Getting Tough

Martial law and austerity

In textbook military style, the generals now ruling Turkey consolidated their hold over the country last week with the formation of a strongly right-of-center cabinet, a set of harsh new martial law decrees, and draconian economic measures.

Within 24 hours of his own appointment by the junta, the new Prime Minister, Buelent Ulusu, 57, a retired admiral, presented a "nonpolitical," 27-member cabinet that gave the seven key ministries to retired army officers. However, Economist Turgut Ozal, author of an austerity program that deposed Prime Minister Sueleyman Demirel had pushed through parliament earlier this year, was named Deputy Prime Minister. It was a clear sign that the military intends to give the ailing Turkish economy top priority.

In his first speech to the nation, the mild-mannered Ulusu emphasized that his government's first order of business will be a drive against political terrorism. A new martial law decree issued last week left no doubt about that goal. It bans all strikes, demonstrations and political meetings and empowers the military authorities to shoot to kill in the pursuit of suspected terrorists. To the shock of Turkey's traditionally free press, the new government imposed strict censorship.

Since most terrorists have tended to be in their teens or early 20s, the generals directed much of their first efforts to bringing the chaotic schools under control. General Haydar Saltik, secretary of the ruling National Security Council, as the junta calls itself, sent a stern message to all students calling for military-like discipline on the campuses. Teachers were warned to keep their instruction free of political ideology or face dismissal. In Kuetahya, a province west of the capital of Ankara, the military commander ordered all youths to get haircuts and shaves. On the whole, most Turks accepted the law-and-order drive philosophically. Although several clashes erupted between troops and suspected terrorists, the casualty rate dropped off dramatically.

The new economic measures, however, were noticeably less popular. To cut consumption, the government raised prices for heating oil and gasoline by as much as 20%, and the Turkish lira, already devalued 66% earlier this year, probably will be devalued even further. The hopeful sign, on the other hand, was that the regime's tight new controls seemed to be winning the confidence of Turkey's Western financial backers. Two U.S. loans totaling $145 million that had been negotiated by the Demirel government went ahead on schedule; Deputy Prime Minister Ozal flew to Washington to sign the notes.

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