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