NEW KURDISH POLITICAL PARTY ADOPTS PROGRESSIVE BUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000100 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE TU SUBJECT: NEW KURDISH POLITICAL PARTY ADOPTS PROGRESSIVE BUT UNREALISTIC PLATFORM Classified By: Political Counselor Janice G. Weiner, reasons 1.4(b),(d) 1.(C) Summary: On December 19, longtime Kurdish politician Serafettin Elci established the Participatory Democracy Party (KADEP),to compete in 2007 parliamentary elections. KADEP's platform calls for resolution of the so-called Kurdish issue through establishing a federal system, reducing the military's political power, expanding individual rights, and implementing policies to achieve equality of the sexes. Elci acknowledged that these controversial ideas will be a tough sell, and may raise GOT suspicions, though he does not expect a case to close down the party. KADEP's platform reflects many western values but has no realistic chance of being accepted by most Turks, who were raised on learning the importance of a strong central government -- a concept enshrined in the constitution. Should the party gain prominence, there may be an attempt to close down the party based on the claim that it is against the unity of the state. End summary. -------------- -------------- New Kurdish Political Party Espouses a Federalist System -------------- -------------- 2.(SBU) On December 19, Kurdish politician Serafettin Elci filed papers necessary to form the Participatory Democracy Party (KADEP). Elci, a respected politician who has consistently spoken out against the PKK, was Minister of Public Works from 1978-1979 in the Ecevit Government, served 30 months in prison after the 1980 coup for public remarks denouncing the coup, and formed a political party -- the Democratic Mass Party -- that was shut down by the Constitutional Court in 1999 because it allegedly undermined the unity of the state. KADEP has posted its platform on its website and has fulfilled the legal requirements to form a chairmanship council, a party assembly, and a supreme disciplinary board. Elci told us the party is now focusing on two additional legal requirements: establishing an organizational presence in at least one-half of Turkey's provinces, and holding a party congress six months prior to parliamentary elections. KADEP plans to open its first provincial office in Diyarbakir in early this year, according to Elci. 3.(C) Elci told us he established KADEP to help resolve the so-called Kurdish issue, which he believes has been dealt 
with ineffectively by the GOT and other Kurdish political parties. He pointed out that, in contrast to other Kurdish parties, KADEP's platform explicitly renounces armed struggle as a means to resolve the Kurdish issue. Another distinguishing feature is that KADEP espouses a federal system to allow Turkey's southeastern Kurds, as well as groups in other regions, to express freely their linguistic, religious, ethnic, and cultural heritage. Elci emphasized that diffusing authority would help ensure that Turkey becomes a truly democratic country where all citizens would have a voice. -------------- -------------- KADEP's Progressive Platform Likely To Raise Controversy -------------- -------------- 4.(C) Although the Kurdish issue is the raison d'etre of the party, KADEP has adopted an ambitious platform that calls for a new Turkish constitution centered on respecting and preserving freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of religion, and other individual rights enshrined in American and European constitutions. KADEP's platform also calls for an open, modern education systems in line with EU standards, full equality of women in all professions as well as in wage policies, and a more progressive tax structure to help address regional disparities. 5.(C) Some of the platform is likely to upset the status quo, Elci told us. The platform calls for more civilian control over the military; a diminished role of the military in policymaking; a judicial approach that requires judges and prosecutors to value the individual over preservation of the state; and a new understanding of secularism that would abolish state control of religious affairs and education. ANKARA 00000100 002 OF 002 6.(C) Elci acknowledged that it would be difficult to explain his ambitious platform to the public because there is a presumption in Turkey that federalism would divide the country. Elci said that even though such "unfounded fears" would probably cause the media to criticize KADEP, he would not be deterred from explaining to the public how the platform would bolster democracy and bring stability to Turkey. Elci told us that he does not believe authorities will move to close down the party. 7.(C) Comment: KADEP's progressive platform reflects the personality of the party's founder, Serafettin Elci, who has shown in the past that he is willing to push the envelope on controversial issues. Although KADEP's platform reflects many American and western values, it has no realistic chance of being accepted by most Turks, who have been brought up with the belief that Turkey's unique history requires a strong central government to preserve Turkey's territorial integrity and independence. There is also little evidence that southeastern Kurds will rally behind KADEP's progressive agenda. If the party does begin to gain more prominence, authorities may initiate proceedings to close down the party based on the claim that its platform undermines the unity of the state. End comment. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON