Vatansever Kuvvetler Güç Birliği Hareketi

{{short description|Turkish nationalist organization}}

Vatansever Kuvvetler Güç Birliği Hareketi (VKGB, variously translated as Union of Patriotic Forces, Association for the Union of Patriotic Forces, Power Union of Patriotic Forces etc.) is a Turkish ultranationalist group, various members of which are charged in the Ergenekon trials, after the VKGB trial was merged with the Ergenekon trials in 2009. VKGB was headed by Taner Ünal.Today's Zaman, 15 October 2009, [http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?load=detay&link=189956 Ankara court rules to merge VKGB trial with Ergenekon] At the time of the arrest of the VKGB leadership in mid-2007, it was estimated to have 2-3000 members.Hurriyet Daily News, 5 July 2007, [http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/12-members-of-patriotic-gang-arrested.aspx?pageID=438&n=12-members-of-patriotic-gang-arrested-2007-07-05 12 members of 'patriotic gang' arrested] It had been founded in April 2005 by former Grey Wolves as part of a new form of ultranationalism labelled "ulusalcılık" with a greater emphasis on anti-imperialism and more open to alliances with the left.Turkish Daily News, 10 July 2007, [http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/patriotic-forces-vs-crime.aspx?pageID=438&n=patriotic-forces-vs.-crime-2007-07-10 'Patriotic' forces vs. crime] In 2006 Semih Tufan Gulaltay said he was considering merging his National Unity Party with the VKGB.Today's Zaman, 20 May 2006, [http://todayszaman.com/news-33274-news-analysisinteresting-relationships.html Interesting Relationships] At some point the VKGB developed links with another ultranationalist group, the Kuvayı Milliye Derneği.Today's Zaman, 26 July 2007, [http://todayszaman.com/news-117685-ultranationalist-gang-escapes-prosecution.html Ultranationalist gang escapes prosecution]

Members include Muzaffer TekinToday's Zaman, 23 May 2006, [http://todayszaman.com/news-33336-security-directorate-and-mit-a-retired-general-heads-the-gang.html Security Directorate and MIT: A Retired General Heads the Gang] Alparslan ArslanHurriyet Daily News, 24 May 2006, [http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/press-scanner.aspx?pageID=438&n=press-scanner-2006-05-24 press scanner]. Quote: "In direct opposition to Arslan's denial of any connections with former Lt. Col. Muzaffer Tekin, the imprisoned lawyer's father, Idris Arslan, said: 'My son changed a lot after meeting Muzaffer Tekin. He began to go back and forth, attending Patriotic Forces Strength Union meetings with him. I spoke to his friends; my son was under Tekin's control, and was being directed by him. I think he committed this act under threat. I used to hear from my son's circle of friends that Tekin had connections to a retired-high level member of the military.'" and Fikri Karadağ.{{cite news|url=http://bianet.org/english/politics/108615-ultra-nationalist-ergenekon-convicts-indicted-with-high-treason|accessdate=2013-07-31|title=Ultra-nationalist 'Ergenekon' Convicts Indicted with High Treason|work=Bianet|date=2008-07-25}}

Prosecutors charged members of the group with rigging military procurement tenders,Today's Zaman, 30 August 2009, [http://todayszaman.com/news-185537-ergenekon-accused-of-fraud-in-military-tenders.html Ergenekon accused of fraud in military tenders ] and that the group carried out military training with a view to carrying out terrorist attacks.Today's Zaman, 12 July 2007, [http://todayszaman.com/news-116470-neo-nationalistic-gang-members-are-terrorists-prosecutors-say.html Neo-nationalistic gang members are terrorists, prosecutors say] Links with the assassination of Hrant Dink have also been evidenced.Today's Zaman, 6 July 2007, [http://todayszaman.com/news-115961-probe-links-former-army-officers-to-political-murders.html Probe links former army officers to political murders]