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