SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0116 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, APRIL 22, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for April 22, 2003. Please note that Turkish press reports often contain errors or exaggerations; AmConsulate Adana does not vouch for the accuracy of the reports summarized here. POLITICAL, SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS Radikal: It is reported that the person code named "Mahmut" who committed suicide during the security forces' PKK/KADEK operation in Silopi, was the PKK's person in charge for Cudi Mountain. It is claimed that "Mahmut" whose ID has not been disclosed yet, was a Syrian national. The police in Silopi started surveillance last Friday of a PKK/KADEK suspect, Abdullah Kayhan, who met with two persons known as "Mahmut" and "Harun." When the security forces arrested Harun, Mahmut, recognizing that he also would be arrested, committed suicide. Cumhuriyet/Evrensel/Sabah/Radikal/Hurriyet: In its most recent issue, Time Magazine selected the chairwoman of Diyarbakir-based Ka-Mer (Women's Center),Nebahat Akkoc, as one of the 38 persons identified as "the heroes of the modern age." The contestants were selected from people living in Europe and the Middle East. The magazine emphasized that Akkoc struggled for defending the rights of Anatolian women exposed to domestic violence, and added that according to the UN figures, 58 percent of women in Anatolia were exposed to violent acts by their spouses. The mother of two children, Mrs. Akkoc, who lost her husband to a mysterious killing in 1993, founded Ka-Mer in Diyarbakir in 1997, and has been providing legal and psychological support at its seven branches in the southeast to women subjected to violence. Currently, Mrs. Akkoc is focused on fighting against honor killings in the rural regions, a common practice, and has managed to rescue a young girl for whom a death decision was made. Turkiye/Bolge/Milli Gazete: The new courthouse of Adana, the construction of which started five years ago and cost approximately USD 9.375 million, was opened for service. Regarding the new courthouse, the Chief Public Prosecutor, Cemal Sahir Gurcay, said he attached great importance to security, and had assigned 58 policemen in addition to the jandarma for that purpose. Gurcay added that he was particularly interested in the internal security of the building in order to eradicate the negative reputation of the former courthouse famed for fights among the families attending the hearings. Turkiye/Bolge: In Adana, the police arrested 10 persons, including three women, for being members of "Cakarlar," a gang which extorted money from citizens in various quarters of the town by threat or blackmail. The suspects were arrested when the police launched an operation to arrest the perpetrators of armed assaults at two tea- shops and a house in Seyhan district. While searching the suspects' homes, the police seized one automatic Kalashnikov, one hunting gun, and ammunition for those weapons. The suspects were taken to the State Security Court following the completion of their interrogation at the Security Directorate. The suspects threatened a journalist with death as they left for court. The police are still looking for the alleged leader of the gang, Tarik Cakar. Turkiye: Based on a tip, the police in Adiyaman arrested Dogan Tanriverdi red-handed while he was trying to sell 4 kilos of heroin in town. An investigation is underway, the officials said. HOLTZ