BELGIUM: PKK UPDATE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000779 SIPDIS STATE PASS EUR/WE KATHERINE SHARP, S/CT AMBASSADOR SCHLICHER AND KEREM BILGE, EUR/PGI LONNI REASOR, AND ANKARA FOR CAROLYN DELANEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2029 TAGS: KTFN PGOV PREL PTER IZ BE SUBJECT: BELGIUM: PKK UPDATE REF: 08 BRUSSELS 292 Classified By: Political Economic Counselor Richard Eason for reasons 1 .4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (S) Summary: Poloff and Polintern met with MFA Counterterrorism Coordinator Thomas Baekelandt June 4 to receive an update on the PKK (DHKP/C) in Belgium prior to Deputy CT Coordinator Schlicher's scheduled trip to Brussels June 9. Poloff and Legatt also met with Belgian Federal Police Islam Expert Daniel Baucy May 19. Kurdish representatives are active in Belgium and lobby both the Belgian Parliament as well as the EU. The Belgian police and intelligence agencies closely monitor the activities of groups and individuals with suspected ties to the PKK. The MFA believes the improved communication has shown the Turks that Belgium is willing to take action against the PKK, though the Turks remain insensitive to Belgium's explanations on rule of law. The GOB is concerned with violence between ethnic Turks and Kurds in Brussels that usually follows PKK attacks or actions against the Turkish army in Turkey. End Summary. PKK Activities in Belgium -------------- ¶2. (S) According to our interlocutors, Kurdish leaders with suspected links to the PKK are active in Belgium, and lobby both the European and Belgian Parliaments. They may operate legally as long as they do not break any laws, including recruitment or incitement to violence, or have direct and known links to the PKK. The National Congress of Kurdistan (KNK) maintains a Brussels office. Baekelandt assured Poloff that the GOB maintains a very close watch on these leaders and their activities. None of these individuals have broken laws that would lead to their arrest. Roj-TV, which has production facilities near Denderleeuw, operated in Belgium for several years; a February 2008 fine by tax authorities led to a seizure of Roj-TV assets. Belgian authorities believe the fine was heavy enough to prevent its operation for some time. In a recent parliamentary query on whether the tax investigation was an "Al Capone style" action to close an otherwise legal station, Minister of Finance Reynders replied that the investigation was ongoing and any public disclosure was embargoed. Baucy said camps connected to the PKK had operated in Belgium for youth, journalists, and women. Authorities closed a youth camp in 2005, after the landlord noticed his customers were not playing soccer at their "football camp." A women's camp was closed in summer 2008 in Gemmenich, Liege Province, near the German border. Belgian authorities believe the annual PKK Kampanya collects or extorts money from the Kurdish community in Belgium each year, in addition to efforts to collect monthly dues. Turkish-Belgian Discussion on PKK -------------- ¶3. (S) Baekelandt and MFA colleagues are regularly visited by Turkish diplomats who deliver strong representations urging Belgium to arrest Kurdish leaders in Belgium. Baekelandt said he explains that Belgium's judiciary is independent and the need to make a legal case against individuals, a nuance he believes is sometimes lost on the Turks. He mentioned the ongoing Erdahl case, that began with an extradition request by the GOT. Though Ms. Erdahl has escaped, the case is being considered again after a third appeal, and the MFA predicts Ms. Erdahl and six of her associates will receive stiff sentences after summer recess. Baekelandt described a high-level visit from Ankara over a year ago as heavy-handed and added that it upset several members of the GOB and caused diplomatic tension between the two countries. In order to soothe the situation, the Belgian Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Justice, and Interior went to Ankara in October ¶2008. Belgium has also posted a magistrate and a police liaison officer in Ankara to improve information sharing. Baekelandt thinks the Turks now understand the GOB is making an effort to monitor the PKK and cooperate, but cautioned that the discussion of rule of law and freedom of movement BRUSSELS 00000779 002 OF 002 are not often accepted by the Turks. He also admitted the GOB finds some Turkish intelligence suspect, especially lists of names provided by the GOT; the Belgian MFA believes some of these names might be anti-Turkish or Kurdish independence activists who have committed no crime and who may not in fact be tied to any listed terrorist organization. Domestic Turkish-Kurdish Violence in Belgium -------------- ¶4. (S) Baekelandt mentioned a complicating factor in Belgian-Turkish discussions of the PKK: Turkish - Kurdish violence in Belgium. Second and third generation Belgians of Turkish origin (both ethnic Turks and Kurds) are the second largest Muslim minority community in Belgium. The two ethnic groups live adjacent to each other in the Brussels commune of St. Josse, a 10 minute walk north of the Embassy. Baekelandt said the GOB is alarmed by increasing violence committed by ethnic-Turkish gangs against ethnic Kurds minutes after PKK actions in Turkey, such as the kidnapping of Turkish commandos. The Kurdish community then reacts and commits violence against ethnic Turks. Baekelandt termed this Turkish-Kurdish gang violence a real-time security concern, and said Belgium would like more Turkish cooperation, so that the GOB might know when events in Turkey could spark a reaction in Belgium. Baekelandt also suggested the speed of reaction after events in Turkey might indicate the direct involvement by some part of the Turkish government or intelligence agency. Comment -------------- ¶5. (S) The GOB is well aware of Turkish sensitivities regarding the PKK. Belgian police and security services do indeed monitor suspected PKK activities and keep Embassy contacts informed. The misunderstanding between Turkey and Belgium that sometimes occurs is one of cultural and political differences. From the Belgian point of view, the Turks want to stomp out Kurdish resistance and activism. For their part, the Belgians are willing to stop known terrorists and those who commit illegal acts in Belgium. The Turks meanwhile perceive Belgian lecturing on rule of law and freedom as foot-dragging. This misunderstanding will take time to overcome. BUSH .