US embassy cable - 88IZMIR740

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