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.

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New Kurdish Political Party Espouses a Federalist System
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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.

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KADEP's Progressive Platform Likely To Raise Controversy
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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.


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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