TURKEY: RETURN OF THE HOCA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003155

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: RETURN OF THE HOCA

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



1. (C) Summary: At Saadet Party's May 11 national convention,
long-time leader of Turkey's Islamist movement Necmettin
Erbakan returned to active politics as party chairman.
Unlike recent conventions of right-of-center DYP and ANAP,
Saadet's congress was far more lively and colorful. The mood
of the crowd and tone of official speeches were decidedly
anti-AK Party, more specifically anti-P.M. Erdogan. End
summary.



2. (C) Poloff attended Islamist Saadet Party's May 11
national congress, where long-time leader of Turkey's
Islamist movement Necmettin Erbakan (known as 'Hoca' or
teacher) officially returned to active political life after
his five-year political ban was lifted in February. The
77-year old Erbakan was the only candidate for Saadet leader
and received unanimous support from the party's 1153
delegates. Former Saadet leader Recai Kutan retained a high
position in the party as a member of the party's General
Administrative Council.


--------------
'Our army, Our Commander'
--------------



3. (C) In contrast to right-of-center DYP and ANAP
conventions attended by poloff, the Saadet congress was
orderly and spirited. Devotees packed the undersized arena
more than an hour before the convention began, while several
thousand others mingled outside chanting Islam-tinged slogans
like 'mucahit Erbakan' (Islamic warrior Erbakan). Unlike the
DYP and ANAP congresses, there were significant numbers
families with young children in attendance. A large section
of the arena was reserved for headscarved women activists,
who were clearly the loudest group on hand. The slogans and
chants continued after Erbakan arrived and was escorted to a
red plush couch on stage: "here's our army, here's our
commander"; "the legend has returned"; "welcome, my sultan";
and "Mehmet the Conqueror was your age when he conquered
Istanbul."


--------------
Light Bulb Burned Out?
--------------



4. (C) The mood of the crowd was decidedly anti-AK Party,
more specifically anti-P.M. Erdogan. Almost all of the
numerous banners raised by the crowd attacked AK in some way:
"My hoca has returned; the light bulb is burned out" (a
phrase that rhymes in Turkish; AK's symbol is a light bulb);
"My hoca, rescue us from these children"; and "Those who
skipped class should have stayed in school." In addition, a
Saadet official read aloud goodwill messages from political
figures. The crowd booed Erdogan's welcome statement but
cheered loudly messages from Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc
(an Erdogan rival in AK); opposition CHP leader Deniz Baykal;
and far-left nationalist Worker's Party leader Dogu Perincek.



5. (C) Speeches by Erbakan and other senior party officials
picked up on the theme, heavily criticizing AK for
ineffective governance and for straying from the Islamist
flock. Erbakan, in particular, accused AK members of
deserting the path they had chosen for 30 years. He
pointedly left out any mention of Fazilet Party in his
remarks on the history of the Islamist movement in Turkey
(note: Erdogan, Arinc, and others broke away from Fazilet
after the party was closed in 2001 and formed AK. End note).



6. (C) Comment: There is a core of about 40 AK M.P.s who, as
former provincial lieutenants in Erbakan's Milli Gorus
(National View) movement, remain devoted to him and intent on
disrupting Erdogan's control of the parliamentary group and
legislative agenda. Concerned that Erbakan will woo many or
all of them away from AK, Erdogan has indicated to his
advisors he has limited room for bold political maneuver,
including foreign policy steps seen by Milli Gorus adherents
as too openly in line with U.S. interests, in the months
leading up to AK's first party congress. End comment.
PEARSON