FIERY RHETORIC OVERSHADOWS LOW TURNOUT AT HUMAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 006343

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE TU
SUBJECT: FIERY RHETORIC OVERSHADOWS LOW TURNOUT AT HUMAN
RIGHTS ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE


1.(U) Summary: Speeches critical of GOT policies, and
graphic video clips of Turkish soldiers beating demonstrators
overshadowed low attendance at this year's annual Human
Rights Association (HRA) conference in Ankara. HRA President
Yusuf Alatas called on the GOT to adopt a new constitution
strengthening civilian control of the military and respecting
basic human rights, and advocated a "comprehensive social
movement" to end violence in the southeast. Such public
criticism, unthinkable a decade ago, in itself shows the
significant progress Turkey has made on human rights. The
current challenge is for the HRA and its brethren to
reenergize the public's interest in reform on complex but
critical human rights issues such as freedom of expression
and women's rights. End summary.

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Fiery Rhetoric Overshadows Low Attendance
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2.(U) A diverse array of human rights activists from NGOs and
academia came together in Ankara on November 4-5 at the HRA's
annual conference to elect a new president and approve the
group's annual activity report. Despite the organization's
prediction that at least 500 would attend the event, which
fell on the group's twentieth anniversary, approximately 200,
including some 40 women, took part. Diplomatic
representation was limited to Denmark, Canada, and the US.
The only politicians present were ruling AK party
parliamentarian and human rights committee member Ersonmez
Yarbay, and Democratic Society Party (DTP) Vice Chair Sedat
Yurttas.

3.(U) The conference opened with a stirring 20-minute film
that took the viewer through 20 years of Turkish history
through the eyes of the HRA. The film showed graphic clips
of Turkish soldiers beating seemingly non-violent protesters
after the 1980 military coup, southeastern villages that were
torched in the 1990s, relatives mourning loved ones allegedly
killed by the military, and the aftermath of an attempt in
1998 to assassinate HRA founding President Akim Birdal in his
Ankara office.

4.(U) In his keynote address opening the conference and
commemorating the HRA's twentieth anniversary, HRA President
Yusuf Alatas, an attorney well-known for his courtroom
oratorical skill, condemned the GOT for numerous human rights
violations. Alatas blamed the GOT for recent deaths from
flooding in the southeast due to its neglect of the region,
and criticized the government for its lack of progress on
freedom of expression, reducing military influence on
politics, women's rights, and extrajudicial killings. He
called for Turkey to adopt a new constitution that
strengthens civilian control of the military, allows for
education in one's mother-tongue, strengthens local
government, and respects basic human rights such as freedom
of expression.

5.(U) Alatas also called for a "comprehensive social
movement" to end violence in the southeast and create lasting
peace. He told the audience that the civilian government,
along with labor groups, human rights organizations, NGOs,
academia, and the media should work togeter to create
policies that will create peace in the southeast and end the
need for constant military intervention.

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Western Powers Blamed for Harming Human Rights in
Post-September 11 World
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6.(U) Shifting the focus away from Turkey, Alatas lashed out
at "imperialist western powers" for harming human rights
worldwide in the post-September 11 world. Organizations such
as the IMF, World Bank, and WTO said Alatas, have harmed the
poor through privatizing public services. He blamed the
United States and its allies for using the United Nations as
a means to legitimize "illegal wars" in Afghanistan and Iraq
while ignoring humanitarian crises in Sudan and elsewhere.
Finally, Alatas condemned a new western mentality that
considers torture as a legitimate tool.


ANKARA 00006343 002 OF 002


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HRA President Yusuf Alatas Re-appointed for Two-Year Term
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7.(U) On Sunday, the HRA elected is executive board, which in
turn re-appointed Yusuf Alatas to another two-year term as
president. According to Alatas, he agreed to continue as
president to maintain consistent and firm leadership during
the current PKK cease-fire and a generally critical period
for human rights in Turkey. During the remainder of the
conference delegates debated and ultimately approved the
HRA's annual activity report.

8.(U) Comment: The content of the speeches and video at the
HRA conference in itself demonstrates that Turkey has made
significant progress on human rights. A decade ago, it would
have been bold to attack the GOT in public for its policies
on Kurds or other human rights issues, and downright
dangerous to show graphic footage of Turkish soldiers beating
civilians. This progress may have contributed to a more
apathetic atmosphere, reflected by lower-than-expected
attendance at the conference. The challenge the HRA and
other human rights activists in Turkey now face is to
reenergize the public on complex but critical human rights
issues such as freedom of expression and women's rights. End
comment.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

WILSON