Kenan Evren

Kenan Evren, born c. 1918 in Ala?ehir, Manisa, was a Turkish general and the 7th president of Turkey.

Related Topics:
1918 - Manisa - Turkish - President of Turkey

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After going to elementary school and middle school in Manisa, Bal?kesir and ?stanbul, he attended military high school in Maltepe, Ankara. In 1938, he graduated from army school and in 1949 from military academy as a staff officer. He participated in the Korean War. In 1964 he was made general. Evren served at various posts like as Chief army. He became Chief joint staff in 1978.

Related Topics:
Bal?kesir - ?stanbul - Ankara - 1938 - 1949 - Military academy - Korean War - 1964 - General - 1978

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He led the coup d'etat against the elected civilian government on September 12, 1980. With the coup, the National Security Council (MGK), which was composed of Kenan Evren, the Chief of the general staff, and the force commanders, dissolved the parliament and the government. According a widely believed story in Turkey, he and his team of force commanders were named "our boys" in the CIA headquarters after the coup.

Related Topics:
Coup d'etat - September 12 - 1980 - CIA

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After the coup, in 1982, he became President of Turkey on November 7 with the approval of the new constitution that was submitted to a public referendum. He is considered to have ruled the country with an iron fist until November 9, 1989. He seemed to have great admiration for the founder of Turkey, Kemal Atatürk, but he shut down some institutions founded by Atatürk and is often accused of deforming the country's legal system against Atatürk's principles. During his military regime, some people were executed because of their political ideas, including a 17 year old boy named Erdal Eren. Kenan Evren is remembered for his comment on these executions: "Asmayal?m da besleyelim mi?" (Shall we feed them rather than hanging them?)

Related Topics:
1982 - President of Turkey - November 7 - November 9 - 1989 - Kemal Atatürk - Erdal Eren

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His reputation as a both military man and a political leader has suffered due to the many verbal gaffes he made. However, some believe that he did a great service to the Turkish republic and without the coup he lead in 1980 the clash

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of militant factions in Turkey would have caused more damage.

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After his retirement, he moved to the Turkish Mediterranean resort town of Marmaris and took up painting.

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