SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, DECEMBER 2, 2002

UNCLAS ADANA 0406 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, DECEMBER 2, 2002 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for December 2, 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. ANTI-WAR PROTESTS (Cumhuriyet/Bolge/Evrensel) Anti-war protests called "No to War in Iraq" and "Peace and Brotherhood Meeting" were held in Istanbul, Izmir, Adana, Antalya, Mersin, Adiyaman, Tunceli, Elazig, Samsun and Eskisehir upon a call by the Ankara Human Rights Association (HRA). Protestors shouted various anti- war and pro-peace slogans. In Adana, a group of 1,000 protestors carried such banners as "Close Incirlik Air Base," "No to war" and "War means hunger, poverty and death" and shouted "Down with American Imperialism," "Budget to laborers, not war," "We will not become U.S. soldiers," and "Murderer U.S. get out of the Middle East" slogans. On behalf of the Adana Anti-War Platform formed by 57 political parties, labor unions, associations and professional organizations, Adana Civil Engineers Chamber (IMO) President Sadi Surenkok, announced a similar anti-war protest would be organized in Adana's Ugur Mumcu Square on December 22. Turkiye cited State Employees' Union Confederation (KESK) Malatya Term Spokesman Hasan Kaldik as saying the U.S.' real purpose was not to destroy weapons in Iraq, but to seize petroleum in that country. Kaldik called on Turkey not to give support to the U.S.' proposed operation against Iraq. ¶3. DISMISSED TEACHERS INDICTED FOR SUPPORT TO PKK (Radikal/Sabah) The Diyarbakir Prosecutor's Office has indicted five teachers, dismissed by the National Education Ministry for singing Kurdish-language songs at the general congress of the Diyarbakir chapter of the Teachers Union Egitim-Sen, for assisting and abetting the PKK. The teachers face a possible prison term of four to seven years each. ¶4. TKP-ML FUGITIVE CAPTURED (Cumhuriyet/Evrensel) Jandarma arrested Tunceli resident Kenan Aloglu, who escaped after conviction by the Malatya State Security Court for "membership in and organizational activities for the Turkish Communist Party/Marxist-Leninist (TKP/ML) - the Turkish Workers and Peasants' Communist Army (TIKKO)". Aloglu was sentenced to 12 years and six months imprisonment. ECONOMIC AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS -------------- ¶5. TROUT FISHERY IN MIDYAT (MARDIN) (Turkiye) The Southeast's largest trout fishery has been established in Midyat (Mardin). TL 17 billion (approx. USD 11,000) was spent for the fishery, which has the capacity to produce 80,000 trout (per year). The fishery, into which 40,000 trout have initially been placed, expects to do well financially. HOLTZ