DATE=4/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248145
TITLE=TURKEY / ISLAMISTS / KURDS
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=DIYARBAKIR
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TURKEY'S ISLAMIST VIRTUE PARTY IS EXPECTED TO WIN SCORES
OF PARLIAMENTARY SEATS IN THE THE KURDISH SOUTHEASTERN REGION IN
NATIONAL ELECTIONS ON SUNDAY. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM THE
SOUTHEASTERN PROVINCE OF DIYARBAKIR, THE PARTY IS SPREADING A
MESSAGE OF RECONCILIATION BETWEEN TURKS AND KURDS.
TEXT: AHMET BILGIN IS THE MAYOR OF DIYARBAKIR, THE LARGEST AND
MOST POPULOUS CITY IN TURKEY'S MAINLY KURDISH SOUTHEAST REGION.
HE WOULD LIKE TO BE RE-ELECTED IN THE ELECTIONS ON SUNDAY (APRIL
18TH).
UNLIKE HIS MAIN RIVALS FROM THE PRO-KURDISH PEOPLE'S DEMOCRACY
PARTY OR HADEP, MR. BILGIN, AN ETHNIC KURD, IS NOT -- AS HE
PUTS IT -- CONCERNED WITH ETHNIC NATIONALISM OR POLITICAL
IDEOLOGY.
/// BILGIN ACT - IN TURKISH - FADE UNDER ///
MR. BILGIN SAYS HIS MAIN JOB AS MAYOR IS TO SERVE THE PEOPLE, TO
BUILD ROADS, SEWAGE SYSTEMS AND PARKS, NOT TO --IN HIS WORDS --
WASTE TIME PREACHING POLITICAL VIEWS.
AT A SMALL SMOKY COFFEEHOUSE IN DIYARBAKIR'S MEVLANA HALIT
NEIGHBORHOOD, MR. BILGIN REPEATS HIS VIEWS TO WILD APPLAUSE FROM
LOCAL RESIDENTS.
/// SOUND FROM COFFEEHOUSE - FADE UNDER ///
HE IS PROMISING THEM MORE SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND ROADS. MANY
BELIEVE HIM BECAUSE DURING MR. BILGIN'S FIVE YEARS IN OFFICE
DIYARBAKIR HAS BECOME A MUCH CLEANER, GREENER, AND SAFER CITY.
MEDENI TURK IS RUNNING ON VIRTUE'S TICKET TO BE ELECTED HEADSMAN
OF THE MEVLANA HALIT NEIGHBORHOOD.. HE SAYS THE PROBLEMS LOCAL
PEOPLE FACE ARE PRIMARILY ECONOMIC. KURDISH NATIONALISM HE SAYS
IS NOT ON THE TOP OF PEOPLE'S AGENDA.
/// TURK ACT - IN TURKISH - FADE UNDER ///
MR. TURK SAY DIYARBAKIR'S PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN COMPOUNDED BY THE
INFLUX OF KURDISH VILLAGERS FORCIBLY DISPLACED BY THE 15-YEAR
CONFLICT BETWEEN GUERRILLAS OF THE SEPARATIST KURDISTAN WORKERS'
PARTY AND TURKISH SECURITY FORCES. MOST, HE SAYS, HAVE NO
STEADY EMPLOYMENT AND TENS OF MOUTHS TO FEED, SO THEY MAKE ENDS
MEET DOING OCCASIONAL LABOR THAT PAYS BARELY ENOUGH TO BUY A FEW
LOAVES OF BREAD.
ALI ELBEY IS THE CHAIRMAN OF VIRTUE'S DIYABAKIR BRANCH. HE
REJECTS HADEP'S CLAIMS THAT KURDS ARE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BY
THE TURKISH STATE.
/// ELBEY ACT - IN TURKISH - FADE UNDER ///
MR ELBEY POINTS TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF ETHNIC KURDS IN
PARLIAMENT. HE SAYS TURKS AND KURDS ARE EQUAL BEFORE THE LAW.
STILL, VIRTUE'S MESSAGE OF CONCILIATION IS NOT LIKELY TO HELP
IT WIN ELECTIONS IN DIYARBAKIR. HADEP IS WIDELY EXPECTED TO
SWEEP MANY OF THE MUNICIPALITIES HERE . ANALYSTS SAY THERE ARE
SEVERAL REASONS FOR THIS.
ONE IS THAT MANY VIRTUE MAYORS WERE REMOVED FROM OFFICE HERE ON
CORRUPTION CHARGES. SECONDLY, MANY KURDS SEE THESE ELECTIONS AS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR PROTEST AT THE GOVERNMENT'S
CONTINUED REFUSAL TO GRANT THEM CULTURAL RIGHTS SUCH AS ENDING
BANS ON BROADCASTING AND EDUCATION IN THE KURDISH LANGUAGE.
ANALYSTS AGREE THAT SUSTAINED STATE PRESSURE ON HADEP HAS MADE
THE PRO-KURDISH PARTY EVEN MORE POPULAR.
EVEN SO, HADEP IS NOT EXPECTED TO WIN THE MINIMUM 10 PERCENT OF
THE NATIONAL VOTE NEEDED TO SECURE SEATS IN THE TURKISH
PARLIAMENT. THIS IN TURN, MEANS THAT VIRTUE WHICH IS THE SECOND
MOST POPULAR PARTY IN THE KURDISH REGIONS WILL PICK UP DOZENS OF
PARLIAMENTARY SEATS THAT WOULD HAVE GONE TO HADEP. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH
15-Apr-99 11:39 AM EDT (1539 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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