Today marks 55 years since the March 12, 1971 Memorandum, one of the important turning points in Turkish democratic life. Although it did not involve a direct seizure of power, this intervention, which forced the government to resign, initiated a process in which military tutelage emerged in a different form in Turkish political life. In this respect, March 12 cannot be considered a classic military coup or an ordinary change of government. Rather, it marked the beginning of a period referred to as an βinterim regime.β
On March 12, 1971, on behalf of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) command, Chief of General Staff General Memduh TaΔmaΓ§, Commander of the Land Forces Gen. Faruk GΓΌrler, Navy Commander Adm. Celal EyiceoΔlu, and Air Force Cmdr. Gen. Muhsin Batur presented a memorandum to President Cevdet Sunay, the Presidency of the Senate, and the Presidency of the National Assembly
This statement, which was read on TRT radio stations at 1 p.m.
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