SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0422 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, DECEMBER 13, 2002 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for December 13, 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 DECLARATION (Bolge/Bolge) The Cukurova University (Adana) Teaching Staff Association issued a written statement calling for opposition to the proposed U.S. operation against Iraq. The statement said: "The U.S. is preparing for an operation against Iraq taking shelter behind the words `terror and democracy.' The U.S. has been trying to maintain its international relations by the way of war because the economic basis on which its power is based has gradually weakened. We are concerned over the possibility of Turkish support for such an operation intended to bring oil regions under control. With all our might, we are saying "No" to (this) war. We simply oppose the U.S. preparing to become the world empire." Evrensel reported a group of Cukurova University students issued a press release under the December 10-17 Human Rights Week criticizing anti-democratic practices in Turkey. ¶3. FAREWELL TO ARMS IN OHAL (Radikal/Milli Gazete/Evrensel) In the Southeast, licenses to carry weapons which were issued during the State of Emergency (OHAL) due to personal security will be replaced with licenses to own weapons. Licenses of those who fail to apply by January 16 will be declared null and void and their weapons seized. Village guards do not fall within the scope of this practice, because officials said the fact that OHAL was abolished does not mean the village guard system has also been lifted. ¶4. PARLIAMENTARY HRC WILL MAKE ITS FIRST TOUR IN SE (Radikal) The Parliamentary Human Rights Commission will make its first tour of inspections in the Southeast, from where many complaints are received. The Commission's President, Mehmet Elkatmis (AKP's Nigde Deputy),said the commission would investigate all kinds of allegations of human rights abuses, eventually coming up with a road map on human rights. According to Elkatmis, torture will be the main item on the commission's agenda. "With laws to be passed, there will be no more human rights abuses," Elkatmis pledged. ¶5. SES OFFICIAL "EXILED" (Evrensel) Health Employees' Union (SES) Bingol chapter President Muharrem Aydinalp and his wife Mevlude Aydinalp were transferred to Erzurum province, allegedly due to Aydinalp's union-related activities. The decision was reportedly made although an August investigation against Aydinalp turned up no criminal activity. ¶6. HEROIN SEIZURE (Evrensel) Gurpinar (Van) District Security Directorate's Anti-smuggling and Organized Crime teams seized 79.491 kilograms of heroin in four bags in the search of a home in Yukari Kaymak Quarter. Over 100 kilograms of unprocessed narcotics were also seized. Police arrested one suspect who had been preparing to transport the seized drug to another province in a vehicle's 80-liter LPG tank. ECONOMIC AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS -------------- ¶7. EU SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION (Milliyet) The Adana National Education Directorate has launched a campaign to get its share of the EUR 12 million (approx. USD 12.2 million) donated by the EU for "Basic Education Support Project" to be carried out in big provinces such as Adana, Mersin, Antalya, Bursa and Istanbul, which attract intense migration from the Southeast. Adana National Education Director Gungor Kose said the project went into effect on September 11 as a result of the February 8, 2000 protocol agreement signed between the EU and the National Education Ministry. The donation will be used to educate adults, street and working children, as well as to turn some schools into multi- purpose educational centers for the purpose of training illiterate women, girls, and street and working children especially in slum areas. HOLTZ