The long campaign leading to the assassination of Dink was launched on the front pages of the Hurriyet newspaper. All of a sudden, Dink’s comments about Gökçen became the headlines of Hürriyet, which is published every day with the same motto, “Turkey belongs to the Turks.” After the Hürriyet publications, the General Staff made very harsh statements about Dink’s comments.
After these publications, ultranationalist groups started to have demonstrations in front of the office of Agos, chanting slogans and holding placards that read “Love it or leave it,” “Your hand will be broken” and “One night we may come unannounced.”
Meanwhile, threats against Dink were pouring in by mail and telephone.
As if all these were not enough, a criminal case was brought against Dink on the grounds that he allegedly insulted “Turkishness” with one of his articles. This case triggered another wave of attacks against Dink. Dink was condemned at the end of the trial process.
The “smoke” was surrounding Dink from all angles. For the final move, hit men made their preparations. Everyone in their district, Pelitli in Trabzon, knew that these youngsters were going to kill Dink. We now know that the gendarmerie, the police, everyone knew that there was intensive preparation for the murder of Dink. They just turned a blind eye, knowing that Dink’s murder was the wish of the “smoke.”
The last move of the “smoke” came on Jan. 17, 2007. Dink was killed in front of the office of his newspaper, Agos.
Dink was killed by the “smoke” that descended on this country in 1915. Turkey, by turning a blind eye to the sins of Talat Pasha and his friends, created this “smoke,” the monster which was going to take the lives of thousands and thousands of people during the republican era of Turkey.
The “smoke” is the dark side of Turkey. The “smoke” is made up of different ingredients. They are the gangs in the state, the media that cover up the sins of the gangs and the judiciary, which refuses to see the crimes of the state, the culture of denial and so on.
The “smoke” is the dark side of this country. The bright side took to the streets during Dink’s funeral and chanted, “We are all Armenians.” The bright side is fighting against Ergenekon today. The bright side will be on the streets on the third anniversary of Dink’s assassination. The bright side and the “smoke” are two sides of this country. The bright side has been mourning Dink. Dearest Hrant Dink, rest in peace. We love you, and we will always remember you!
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/columnists-198522-the-smoke-which-killed-hrant-dink.html