SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

UNCLAS ADANA 0427 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, DECEMBER 23, 2002 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for December 23, 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 RALLY IN ADANA (Evrensel/Milli Gazete/Bolge) On December 22, nearly 500 workers, laborers and youths who were members of the Labor Party (EMEP),the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP),the TKP (Turkish Communist Party) and the Public Training Centers, all components of the Adana War Opponents Platform, gathered in Adana's Ugur Mumcu Square to protest the December 19 decision by the Adana Governor's Office to postpone until February the proposed anti-war rally the Platform wanted to organize on December 22. "We do not want to become U.S. puppets," the protestors said. Yasin Aytac of the Haber-Sen in Adana read a press release on behalf of the platform characterizing the postponement as "the throwing backward of humanitarian values." Aytac said he did not want the Governor's Office and the Incirlik Air Base to become the center of war and the U.S. Consulate a war representation. Aytac added the U.S. did not have the right to teach anyone the lesson of human rights and democracy because none of the Middle Eastern administrations which the U.S. supported were democratic. He also criticized the U.S. stance on Israel's attitude toward Palestine. "We reject a war decision by the government, which acts like a satellite or a colonial governor of the U.S., on our behalf," he indicated. A similar demonstration was held in Izmir, where hundreds of thousands of people protested government practices thus far and its pro-war attitude. Turkiye reported nearly 1,500 people, including children, attended the anti-war rally in Adana, carrying banners and shouting slogans that were critical of war and the U.S. [Consulate personnel observed only 150-200 people.] ¶3. NINE KADEK MEMBERS ARRESTED IN MARDIN (Turkiye) Mardin police arrested nine KADEK (PKK) members who admitted having come from Istanbul to carry out KADEK activities in rural Nusaybin (Mardin). A pistol, a cartridge clip and ten rounds of ammunition were seized in the search of one arrestee's home. ¶4. THREE SUSPECTS ORDERED HELD FOR MEMBERSHIP IN PKK (Evrensel) The Van State Security Court ordered three of the six people arrested in an anti-KADEK (PKK) operation in Van for preparing to join the PKK to remain in custody for "membership in the organization." The remaining three arrestees, all under 18 years of age, were sent to the Van Security Directorate's Children's Department to be handed over to their families. ¶5. PETITION DRIVE FOR A NEW CONSTITUTION (Evrensel) The Adiyaman Democracy Platform launched a "Hand in Hand for a New Constitution" petition drive, claiming the 1982 Constitution fails to meet the needs of the Turkish society. HOLTZ