KATHMANDU, JULY 14

In the contemporary world, democracy is a powerful notion.

However, when people use or refer to this word during their daily conversations, they often disregard the history behind it and how people fought for democracy throughout the centuries to achieve it.

In this regard, the Republic of Türkiye, which celebrates her 100th anniversary in 2023, came through a long way to establish and strengthen her democratic foundations. Most recently, our country had a jarring experience seven years ago and thanks to the great tenacity and dedication of Turkish people, our democracy was protected from coup plotters, namely the Fethullahist Terrorist Organisation (FETO).

On the night of 15 July 2016, the militants of FETO; attempted to overthrow the democratically elected Turkish government.

Their agents, who have been infiltrating the bureaucracy and military for the last 30 years, exploited their positions to reach their sinister goals. They tried to take over the control of critical state institutions and news agencies, bombed the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye and even attempted to assassinate the President of the Republic.

Against this existential threat, President Erdoğan called the Turkish nation to stand up to the plotters and our people swiftly and fearlessly acted along in order to protect their will, freedom, future, and democracy. For this cause, more than 250 people lost their lives, whereas more than 2,000 people were wounded. Our country has prevailed in carrying her democratic elements and qualities to the next century, thanks to the sacrifice of the heroes of the Turkish nation.

Despite the fact that the coup had failed that day, the menace caused by FETO; is still alive. The organisation has extended its outreach to more than 160 countries around the world since 1990s under the guise of educational institutions, health centres, business and media outfits.

The members of FETO; use several tools to gain political influence in the countries where they have a foothold, including brainwashing the children they educate, bribing politicians and inciting black propaganda against interest groups which do not cooperate with them. Especially, they abuse the religious sentiments of the Muslim communities in these countries. Therefore, they undermine and corrupt democracy and the state of their host countries.

Turkiye continues her efforts to eradicate FETO; structures in third countries. So far, FETO; affiliated schools across over 50 countries have been closed upon Turkiye's request. Most of these schools are taken over by the Maarif Foundation, the sole entity authorised by the Turkish government to provide educational services abroad. Turkish official institutions and NGOs are actively engaging with foreign counterparts and the public with the aim of offering them correct and comprehensive information about FETO's illomened agenda. It can be expected that Turkiye's fight with FETO; in global scene will stay on in the long run.

In this context, we urge all the nations to collaborate with us against the said terrorist organisation.

Since the coup attempt, the Turkish government has increased its diplomatic efforts to raise the awareness of foreign governments, including Nepal, against FETO;. We have made achievements in breaking the influence of FETO; in Nepal in the past years, thanks to Nepal government's positive approach. We expect our Nepali friends to expand their cooperation with Turkiye in relation to this matter in the future as well.

The moral of Turkiye's story against the coup attempt at its seventh anniversary retains its validity. Democracy is a goal that can only be achieved by societies that make many sacrifices for this cause. The memories of the Nepali people of their hard fight against great odds for reaching this aim are still fresh. Thus, like Turkiye, our Nepali friends also understand the critical importance of keeping their democratic values against the current threats and challenges. In this respect, it is only natural to expect these two countries to fight side by side to protect their democracies in the future.

(The author is the Ambassador of Turkiye to Nepal)

A version of this article appears in the print on July 15, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.