Cablegate: (C) Request for Information On Turkish Deputy

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DE RUEHC #6451 0221349
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 221344Z JAN 10
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1617

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 006451

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2035
TAGS: PINR TU
SUBJECT: (C) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON TURKISH DEPUTY
PRIME MINISTER BULENT ARINC ASSASSINATION PLOT
(C-RE9-02710)

Classified By: ELISSA G. PITTERLE, DIRECTOR, INR/OPS

1. (SBU) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS ARE CLOSELY MONITORING
CIVIL/MILITARY TENSIONS IN TURKEY THAT HAVE BEEN BUILDING
DURING THE TWO-YEAR ERGENEKON INVESTIGATION. TURKISH GENERAL
STAFF (TGS) CHIEF OF DEFENSE ILKER BASBUG, IN A 17 DECEMBER
SPEECH, WARNED THE GOVERNMENT, JOURNALISTS, AND JUDICIAL
OFFICIALS AGAINST PURSUING INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST SENIOR
OFFICERS. TWO DAYS LATER, POLICE DETAINED TWO MILITARY
OFFICERS OUTSIDE THE HOME OF DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BULENT
ARINC, WHERE THEY WERE ENGAGED IN APPARENT SURVEILLANCE
ACTIVITIES, LEADING TO THE FIRST POLICE SEARCHES OF SPECIAL
FORCES OFFICES AND FURTHER DETENTIONS OF MILITARY OFFICERS.

2. (SBU) WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE INFORMATION ON THIS
SURVEILLANCE, SUBSEQUENT POLICE SEARCHES, DETENTIONS OF
MILITARY OFFICERS, THE STATE OF MILITARY/POLICE AND
CIVIL/MILITARY RELATIONS, AND PERCEPTIONS OF THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS THAT POST CAN PROVIDE, AS TIME AND RESOURCES
PERMIT. THIS INFORMATION WILL BE USED FOR UPCOMING ANALYTICAL
PRODUCTION TO KEEP POLICYMAKERS ABREAST OF THE SITUATION.

A. (SBU) WHY WAS ARINC BEING SURVEILLED? WHO AUTHORIZED
THIS SURVEILLANCE? WHO ELSE KNEW ABOUT IT? WHAT OR WHO TIPPED
OFF POLICE? DURING THE SEARCH WHAT WERE THEY LOOKING FOR AND
WHAT DID THEY FIND? WERE THE INVESTIGATORS LOOKING FOR
SPECIFIC EVIDENCE OR WAS IT A GENERAL SEARCH FOR INFORMATION?
HOW DO TURKISH LEADERS PERCEIVE THESE EVENTS?

B. (SBU) WHAT IS THE STATE OF CIVIL/MILITARY RELATIONS?

C. (SBU) WHAT IS THE STATE OF MILITARY/POLICE RELATIONS?
HAVE THESE ARRESTS CAUSED OR INCREASED TENSIONS BETWEEN
POLICE AND THE MILITARY?

D. (SBU) DOES THE JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT PARTY, OR
ELEMENTS WITHIN IT, SEE THIS INCIDENT AS A MEANS TO FINALLY
"TAME" THE TGS OR DOES PRIME MINISTER TAYYIP ERDOGAN WISH TO
EASE FURTHER CONFRONTATION AND APPEASE THE TGS?

3. (U) PLEASE CITE C-RE9-02710 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF
REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.
CLINTON

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