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### Viewing cable 07ANKARA1288, TURKEY: ALEVI GROUPS WEIGHING ELECTION OPTIONS

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
07ANKARA1288 | 2007-05-25 13:21 | 2011-04-06 21:30 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Ankara

`

    VZCZCXRO6802
    PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
    DE RUEHAK #1288/01 1451321
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 251321Z MAY 07
    FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2282
    INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
    RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
    RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
    RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5//
    RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
    RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU//TCH//
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
    RUEUITH/TLO ANKARA TU
    RUEHAK/TSR ANKARA TU
    RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001288

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/24/2017
    TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE TU
    SUBJECT: TURKEY:  ALEVI GROUPS WEIGHING ELECTION OPTIONS

    Classified By: Political Counselor Janice G. Weiner, reasons 1.4(b)(d)

    1.(C) Summary: Several leftist Alevi organizations failed to
    agree on an election strategy at a May 19-20 Istanbul
    conference.  Some attendees supported the recently concluded
    center-left alliance, while others insisted it was not nearly
    broad enough to represent their interests.  The conference
    reflected the eclectic nature of Alevis and their increasing
    frustration that no party advances their causes.  Our
    contacts believe that despite this disillusionment, most
    Alevis will stick to tradition and vote for a mainstream
    center-left party such as the Republican People's Party
    (CHP).  Overtures from other parties to run Alevi candidates
    and incorporate some of the issues Alevis support into a
    party platform are unlikely to do much to change the
    equation.  End summary.

    --------------------------------------------- ----------------
    Alevis Groups Attempt to Combine Forces, Strengthen Influence
    --------------------------------------------- ----------------

    2.(C) Several leading Alevi organizations, including the Pir
    Sultan Association, Haci Bektasi Association, and El-i-Beyt
    Foundation, met May 19-20 in Istanbul to formulate a strategy
    for the July 22 parliamentary elections.  Kazim Genc,
    President of the Pir Sultan Alevi Association, told us he
    organized the conference to strengthen the political
    influence of Turkey's large Alevi population.  Until now,
    according to Genc, Alevi influence has been
    disproportionately weak -- Alevis make up approximately 20-25
    percent of Turkey's population.  Genc described Alevis as
    independent-minded and unwilling to tie themselves to a
    specific political party.

    3.(C) Genc hoped that he could increase the influence of Pir
    Sultan's 25,000 members by joining with other Alevi groups.
    Alevis are disappointed with the current parties, none of
    which sufficiently address Alevi concerns, according to Genc.
     The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is, he
    claimed, interested in establishing sharia law and is
    corrupt.  CHP is now alarmingly close to the military and has
    failed to reward Alevis for their support during the 2002
    election.  By combining forces, Alevis could magnify their
    influence on parties' platforms, he explained.

    --------------------------------
    Fractured Groups Unable to Unite
    --------------------------------

    4.(C) Despite high hopes, Alevis were unable to forge
    consensus, and left the conference almost as divided as they
    came.  Attendees told us that prominent Alevi Veliyettin
    Ulusoy led a "moderate leftist" camp that declared it would
    support the CHP-DSP alliance.  The "hardcore leftists," such
    as Genc, rejected the CHP-Democratic Left Party (DSP)
    alliance unless it significantly broadened its tent.  Most
    individuals criticized Alevis who planned to run with AKP or
    the new Democrat Party (DP) -- the result of the Motherland
    Party (ANAVATAN) and True Path Party (DYP) merger.

    5.(C) Many participants signed a broad statement released at
    the conference's conclusion, with three main points:

    -- No political party had recognized in its platform the
    plight of Alevis.

    -- Political Islam, supported by the U.S.'s "moderate Islam
    project," had been trying to take full control of the
    government, as evidenced by AKP's attempts to control the
    Presidency, Speakership, and Prime Ministry.  This political
    Islam promotes racism, backwardness, and sharia.

    -- The best solution is a broad alliance of leftist parties,
    unions, and other groups.  The alliance of CHP and DSP is not
    sufficient because it excludes many leftist groups.

    --------------------------------------
    Alevi Groups Continue to Weigh Options
    --------------------------------------

    6.(C) Following the conference, most of our Alevi contacts
    remained unwilling to commit to a party and open to

    ANKARA 00001288  002 OF 002

    overtures.  While Genc continued to espouse a broad coalition
    of leftists parties, one of his Vice Presidents said he would
    consider supporting AKP or DP if they agreed to address Alevi
    concerns.

    7.(C) Alevi expert Dr. Aykan Erdemir of Middle East Technical
    University (METU) was not surprised by the lack of unity.
    "It is impossible to characterize Alevis as supporting one
    political line -- the community is quite heterogeneous," he
    told us.  Some at the conference largely discouraged the use
    of military intervention to solve Turkey's Kurdish problems
    in the southeast, but others pushed for such intervention.
    Some Alevis practice their religion devoutly, while many are
    purely secular.  Erdemir predicted most Alevis would unite
    around a common fear that AKP is trying to increase the
    influence of Sunni Islam in society by consolidating control
    of government institutions such as the Religious Affairs
    Directorate (Diyanet).  The unifying concern would lead them
    ultimately to vote for a mainstream leftist political party
    such as DP.

    8.(C) Comment:  As the conference showed, the Alevis'
    heterogeneity makes it difficult for them to form a cohesive
    bloc in support of one candidate or party.  Several parties,
    including AKP, are courting Alevi voters and seeking Alevis
    to run as candidates.  Center-right parties, however, are
    unlikely to meet their specific, long-standing demands, and
    AKP is clearly anathema to many Alevis.  In the end, most
    Alevis will probably stick to tradition and vote for a
    mainstream center-left party such as CHP.  End comment.

    Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
    http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

    WILSON

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