SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY

UNCLAS ADANA 0397 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY NOVEMBER 20, 2002 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for November 20, 2002. Please note that Turkish press reports often contain errors or exaggerations; AmConsulate Adana does not vouch for the accuracy of the reports summarized here. POLITICS, SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS -------------- ¶2. ARREST IN SILVAN (DIYARBAKIR) (Evrensel) Security forces arrested a Hizbullah suspect following a shoot-out in Diyarbakir's Mescit quarter. Turkiye also reported the arrest of a PKK suspect, together with his wife and child, following a clash between the arrestee and security forces in the same district. During his testimony, the arrestee said his name was Ahmet Cakmak, while his wife identified him as Idris Simsek. ¶3. THREE ARRESTED FOR PARTICIPATING IN DEMONSTRATIONS (Evrensel) The Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) Aydinlar (Siirt) district president Metin Beydogan was arrested in the DEHAP office on November 18 (no reason). Beydogan had been blocked by the district governor and the security director from opening the DEHAP district office before the (November 3) elections. In addition, two Batman residents were arrested for participation in protest demonstrations. ¶4. MERSIN PKK DEFENDANT CONVICTED (Bolge/Evrensel) Adana State Security Court convicted Kemal Kaplaner, who had been arrested during an anti- PKK operation in Mersin, for "illegal organization membership and homicide." Kaplaner was sentenced to 24 years' imprisonment. ECONOMIC AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS -------------- ¶5. PRAISE AND OPTIMISM FOR NEW GOVERNMENT (Milli Gazete) Gaziantep Chamber of Industry Assembly President Abdulkadir Konukoglu expressed satisfaction with the quick formation of the new government and praised the new Council of Ministers as "skillful." Turkiye and Bolge reported Adana Chamber of Commerce president Saban Bas said he believed the new government was capable of finding solutions to Turkey's problems and pledged support for all positive decisions to be made by the government. Bolge reported Adana Chamber of Industry (ACOI) president Umit Ozgumus had issued a statement saying hope that political stability had been restored had positively affected the markets. The statement was released prior to the signing of a credit package agreement between ACOI and the Is Bank to provide (commercial) credits for ACOI members. HOLTZ