Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ANKARA1470
2003-03-07 11:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

HADEP: KURDS FEAR IRAQ WAR WILL LEAD TO CRACKDOWN

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM TU 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001470 

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE


E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2008
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM TU
SUBJECT: HADEP: KURDS FEAR IRAQ WAR WILL LEAD TO CRACKDOWN
IN SOUTHEAST

REF: A. ANKARA 1362

B. ANKARA 1341

C. ANKARA 1303


Classified by Polcouns John Kunstadter. Reason: 1.5(b) and
(d).


C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001470

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE


E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2008
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM TU
SUBJECT: HADEP: KURDS FEAR IRAQ WAR WILL LEAD TO CRACKDOWN
IN SOUTHEAST

REF: A. ANKARA 1362

B. ANKARA 1341

C. ANKARA 1303


Classified by Polcouns John Kunstadter. Reason: 1.5(b) and
(d).



1. (C) Ahmet Turan Demir, chairman of the pro-Kurdish HADEP
Party, and Nazmi Gur, HADEP international relations advisor,
told us March 4 anti-war sentiment in the southeast is fueled
primarily by Kurdish fear of the Turkish military. Many
Turks might oppose a war on principle, or out of concern that
Turkey will be attacked or suffer economic setbacks. But
Kurds in the southeast worry the Turkish military will use a
war as justification to restrict freedoms and provoke a
violent conflict.



2. (C) Demir and Gur repeated concerns expressed by other
Embassy contacts (reftels) that elements of the military were
isolating jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan and recommending
that the GOT impose a war-related state of emergency in the
southeast as part of a broad effort to increase pressure on
the Kurds. Gur said he noticed Jandarma tightening controls
at roadway checkpoints during a recent trip to the region.
Even the retrial of four Kurdish former MPs is a potential
source of conflict, as the HADEP leaders shared concerns
(reported reftel A) that the court is biased against the
defendants. Demir said the combined force of these pressures
could cause a conflict between the Turkish military and the
broader Kurdish community, not just KADEK (formerly PKK).



3. (C) Comment: The HADEP leaders' comments represent the
latest example of a consistent message we are hearing from
all our Kurdish contacts of differing political persuasions.
Deep-rooted mistrust of the GOT (particularly the military)
is causing anti-war sentiment among a population otherwise
inclined to support the U.S. view that Saddam Hussein is a
threat, and one that may stand to gain economically from a
war.


PEARSON