TWO PKK MEMBERS INDICTED IN FRANCE

S E C R E T PARIS 006041 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2016 TAGS: PTER ASEC KCRM EFIN FR SUBJECT: TWO PKK MEMBERS INDICTED IN FRANCE Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR JOSIAH ROSENBLATT FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (S/NF) According to French Ministry of Interior officials, police arrested two men on July 24, 2006 with connections to the Kongra-Gel: Esref Yolcu (born May 1, 1971 in Varto) and Cemal Aslan (born January 2, 1965 in Varto). The two men were detained and questioned as they were attempting to exchange 197,000 Euro of small bills into US dollars. The bank notes tested positive for traces of heroine and cocaine, triggering the arrest. ¶2. (S/NF) Esref Yolcu is known by authorities for having housed leaders of the Kongra-Gel movement, as well as supplying them with a cellular phone. According to the French, Cemal Aslan participated in several PKK rallies in 1993 and 1996 and financed the travels of supporters to protests in 2000 and 2001. He also housed leaders and fund-raisers of the organization. ¶3. (S/NF) In a search of Cemal Aslan's home, French law enforcement officials found four books written by Abdullah Ocalan, numerous portraits of him, calendars bearing Ocalan's picture, a book on the PAJK, works discussing war and numerous photos of PKK guerrillas taken in the Kandil mountains. In a separate search of Esref Yolcu's home, officials uncovered 115,000 Euros in small notes of five, then, and twenty, along with portraits of Ocalan. ¶4. (S/NF) During their hearing, the two men described themselves as PKK sympathizers who participated in all protests organized by the group in France and Europe. Cemal Aslan also admitted to being an elder in the High Commission of Justice of the Kurdish Community in Yvelines, France. Both men, however, denied that the money came from the PKK and explained that the large sum of cash they had was from the sale of a friend's property who asked them to take the money from Rotterdam, Netherlands, to France. ¶5. (S/NF) Cemal Aslan and Esref Yolcu were indicted and incarcerated on July 28, 2006. They are charged with money laundering in an organized group, terrorist financing, and criminal association. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON