SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0150

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY
JUNE 03, 2003



1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary
for June 03, 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. Radikal: PKK-KADEK militants ambushed a
jandarma team patrolling in rural Eruh of Siirt
the previous night. As a result of ensuing
clashes, three soldiers were wounded while one
PKK-KADEK militant was killed. The jandarma
undertook a large-scale operation in the region.



3. Milli Gazete/Hurriyet/Milliyet/Turkiye:
Bingol Governor Huseyin Avni Cos announced at a
press meeting that seven of eight persons
detained on charges of "assisting and harboring
the PKK/KADEK terror organization" were ordered
held by the court. Governor Cos reminded that
PKK/KADEK militants had opened gunfire on a
military vehicle on patrol in Bingol and had
wounded eight soldiers. Cos said one PKK militant
was killed in the ensuing clashes, but his corpse
was taken by the militants. Governor Cos said, as
a result of large-scale operations by the
security forces in the region, eight suspects,
including two village headmen, were arrested.
Milliyet reported that security forces launching
an operation in Kocbas village in Diyarbakir had
seized one rocket launcher and one hand-grenade
that belonged to PKK/KADEK organization.





4. Milli Gazete: Police teams from Smuggling and
Organized Crimes Department of Diyarbakir's
Security Directorate seized nine kilos of heroin
in Diyarbakir. In connection with the drugs, two
persons were ordered held by the court while the
police undertook a large-scale investigation.



5. Bolge: Based upon a tip, jandarma teams from
Gaziantep seized assorted quantities of hemp in
Sehitkamil and Nizip districts. While the hemp
was burned, jandarma detained four suspects.



6. Evrensel: A picnic organized by Democratic
Students Movement from Inonu University of
Malatya was thwarted by jandarma. Jandarma from
Akcadag Jandarma Command searched students coming
to the picnic area in Sultansuyu. The jandarma
had obtained a warrant of search from the court
prior the students' arrival at the picnic ground.
They detained one student and seized the books
the students had brought in order to sell. Three
students were wounded as they tried to prevent a
colleague from being arrested.


ECONOMIC AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS



7. Sabah: As the peshmergain Northern Iraq
increased the dinar's rate of exchange against
the USD arbitrarily, truckers carrying goods from
Turkey to Iraq went on a strike for three days.
The truckers started carrying goods to Iraq again
only after the authorities resolved the issue.
The ROE was 20 Iraqi dinars to USD 1.00 until a
week ago, but because of a vacuum of authority,
the peshmerga charged 3.50 Iraqi dinars to USD
1.00. As a result of the arbitrary application,
the Iraqis increased the transit fee to 120 US
dollars. After the truckers' strike, the transit
fee was dropped to 20 US dollars. Sirnak Deputy
Governor Resul Celik said only Turkish truckers
passing from Habur border gate were exposed to
such an application which aimed to make the trade
from Turkey difficult.
HOLTZ