Retired noncommissioned officers on hunger strike over rights

Ankara (Daily Sabah) - Retired noncommissioned officers (NCOs) of the Turkish army launched a hunger strike in the capital Ankara yesterday, demanding higher salaries.

The strike, organized by the Turkish Association of Retired NonCommissioned Officers (TEMAD), started at Güven Park in Ankara. They demand more rights, particularly an increase in their salaries. The officers claim that there is a profound inequality between the salaries of officers and NCOs.

Last year, NCOs took to social media websites, initiating a campaign for better pay and benefits, along with what they called an end to "inferior" treatment by their superiors.
They recently held talks with Turkish Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Özel and voiced their demands.

Active-duty NCOs are unable to openly protest for their rights due to the military's restrictions, so retired NCOs act as a medium for them. The total number of personnel in the Turkish army stands at 652,138 of which 96,228 are NCOs.

NCOs, who enlist in the army after completing military colleges, serve under military officers whose lowest rank is reserve officer.

Their duties in peacetime often involve training conscripted soldiers, maintenance of weapons, military equipment and other similar duties.
In May 2012, Parliament passed a law to improve the salary scale for NCOs and cut their compulsory service before retirement from 15 years to 10 years. However, NCOs are not pleased with the salary, which they still regard as low.

Though their protest focuses on salaries, NCOs also complain about alleged discrimination in the army, such as the inability of NCOs to receive promotion to the rank of military prosecutor or judge though they have studied law and obtained university degrees. They also complain about the separation of military guesthouses and lodging between NCOs and higher-rank officers.