MILLI ISTIHBARAT TESHILATI

(MIT)

The MIT, or National Intelligence Organization, inTurkeyhas been operational since the 1920s, although it was only officially established in 1965 when it replaced the National Security Service. It combines the functions of internal and external intelligence services. Emre Taner has been its head since 15 June 2005. Although in theory the MIT reports to the prime minister, in practice it remains close to the military, which, despite recent reforms to meet the requirements of accession to theEuropean Union(EU), continues to wield influence over Turkish civilian governments through theMilli Guvenlik Kurulu(MGK), or National Security Council (NSC).

The MIT has no police powers.It is authorized only to gather intelligence and carry out counterintelligence abroad. Internally, it is permitted only to investigate communists (extreme leftist groups), separatists (Kurdish groups), and extreme rightists. In actual practice, the MIT has been accused of using extreme rightists to infiltrate and destroy extreme leftist and Kurdish groups. For example, it appears that the MIT played a role in the notoriousSusurlukscandal that broke in November 1996 and involved official (but illegal) actions to destroy theKurdistan Workers Party(PKK). Kurdish groups have charged the MIT with fomenting dissension among their various factions. Although this has not been specifically proven, it seems a likely priority. Others argue that the MIT is one of the national security organizations that implement Turkey'sDeep StateandEr-genekonorganization.