior Naval Forces Admiral Feyyaz Öğütçü was forced to retire in August 2009 after the
Supreme Military Council (YAġ). Ogutcu is referred to in the Cage plan as “the president” to which the
naval officers had to report to. Öğütçü was one of the founders of the Karargah houses, which the
Ergenekon investigation has revealed were meeting spots for generals plotting a coup d’état in addition
to serving as a storage place for munitions.
Radio Senior Sergeant Major Dalyan MUSLU : Cell 2 member
Radar Senior Sergeant Major Hüseyin EROL : Cell 2 member
Kaz. Senior Sergeant Major Mehmet ĠNCE : Cell 2 member
Artillery Sergeant Major Mehmet ĠNCE : Cell 2 member
Levent BEKTAS13
(R) Naval Major
Special Plan Cell Leader
13
ESI: On 25 April 2009 Levent Bektas, a retired Navy major, was arrested. In house and work place
searches two coded CDs were found belonging to Levent Bektas. After decoding the CDs the “Cage
Operation Action Plan“ was found.
ANNEX – B
b. TASK:
Effective propaganda techniques and mass communication media will be used to shape
public awareness that non-Muslims living in Turkey, particularly AGOS Newspaper, are in
danger, that the AKP Government does not protect their rights, and that the government
pursues religious discrimination.
c. PSYCHOLOGICAL TARGET:
Intimidating propaganda will be used to negatively impact the non-Muslims, as its source
the public will be convinced by black propaganda that the AKP and the AKP supporting evil
accomplices are against non-Muslims.
d. CONDITIONS:
a. In the wake of the murder of Hrant DINK, groups of people stood up for Hrant DINK
and non-Muslims living in Turkey by shouting slogans like, “We are all Armenian”
and “We are all Hrant”.
b. The AKP commissioned various news articles in the press and publication organs,
which stated that the government protects non-Muslims.
c. The atmosphere of enmity towards foreigners has grown somewhat in the wake of the
Davos crisis.
f. THEMES:
a. Themes to be used:
1. The AKP’s target is to establish a theocratic Islamic dictatorship by making the
provisions of Islam prevalent in all the systems of the state.
2. The AKP attempts to keep any citizens belonging to religions other than Islam
under pressure.
3. When the AKP reaches a condition where it cannot be restrained by any powers to
step back, it will pursue the objective of eliminating Atatürk’s Atatürk’s Principles
and Revolutions and topple the secular, democratic, social and legal state and
establish a regime based on religious principles.
4. Our non-Muslim citizens living on the Islands [Adalar] are suffering oppression
and under threat.
5. The AKP Government ignores the oppression of, and threats to, the non-Muslims.
6. A significant segment of the media in Turkey acts under the control of the AKP
and fundamentalist terror organizations.
7. Attempts are being made to silence the limited number of media, particularly
AGOS Newspaper, that defend the rights of minorities.
8. By terrorizing them with propaganda and slogans such as “Die or Leave!”,
“Whose are the Islands?” and “You will be thrown into sea again!”, [the AKP]
intends to force our non-Muslim citizens living on Adalar to emigrate.
b. Themes to be avoided:
(1) The AKP Government respects all religions and beliefs.
(2) All non-Muslims living in Turkey can freely worship and practice their beliefs.
(3) Minorities in Turkey have equal rights and suffer no discrimination.
e. Conservative Citizens:
They must be provoked by the idea that AGOS Newspaper and similar publications
are against Islam and pursue separatism.
c. Writers, Editors, Program Producers and Presenters Working in the Press and
Publication Organs:
By contacting media organizations that own anti-AKP publications, the agenda must
be kept hot. Publications made by them should focus on the identified themes.
e. Popular Artists:
They must draw public attention by making statements in line with the identified
themes during their programs.
Levent BEKTAġ
(R) Naval Major
Special Plan Cell Leader
ANNEX – C
Eren GÜNAY
Naval Senior Major
Marmara Region Cell 2 Leader