Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ADANA151
2003-06-04 13:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Adana
Cable title:  

SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

Tags:  PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0151 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,
JUNE 04, 2003


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0151

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,
JUNE 04, 2003



1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary
for June 04, 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/Evrensel: Elbeyli Sub-governorate in
Kilis organized a conference on May 30 so as to
turn public opinion against "Armenians'
Fictitious Claim of Genocide." It was mandated
all public employees in town attend the
conference. Assistant Associate Prof. Dr. Mehmet
Kabacik from Kilis' Educational Faculty was the
speaker of the conference. Kabacik got furious
when Hulya Akpinar, a member of Teachers' Union
Executive Board, asked Kabacik if Turkey had an
integrated policy in the event the Armenians
managed to make their case accepted because of
the strong Armenian lobby in the United States
and Europe. Kabacik asked the teacher who she
was, with what title, and on whose behalf she
dared to ask such a question. Kabacik's reaction
disturbed the audiences. In order not to prolong
the argument with Kabacik, Akpinar left the
conference room with her five colleagues and
returned later. Acting Elbeyli Sub-governor
Ramazan Yildirim prepared a report expressing
that the six teachers provoked the conference.
The court accused Akpinar of "making statements
and behaving in a manner that would cause
indignation in public." The judge decided on
releasing Akpinar on bail of approximately one
thousand USD. The rest of the teachers were
released on the condition of reporting to the
court when needed. Because Akpinar could not
locate an official to deposit the bail, she
remained under detention the previous day. After
depositing the bail last evening, Akpinar was let
free.



3. Milliyet: According to a piece of news wired
on the internet by "Kerkuk-Kurdistan," the
Kurdish Institute in Istanbul, KII, claimed
Kurdish and Kurdish culture was under pressure in
Turkey. The KII and the Kurdish Cultural
Foundation in Sweden, KCFIS, asked for financial
support from the Swedish Consul in Istanbul for
printing one hundred thousand books in Kurdish
and distributing them in Eastern and Southeastern
Turkey for free. It is claimed that the Swedish
government has appropriated approximately 377
thousand USD for publishing 20 books in Kurdish
and distributing them until the end of 2004.



4. Cumhuriyet: A union is being established in
Sirnak for the first time after the lifting of
the State of Emergency from the Southeast. The
groups affiliated to KESK (Public Employees'
Unions' Confederation) applied to the governor's
office for opening their branches. The State of
Emergency, declared in the region in 1987,
thwarted opening union branches and prohibited
many activities. It is going to be hard for the
unions to find public employees who would qualify
to become members to their unions because the
employees generally serve in Sirnak for a period
of two years.



5. Bolge/Turkiye: Three people kidnapped Nusret
Gulec, director of Is-Bank in Pozanti, Adana, and
held her for ransom. A person coming to the bank
yesterday morning asked the bank director to ride
with him on the pretext of visiting a client. As
the director got into the car two other fellows
got into the car, too. When Gulec realized that
he was being kidnapped, he struggled with the
drivers and the fellows in the car. The car ran
into a bus cruising on E-5 highway. Gulec and the
kidnappers were wounded in the accident. The
police arrested the kidnappers.
HOLTZ