CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VII (1, 2) Contemporary-Eurasia-3new | Page 49

HRANUSH DERMOYAN
the business sector in Turkey. The reformers wanted more involvement of
the state in foreign capital and the private sector saw this as a threat. The
commanders could have easily intervened in support of the reforms how-
ever they were divided within themselves as some had a stake in the ex-
isting regime. It can be stated that the military intervention of March 12,
1971, also known as the coup by memorandum, took place due to frag-
mentation in the military. While a faction of offi cers wanted the reforms
to be implemented, commanders and generals who had a stake in the ex-
isting regime intervened to prevent the reformers actions. 23 In this case
the military intervention was carried out not for the sake of the society,
but for the benefi t of the military.
Another coup d’état followed in 1980, which can be described as the
most signifi cant coup in Turkish history. Towards the end of the 1970s
Turkey was facing serious socio-economic challenges, there was an un-
precedented rise in terrorism, and Islamic confl ict between the Sunni
and Alawite communities was on the rise. Thus, although the military
had some stake, the 1980 coup was carried out on behalf of the society,
rather than the military. 24 The army started the operation at 02:00 am on
September 12. At fi rst soldiers surrounded the headquarters of the major
political parties and organizations, especially those which could show re-
sistance to the military. Party leaders were removed and held in diff er-
ent places until the end of the coup. In a very short time the army was
able to take hold of key strategic buildings. They detained prominent
political fi gures with almost no resistance, which means that the coup
had been planned in detail. There was also almost no public resistance
which means that the society was anticipating the military intervention.
At 04:00 am on September 12 the fi rst statement of the NSC was made
public, according to which the military had carried out its duty and tak-
en full control over the country for the sake of maintaining unity in the
country, avoiding civil war, and saving the reputation of the country. 25
The coup d’état was followed by the announcement of martial law in sev-
eral regions and commanders were appointed to take hold of power. The
national assembly was dissolved, political action was prohibited, demon-
strations and strikes were forbidden. The NSC which was in charge of
governing the country had unlimited powers. On this background the
country entered into a transition phase, typical after coups, which lasted
around 3 years. The reason was that this time the coup was not carried
23
24
25
Artur Dumanyan, 1980 tvakani razmakan heghashrdjumy Turkiajum. Patcharnery, yntatsqy,
hetevanqnery, (in Armenian) [The 1980 coup in Turkey: the causes, process and consequenc-
es], (Yerevan: VMV-Print, 2016), 90.
Ibid.
Ibid., 98.
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