Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
88IZMIR740
1988-09-01 13:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Izmir
Cable title:  

ARREST OF PKK MEMBERS IN IZMIR

Tags:  PTER TU 
pdf how-to read a cable
R 011345Z SEP 88
FM AMCONSUL IZMIR
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7559
INFO AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMCONSUL ISTANBUL
AMCONSUL ADANA
C O N F I D E N T I A L IZMIR 00740 

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: PTER TU
SUBJECT: ARREST OF PKK MEMBERS IN IZMIR

REFS: (A) ANKARA 10958, (B) IZMIR 710

C O N F I D E N T I A L IZMIR 00740

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: PTER TU
SUBJECT: ARREST OF PKK MEMBERS IN IZMIR

REFS: (A) ANKARA 10958, (B) IZMIR 710


1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.


2. CHIEF PROSECUTOR OF THE IZMIR STATE SECURITY
COURT, HULUSI OGUTCU, TOLD POL/ECONOFF AND VISITING
DESK OFFICER HUGGINS ON AUGUST 31 THAT IT WAS THE
GOVERNMENT'S VIEW THAT THE ARRESTS REPORTED IN REFTELS
HAD CLEARED THE PROBLEM OF POTENTIAL PKK ACTIVITY IN
TOURIST AREAS OF THE AEGEAN. HE SAID THAT THERE
SHOULD BE NO MORE DANGER IN CITIES LIKE IZMIR OR
ANTALYA TO TOURIST FACILITIES. OGUTCU ALSO SAID
THAT THE GOVERNMENT TOOK MORE SERIOUSLY THE PROPAGANDA
ACTIVITIES OF WHICH THESE 9 PERSONS STAND ACCUSED
THAN THE BOMB WHICH THEY REPORTEDLY SET, PARTICULARLY
AS THE BOMBS WERE INEFFECTIVE AND HAVE CAUSED NO DEATHS.


3. (COMMENT: WHILE OGUTCU COULD BE ON AN OFFICIAL
LEVEL EXPECTED TO TAKE A VIEW THAT THERE WOULD BE NO
FURTHER PROBLEMS, WE HAD THE IMPRESSION THAT HE MAY
BELIEVE IT. IF SO, THE VIEW CERTAINLY SEEMS OVER
OPTIMISTIC TO US, IN VIEW OF THE RESERVE OF MANPOWER
IN THE EAST WHICH THE PKK COULD USE IF IT IS REALLY
PLANNING A CAMPAIGN TO DISRUPT TURKEY'S TOURIST
INDUSTRY. ON THE OTHER HAND, SINCE THE THREATS AGAINST
TOURISM WERE MADE BY A SPLINTER GROUP,IT MAY BE THAT
THE POLICE FEEL CONFIDENT THEY HAVE CAPTURED ALL THAT
GROUP'S LOYALISTS.)


4. OGUTCU RECENTLY MOVED INTO HIS POST AFTER FOUR
YEARS IN A SIMILAR POST IN DIYARBAKIR. CERTAINLY,
AS HE POINTED OUT HIMSELF, PKK ACTIVITY IN IZMIR
AND THE AEGEAN AREA IS MINUSCULE COMPARED TO THAT
IN THE EAST.


5. WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO DEVELOP INFORMATION
ON THIS TOPIC FROM OTHER CONTACTS.

WILLIAMS