The Eastern Working Group (Turkish: DoÃÂu ÃÂalñà Âma Grubu) was an alleged group within the Turkish military said to be linked to the Ergenekon organization, and possibly organised within the Turkish Gendarmerie's JITEM. According to former PKK commander à Âemdin Sakñk, the group was formed in 1993 and carried out a number of assassinations in preparation for the 1993 alleged Turkish military coup.
According to Sakñk, these assassinations included (in 1993) President Turgut ÃÂzal, former Major Cem Ersever, former Turkish Gendarmerie general commander Eà Âref Bitlis and General Bahtiyar Aydñn. Turgut ÃÂzal died in office on 17 April 1993 in suspicious circumstances and few and a month later the 24 May 1993, PKK ambush took place, breaking the peace process which ÃÂzal had led. Sakñk maintains the attack was part of the DÃÂG's coup plans.
à Âemdin Sakñk also ascribes the death of Colonel Rñdvan ÃÂzden (1995) to the DÃÂG.