TURKEY: SOUTHEAST TURKEY POLITICAL FIGURE BIOGRAPHIES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 ADANA 000131 SIPDIS NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM CASC TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: SOUTHEAST TURKEY POLITICAL FIGURE BIOGRAPHIES ADANA 00000131 001.3 OF 006 ¶1. (U) EFKAN ALA, DIYARBAKIR GOVERNOR Efkan Ala was born in Erzurum in 1965, graduated from the Political Science Faculty of Istanbul University, and did his bachelor's degree in Economics. Ala lived in England in order to develop his language skills and carry out studies on Governing Systems. Ala has served, in sequence, as a Sub-governor, Deputy Governor, Section Director at the Interior Ministry, and General Director at the Ministry of Tourism. Ala has also served as a member to the Quality Support Committee of the World Tourism Organization and has carried out studies at UNICEF to meet fundamental needs in Turkey. Ala served as Governor of Batman province from January 30, 2003 to September 14, 2004 and was appointed Governor to Diyarbakir province on September 14, 2004. Ala was nominated by the U.S. Consulate in Adana for the IV program for FY-2006, and completed a three-week program in the United States in March of 2006. Ala is married and has two children. He speaks fair English. ¶2. (U) OSMAN BAYDEMIR, DIYARBAKIR MAYOR Osman Baydemir was born in Dokuzceltik village of Diyarbakir on June 06, 1971. He completed his primary and secondary school education in Diyarbakir, and enrolled at Faculty of Law of Dicle University in 1990. Following his graduation from the Law Faculty in 1994, he completed his one-year apprenticeship in practicing law at the Bar Association of Diyarbakir, and served as an attorney in November 1995. He became a member of Human Rights Association's Chapter in Diyarbakir in 1995, and soon thereafter was elected as a member to the Executive Board. He was elected as the National Vice President of HRA in 1997, and served as the President of HRA's Diyarbakir Chapter and National Vice President of HRA until he was nominated for Diyarbakir deputyship on the DEHAP ticket in the November 3, 2002 General Election. Baydemir took English classes in San Francisco, CA from May 2003 to December 2003. Baydemir was elected as Diyarbakir Metropolitan Mayor at the Local Elections on March 28, 2004. He is a member of the Diyarbakir Bar Association, Societal Judiciary Research Foundation, and a founding member of the Migration and Humanitarian Cooperation, and of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey. He is married to Attorney Reyhan Yalcin, who is the Vice National President of the Human Rights Association in Turkey, and has one son. ¶3. (U) SEZGIN TANRIKULU, PRESIDENT OF DIYARBAKIR BAR ASSOCIATION Sezgin Tanrikulu was born in Diyarbakir in 1958, and has been practicing law since earning his law degree from the Law Faculty of Istanbul University in 1984. Tanrikulu received a Master's Degree in Public Law from the Dice University of Diyarbakir in ¶1992. He is currently the representative of the Diyarbakir Chapter of the Human Rights Foundation established in Diyarbakir in 1988, and was elected President of the Diyarbakir Bar Association for a second term. Tanrikulu represented relatives of ten prisoners allegedly beaten to death by security personnel in the Diyarbakir Prison in September 1996. He was the first lawyer to bring a case before the European Human Rights Court. Attorney Tanrikulu received the prestigious Robert F. Kennedy Award for Human Rights in 1977. Tanrikulu is married and has two children. His wife, Attorney Remziye Tanrikulu, participated in an IV program in the United States. ¶4. (U) TAH?R ELG?, VICE PRESIDENT OF DIYARBAKIR BAR ASSOCIATION Tahir Elgi was born in January 01, 1966 in Hisar village of Cizre, S?rnak province. He completed his secondary school education in Cizre and enr?olled at the Law Faculty of Dicle University in Diyarbak?r in 1986. He graduated from the Law Faculty in 1991, and has been practicing law in Diyarbak?r since ¶1992. Elci mostly defended cases of human r?ghts violations, torture, disappearances under detention, mysterious killings, and forcibly displaced people during the 1992-2002 period. Elci served as an Executive Board Member and Vice President of the Diyarbak?r Bar Association between 1998-2002, and is currently the Vice President of the Bar Association respons?ble for Human Rights Law. Elci is also a founding member of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey. Between 1997-2005, Elci attended various meetings in England, France, and Germany, as a speaker on varying aspects of the human rights issues, particularly, torture, arbitrary executions, and child rights violations. Attorney Elci is an occasional contributor to the national Radikal newspaper and Diyarbakir and Izmir Bar Associations' bulletins. Elci, who speaks intermediate level English, is married and has two children. ¶5. (U) ZULAL ERDOGAN BILAL, GENERAL SECRETARTY OF DIYARBAKIR BAR ASSOCAITION Zulal Erdogan Bilal was born in Samandag of Hatay in July 8, ¶1968. She completed her primary and secondary education in ADANA 00000131 002.3 OF 006 Samandag and graduated from the Law Faculty of Dicle University in 1989. Erdogan Bilal has been practicing law in Diyarbakir since December 1990 and has been mainly handling cases at criminal courts. She is also doing her bachelors degree in Special Law at the Law Faculty of Dice University. Erdogan Bilal has been active in the following positions at the Diyarbakir Bar Association: member to Children's Rights Commission from 1996 to 1998; Women's Rights Commission's secretary from 1999 to 2000; Women's Rights Commission's Vice President from 2000 to 2002; Women's Rights Center's President from 2002 to 2004; and she is currently the General Secretary of the Bar Association. Erdogan Bilal is married, has two children, and speaks intermediate-level English. ¶6. (U) SABIH ATAC, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE BATMAN BAR ASSOCIATION Sabih Atac was born in Dargecit township of Mardin in 1960. After his family moved from Mardin to Batman in 1963, he attended primary school in Batman and graduated from senior high school in Mardin. He enrolled at the Law Faculty of Ankara University in 1978 and graduated in 1982, and has been practicing law in Batman ever since. Attorney Atac served as the President of the Batman Bar Association from 1993 to 2000. Although Attorney Atac is mainly interested in criminal cases, he occasionally takes care of legal-dispute cases, and some cases at the former State Security Courts. He is active in industry in Batman now, and is part-owner of a plaster factory, as well as a capital partner in an oil exploration and infrastructure joint venture. Attorney Atac is a founding member of Executive Board of the Human Rights Association's Batman Chapter, and Batman's Petroleum University Foundation. Atac, who is married, is a former IV grantee, and speaks no English. ¶7. (U) SAH?SMA?L BED?RHANO?LU, PRESIDENT OF GUNSIAD (The Association of Industrialists and Businessmen from Southeast) Sahismail Bedirhano?lu was born in January 20, 1961 in Dicle township of Diyarbak?r. He graduated from the Education Faculty of Dicle University in Diyarbak?r. Mr. Bedirhano?lu has been involved in commercial activities since 1985. He owns a Diyarbak?r-based pharmaceutical company with branches in Elaz??, Van, and Malatya provinces. He also sells medical equipment. Bedirhano?lu was elected as the President of D?S?AD for two terms, and currently is the President of G\NS?AD. Bedirhanoglu, a long-term contact of the U.S. Consulate in Adana, offers thoughtful, knowledgeable, pragmatic viewpoints on Turkey's Kurdish question, and just returned form a three-week long IV program in the United States. Bedirhano?lu is married and has two children. His wife is a practicing pharmacist. He speaks no English. ¶8. (U) NEDIM DENGIZ, GENERAL SECRETARY OF GUNSIAD EXECUTIVE BOARD Nedim Dengiz was born in Diyarbakir in January 01, 1969. Dengiz completed his elementary and senior high school education in Diyarbakir and graduated from the Business Administration Faculty of Anadolu University in Kutahya. Dengiz started his commercial life at Dengiz Trade Company and is currently doing business in both the construction and food sectors. He has also made some investments in education. Mr. Dengiz is a founding member of DISIAD (Industrialists and Businessmen from Diyarbakir Association) and a member to GUNSIAD (Southeastern Industrialists and Businessmen Assocaition),Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Diyarbakir, DOGUNSIFED (East and Southeastern Industrialist- Businessmen Federation),and TURKONFED (Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation). ¶9. (U) ABDURRAHMAN KURT, AKP DIYARBAKIR PROVINCIAL CHAIRMAN Abdurrahman Kurt was born in Diyarbakir on June 27, 1968. After completing his secondary school education in Diyarbakir, Mr. Kurt graduated from the Civil Engineering Faculty of Istanbul Yildiz Technical University, and is still taking classes in International Political Economy and Business at the Beykent University. Mr. Kurt worked on the construction of 1400 villas at the Marmara Uyum Kent Villalari project in 1993 and worked as Construction Supervisor at the Eyup Municipality in Istanbul after the 1994 local elections. Kurt took an active role in the post-earthquake relief distribution activities in Adapazari. He is also the president of Turkish Airline's Civilian Solidarity Platform of the Victim Families of the Plain Crash in Diyarbakir. Kurt was re-elected as AKP's Diyarbakir Provincial Chairman on May 2006. Kurt has been a licensed parachutist since 1984, "C" class licensed glider operator since 1985, has been trained as a diver, plays soccer, and loves swimming and playing billiards. Mr. Kurt has also obtained certificates for ADANA 00000131 003.3 OF 006 completing speed-reading and Writers' School Seminar classes. He is married and has three children. He speaks some English, but is not confident to use it in extensive conversations. ¶10. (U) FARUK BALIKCI, PRESIDENT OF SOUTHEAST JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION AND DOGAN NEWS AGENCY REPRESENTATIVE Faruk Balikci was born in Diyarbakir in 1961 and started his career as a journalist at the Anadolu News Agency in 1983. Balikci has been working for the Dogan News Agency (DNA) since its 1987 merging from the Hurriyet and Milliyet daily newspapers. Mr. Balikci has been concurrently holding the President of Southeastern Journalists Association and DNA Representative positions since 2003. Balikci has received three awards from the Southeastern Journalists Association and one award from the Musa Anter (a mysterious killing victim Kurdish journalist/writer) and Metin Goktepe (another Kurdish journalist killed by GOT forces under detention) competitions in news and photography branches. Balikci has written a book on his memoirs in Southeastern Turkey, titled "On Both Sides of Death." ¶11. (U) FIRAT AYDINAY, IHLAS NEWS AGENCY SOUTEAST ANATOLIA REGIONAL DIRECTOR Firat Aydinay was born in Van in April 20, 1974 and completed his elementary and secondary education there. Aydinay withdrew, for economic reasons, from his education at Economics and Administrative Sciences Faculty of Gazi University in Ankara when he was a sophomore. Mr. Aydinay worked as a substitute teacher in a village of Van for two years, and then worked for Tercuman and Milliyet newspapers. He started working in Ihlas News Agency's office in Van in 1996 and has been the Southeast Anatolia Regional Director of the same agency since 2000. Aydinay traveled to Iraq to follow the developments during the Gulf War, and briefly stayed in Iraq and Iran to do professional studies. He is a founding member of the Lake Van Journalists Association, and he is currently the Executive Board President of the Southeastern Newspapers and Television News Reporters Association ,which is heavily engaged in promoting the professionals skills of reporters in Diyarbakir and provinces surrounding it. Aydinay is also a member of the Human Rights Committee within the body of the Diyarbakir Governorate, and has contributed to the preparation of the reports concerning conditions and shortcomings in Child Orphanages and Child Protection Facilities. He also participated in the investigations concerning claims of "Mass-Graves in Kulp" of Diyarbakir. From April 01, 2006 to April 23, 2006. Aydinay participated in various seminars in Washington, Texas, and Indianapolis under the Department of State's Edward Murrow Program. Aydinay is married and his wife is an English teacher. ¶12. (U) EYYUP KACAR, ANADOLU NEWS AGENCY DIYARBAKIR REGIONAL DIRECTOR Eyyup Kacar was born in Egil township of Diyarbakir in 1961. Mr. Kacar had to withdraw from school when he was a sophomore at the Business Department of the Faculty Through Correspondence because of his workload. He started his career as a journalist at Milliyet newspaper's office in Diyarbakir in 1984, and then was transferred to Hurriyet in 1987. Kacar has been working for the Anadolu News Agency since 1994 and has been the Regional Director since 1999. ¶13. (U) NIZAMETTIN KAPLAN, NTV'S REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE Nizamettin Kaplan was born in Diyarbakir in January 01, 1971. He is a sophomore at the Social Sciences Faculty of the Anadolu University Through Correspondence. Mr. Kaplan worked for Gunes newspaper until 1984, then switch to Hurriyet until 1987, before transferring to Cumhuriyet until 1994. In 1996 he started to work for the National Press Agency's Regional Office and has been the Regional Representative of the NTV television station since 1996. ¶14. (U) NEVZAT B?NGVL, SKYTURK REPRESENTATIVE Nevzat Bingvl was born in Karl?ova township of Bingvl in December 31, 1964. Bingvl completed his elementary and secondary school education in Bingvl and graduated from the Economic and Administrative Faculty of Anadolu University in 1987. He worked in the tourism sector for three years. Following the First Gulf War in 1991, Mr. Bingvl returned to Diyarbak?r and opened a publicity and public polling company. In 1993, Bingvl established the Can-TV and Radio stations in Diyarbak?r, the first ever private radio and TV stations in eastern and southeastern Turkey. He served as the ATV representative in ¶1997. Bingvl reported news from Northern Iraq, Iran, Armenia, ADANA 00000131 004.3 OF 006 and Syria for ATV. Bingvl resigned from ATV in 2000 and erected the G|n-TV channel in Diyarbak?r. Bingvl has been working for the Cukurova Media Group (Sky-T|rk-TV, Show-TV, Aksam Newspaper) since 2003 and has traveled to Iraq a number of times since ¶2003. He interviewed the armed Ansar-al Islam members, took pictures of the armed Shia Bedir Forces, and reported on Turkish Forces' control of Bamerni airport in Northern Iraq. Bingvl wrote "Northern Front," a book which narrates the 2003 Iraq conflict , as well as "Kurds Without Identification in Syria." Mr. Bingvl, who is married and has two children, speaks some English. ¶15. (U) MAHMUT ORAL, CUMHURIYET CORRESPONDENT Mahmut Oral was born in 1967 in Diyarbakir where he completed his primary and secondary school education. Semi-completing his education in Tourism at Hacettepe University in Ankara, Oral started journalism in 1990 in Istanbul and has been working for TV channels and national news agencies in Diyarbakir since 1994. Oral started working for Cumhuriyet daily in 1998, and he is currently the paper's Diyarbakir Representative. Oral is also the Vice President of Southeastern Newspaper and Television Reporters Association, an executive member in charge of Southeastern Journalists Association's Foreign Affairs. Oral is an active member of the Sarmasik Anti-poverty and Sustainable Development Association, Consumers' Rights Association, and Journalist's Union of Turkey. In addition, Oral voluntarily undertakes activities for children with UNICEF and he occasionally contributes to UNICEF's news bulletins. A recent IV'er to the United States, Mr. Oral is married and has two children. ¶16. (U) ARIF ARSLAN, CAGDAS NEWSPAPER IN BATMAN Arif Arslan was born in Bismil township of Diyarbakir in 1960. After completing his elementary and secondary school education in Batman, he completed most of his education at a two-year Professional High School (Vocational School) affiliated with Dicle University. He was assigned as editor in charge of the local Cagdas newspaper in Batman in 1984. A holder of the Yellow Press Card, Mr. Arslan has been in journalism for 20 years and has won awards from the Journalists Associations of Turkey, the Cukurova Journalists Association, the German Adenauer Foundation, Nezih Demirkent, Metin Goktepe, and Southeastern Journalists Association. In addition, he is a recent IV'er to the United States. Arslan represents many national news agencies in Batman. Arslan is married and has five children. ¶17. (U) MEHMET KILICLAR, MARDIN GOVERNOR Mehmet Kiliclar was born in Artova township of Tokat in 1965, and graduated from the political Science Faculty of Ankara University in 1984. He took Office as a candidate sub-governor in Samsun in 1985, and served as deputy sub-governor in Sarikaya (Yozgat) and Haymana (Ankara),and as sub-governor in Kovancilar (Elazig). Kiliclar served within the Interior Ministry in the following capacities: Chief Inspector; Interior Ministry's Representative for the Prime Ministry's Human Rights Office; Interior Ministry's Data Processing Office Director. Kiliclar was appointed as Mardin's Governor on December 30, ¶2005. Kiliclar stayed in Atlanta, GA between 1990-1991, for one year, to learn English and conduct professional training. He has attended professional seminars in France and Singapore, and a Public Administration seminar in Japan. Governor Kiliclar is married, has two children, and speaks English reasonably well. ¶18. (U) METIN PAMUKCU, MARDIN MAYOR Metin Pamukcu was born in Mardin in 1961. After completing his high school education, he started to work at the Industry and Technology Directorate in 1979. Six months after completing his compulsory military service, Mayor Pamukcu established a food distribution company, which he expanded over time and which currently employs 75 persons at three food distribution companies. Pamukcu served as the President of Mardin's Soccer Team during 1994-1995. Pamukcu became actively engaged in politics in 2004 with his work with the Saadet Party (Felicity Party) and was elected as Mayor of Mardin from Saadet's ticket. Mayor Pamukcu shifted to the AKP (Justice and Development Party) soon after he was elected to the office. ¶19. (U) YUSUF YAVASCAN, SANLIURFA GOVERNOR Yusuf Yavascan was born in 1956 in Eskisehir where he completed his elementary and secondary school education. Yavascan graduated from the Law Faculty of Istanbul University in February of 1979, and practiced law for one year. Yavacan ADANA 00000131 005.3 OF 006 started his career with the Interior Ministry as an apprentice administrator at the Eskisehir Governorate in May of 1980. He worked as acting sub-governor in Eldivan (Cankiri),Cerkes (Cankiri) and concurrently held the mayoralty position there as well (Note: 1980 military coup period). Yavascan was appointed as sub-governor to Golpazari township (Bilecik) after successfully completing the sub-governors course in 1983. Yavascan served as sub-governor in Tutak (Agri) in 1987, as deputy governor of Erzurum in 1989 and became an Interior Ministry Inspector in November of 1990. After carrying out that position for 14 years, Yavascan was appointed as Agri Governor with a cabinet decision on September 17, 2004 and was transferred to Sanliurfa on December 30, 2005. Yavascan is married, has three children, and speaks some English. He is focused on developing faith tourism in Sanliurfa and is working on a project with the mayor to expand the holy area near the historical Fish Pond and Urfa castle.. ¶20. (U) UGUR BUYUKBURC, RECTOR, HARRAN UNIVERSITY OF SANLIURFA Ugur Buyukburc was born in Antakya in November 04, 1945 and completed his primary and secondary school education in Ankara. Buyukburc graduated in 1967 from the Field Crops faculty and Their Rehabilitation Department of the Agricultural Faculty of Ankara University. He worked for the Sugar Plant of Turkey in Adapazari from July 1967 until February 1968. Upon winning the exam for doing his bachelors degree in Germany, Prof. Buyukburc studied "Meadows and Feed Crops" at the Goethe Institute, doing his doctorate on the Cultivation of Field Crops at Bonn University. After completing his studies on "The Impact of Different Water Table Levels on Minerals in Feed Crops," Buyukburc returned to Turkey in 1972, and started to work at the General Directorate of State Production Farms until October 1973, and completed his military service in May 1975. Buyukburc held various positions from 1975 to 1978 at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Village Affairs and became an Associate Professor at the Agricultural Faculty of Ankara University in April of 1981. Prof. Buyukburc was appointed Director of the Research Office in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Village Affairs in 1984 and as the Director of Ankara Provincial Control Laboratory of the Ministry until 1990. Buyukburc was appointed as associate professor to the Agricultural Faculty of Cumhuriyet University in Tokat in March 1991 and earned his professorship in October 1991. Buyukburc has been the Rector of Harran University since 1999. ¶21. (U) ISMAIL DEMIRKOL, PRESIDENT, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY OF SANLIURFA Ismail Demirkol was born in Sanliurfa in 1943 and completed his elementary and secondary school education there. After graduating from the Economics School of Istanbul University, Demirkol went into auto and appliances trade and served in many associations and foundations as a founding member or as an administrator. Demirkol has been the President of the Sanliurfa Chamber of Commerce and Industry for an uninterrupted six terms. ¶22. (U) KEMAL POLAT, VICE PRESIDENT, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY OF SANLIURFA Kemal Polat was born in Suruc township of Sanliurfa in 1963. He completed his primary and secondary school education in Sanliurfa and went into business in 1985 selling plumbing materials. Polat started investing in (cotton) ginning and garments in 1995, and is currently engaged in the import-export and petroleum trade. Polat was elected to the board of the Sanliurfa CCI in 1999, and is currently the Vice President of the chamber. Mr. Polat is married and has four children. ¶23. (U) BEKIR SITKI BAYSOY, VICE PRESIDENT, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY OF SANLIURFA Bekir Sitki Baysoy was born in Sanliurfa in 1963 and completed his primary and secondary school education there. Baysoy graduated from the Sciences Faculty of Dicle University in Diyarbakir in 1982 and started his business as a broker of perishables and was elected as the President of the Perishable Brokers Association between 1999-2000. Baysoy also served as a member of the Executive Board of CHP's (Republican Peoples Party) provincial office. Baysoy is engaged in the household appliance trade and is currently one of the Vice Presidents of CCI. Baysoy is married and has three children. ¶24. (U) AHMET ESREF FAKIBABA, SANLIURFA MAYOR Fakibaba was born in Birecik township of Sanliurfa in 1951 and graduated from the Medical School of Ataturk University in ADANA 00000131 006.3 OF 006 Erzurum in 1975. Fakibaba received his specialty in surgery from the First Aid Hospital in Taksim (Istanbul) in 1982; he worked in the Social Security Hospital of Sanliurfa for 11 years. He resigned from his position as the Principal Doctor of the Social Security Hospital to run in Sanliurfa's Mayoral elections on the AKP ticket, and was elected mayor on March 29, 2004. Mayor Fakibaba is married, has three children, and speaks English. ¶25. (U) SEHMUS ULEK, NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT OF MAZLUMDER (Human Rights Association of Oppressed People) Sehmus Ulek was born in Siverek township of Sanliurfa on February 01, 1960. He graduated from the Communication Faculty of the Ankara Gazi University in 1983 and from the Law Faculty of the Diyarbakir Dicle University in 1995. Mr. Ulek is the founder of the Sanliurfa Chapter of MAZLUMDER in 1997 and served as the president until 2003, and has been the National Vice President of the same organization since 2000. Ulek was elected as the Vice President of the Sanliurfa Bar Association in the November 2004 elections. Ulek worked as a public employee in various public offices from 1981 until when he started practicing law in 1996. Ulek is married and has five children. REID