TURKISH HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002061

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC
AFTER PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

REF: ANKARA 2038

Classified By: A/Political Counselor Kelly Degnan for reasons 1.4(b),(d
)

1.(SBU) Summary: Leaders from Turkey's human rights
organizations welcomed the July 22 elections as a step
forward for democracy, but remain skeptical of the Justice
and Development Party's (AKP) commitment to implementing
reforms. These representatives plan to urge the AKP use its
mandate to enact a progressive constitution that strengthens
civilian control over the military, guarantees individual
freedoms, and protects minority rights. They believe the
pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party's (DTP) presence in
Parliament could help resolve the long-standing Kurdish
issue, so long as all sides maintain the conciliatory stance
displayed so far. End summary.

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Voters React to Military and Judicial Intervention
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2.(C) Our human rights contacts unanimously agreed that
Turkey's electorate sent the military and judiciary a message
not to intervene in the political process. Bulent Atamer,
with the Helsinki Citizens Assembly, told us in light of the
military's April 27 "e-ultimatum", which derailed April
presidential elections, many voters saw no other plausible
choice but the ruling Justice and Development party (AKP).
MazlumDer member and former chairman Yilmaz Ensaroglu
believed that ambivalent voters were also pushed toward AKP
by the Constitutional Court's surprising May 1 decision to
require a 367 quorum to elect a new President. Human Rights
Foundation President Yavuz Onen told us he remains skeptical
of AKP's religious roots but viewed the election as an
important step in Turkey's democratic evolution.

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The Goal of a New Constitution
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3.(C) Our contacts hoped the AKP now would use its strong
mandate to enact a new constitution. Nurulla Sarihan,
Assistant President of MazlumDer, told us his group's
overarching goal is a constitution that confers clear
civilian control over the military, diminishes the power of
the unelected bureaucracy, and respects the rights of all
Turkish citizens, including Kurds and Alevis. Human Rights
Association Acting President Reyhan Yalcindag said the
document should grant full recognition to Kurds and other
minorities by allowing them to express themselves through
their native language and culture. All foresaw an uphill
battle, but expected AKP to show courage in the face of
predictible opposition from the military and secular state
establishment.

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Women's Rights
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4.(SBU) Halime Guner, President of the women's rights group
Flying Broom, said the election results were a step forward
for women. Guner told us that AKP, though imperfect, had
supported women's rights more than other parties and were
likely to continue a reform agenda that would benefit women.
According to Guner, the AKP had weeded out its more
conservative candidates to become a centrist party; they
would not jeopardize that by pursuing reforms to allow women
to wear headscarfs in public buildings. Guner hoped AKP
would nominate a new, forward-leaning Minister of Women's
Affairs who would listen to and work with women's grassroots
organizations. Flying Broom stands ready to work with the
GOT to solve deep-rooted problems such as high levels of
violence against women and honor killings, she stated.

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Improved Conditions for Turkey's Kurds
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5.(C) Human rights contacts welcomed DTP's election to
parliament after a 14 year hiatus (reftel) but cautioned that

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real progress on the Kurdish issue would depend on DTP's 20
deputies remaining nonconfrontational in the face of expected
opposition. Although early signals have been positive --
DTP's Ahmet Turk and MHP's Devlet Bahceli shaking hands, and
newly-elected Speaker Koksal Toptan's call on DTP
headquarters -- our contacts described the situation as
fragile. Former Human Rights Association president Alatas
said parliament could grow tense quickly if either DTP or
Nationalist Action Party (MHP) deputies resort to their usual
inflammatory rhetoric; the situation would explode if the
terrorist PKK grew impatient and launched attacks.

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Skepticism of AKP's Commitment to Human Rights
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6.(C) Reflecting the shared view on AKP's commitment to human
rights reform, HRF's Onen told us that AKP had selectively
embraced democratization. The AKP had welcomed reforms that
would benefit the Sunni Muslim majority but shied away from
granting more rights to non-Sunni Muslims. Activist and
former MazlumDer Chairman Ayhan Bilgen said AKP had not
followed up to implement human rights legislation it had
passed under EU and USG pressure. Bilgen believed sustained
international pressure would be the only way to revitalize
Turkey's EU reform process, including on human rights issues.
MazlumDer's Ensaroglu disagreed, saying the public's
antipathy toward the EU and USG made foreign pressure a dull
tool; only domestic pressure could convince the AKP to
reinvigorate the process.

7.(SBU) Comment: Though skeptical of AKP's commitment to
human rights reform, our human rights contacts were
encouraged by the parliamentary election outcome, and ready
to work cooperatively with the GOT if given the chance.
These NGO leaders can be important allies to new MPs looking
to move Turkey's human rights agenda forward. End comment.

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MCELDOWNEY