TURKISH MILITARY CALLS FOR PUBLIC OPPOSITION TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001449 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2017 TAGS: MARR MOPS PTER TU SUBJECT: TURKISH MILITARY CALLS FOR PUBLIC OPPOSITION TO PKK TERRORISM IN TURKEY REF: A. ANKARA 1441 ¶B. ANKARA 1300 ¶C. ANKARA 1006 Classified By: Political-Military Counselor Carl Siebentritt, reasons 1 .4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) The Turkish General Staff (TGS) posted on its website (www.tsk.mil.tr) late in the evening of June 7 a press announcement regarding the recent (PKK) terrorist incidents in Turkey. The statement noted that Chief of Staff Buyukanit had predicted a rise in terrorist attacks; criticized those who discussed Turkish terrorism in terms of human and democratic rights (Note: likely directed at the EU, which the military fears is trying to weaken Turkey by emphasizing minority and cultural rights, as well as the ruling AKP government and pro-Kurdish DTP party); reiterated that the military will respond to these attacks; and, stated the military's expectation that the Turkish public will rise up in opposition to resist terrorist attacks. An informal embassy translation of the TGS press announcement follows: ¶2. (U) Begin Text: PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT June 8, 2007 ¶1. At his press conference on April 12, 2007, TGS Chief GEN Yasar Buyukanit announced to the public clearly that terrorism would be on the rise from May 2007 on. The terrorist incidents of recent days demonstrated how realistic this announcement was. ¶2. These terrorist incidents at the same time also demonstrated very clearly the true intentions of the separatist and racist terrorist organization. ¶3. It is now time for individuals and institutions, which have been using the ultimate values of humanity such as peace, freedom and democracy as a cover (premise) for the terrorist organization both in the country and abroad at every opportunity, to see the true face of these incidents. ¶4. The Republic of Turkey has been facing an approach that regards its national and unitary characteristic as an archaic structure. Our nation must and should beware of this. ¶5. There is no doubt that emerging and gradually increasing terrorist incidents have been a very clear demonstration of these deviant/perverted approaches and of those who have been directly or indirectly supporting them. ¶6. The Turkish Armed Forces have an unwavering determination in the fight against terrorism and it is an undisputed fact that it will give the necessary response to such attacks. ¶7. The expectation of the Turkish Armed Forces has been that the esteemed Turkish nation would demonstrate its reflex to oppose/resist in mass to these type of terrorist incidents. End Text. ¶3. (C) Comment: The TGS has made increasing use of its website to communicate its views to the public and shape public opinion, probably with the encouragement of Deputy CHOD GEN Saygun, who is a known computer buff. Midnight web postings have, since April 27, become a regular feature of the Turkish news and political cycles. According to the Turkish press, during Buyukanit's 9-month tenure as CHOD, the website has posted more than ten times the number of announcements that were posted during the previous nine months under CHOD Ozkok. The website has become popular among Turkish journalists and an effective tool for TGS to get out the word on a range of issues. The military has employed the site to push back on frequent Greek press claims of Turkish airspace violations by posting Turkish claims of Greek -- and US (ref b) -- violations of Turkish airspace. It also posts information on Turkish military operations and losses, including the June 7 establishment of Temporary Security Zones in the southeast (ref a). ¶4. (C) Comment continued: The June 7 posting is likely designed to increase pressure on Turkey's civilian leadership ANKARA 00001449 002 OF 002 for being "soft" on terrorism through their embrace of EU "values." It is also a direct approach to the Turkish public to actively demonstrate its opposition to terrorism. End Comment. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON