SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

UNCLAS ADANA 0133 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, MAY 9, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for May 9, 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 ¶2. Bolge/Turkiye: The US troops' dependents evacuated from Incirlik AFB for security reasons prior to the war on Iraq started returning to the AFB. The soldiers had been separated from their families since March 17. 1,300 dependant-families were evacuated from the AFB. The first group of evacuees returned Incirlik AFB yesterday. ¶3. Turkiye: The police teams launching an operation in Kahramanmars arrested nine persons for alleged membership in the PKK. It is alleged that six of the suspects had taken military training at PKK's camp at the Iranian border and were wanted by the Security Directorate of Istanbul. The other three persons were charged with having sympathy for and written banners on behalf of PKK. ¶4. Milliyet: It is alleged that one of two persons, detained by police in Bingol for instigating the demonstration in front of the governor's office after the earthquake, was a Hizbullah member, and the other one had bonds with the PKK. The report prepared by police about the demonstration in Bingol claimed a group of approximately 1,500 people, including instigators, tried to attack Governor Huseyin Avni Cos, and the Special Operation Team- affiliated policemen opened fire in the air to disperse the crowd. The report claimed that the crowd was agitated by instigators including some DEHAP supporters. Twelve persons were arrested by police on the charges of involvement in demonstrations. While the court released ten of the detainees, two were held in custody for membership in illegal organizations. HOLTZ