SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY

UNCLAS ADANA 0160 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY JUNE 14-15, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for June 14-15, 2003. Please note that Turkish press reports ofteb contain errors or exaggerations; AmConsulate Adana does not vouch for the accuracy of the reports summarized here. POLITICAL, SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS ¶1. Evrensel/ The women and students in Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Van and Hakkari held a meeting and asked for a general amnesty. The women sent fax messages to the President, Prime Minister, the Head of the GNA and to TGS and asked for the solution of the Kurdish problem. ¶2. Dunya/ Some explosions and fire have been reported in the Kerkuk-Yumurtalik gas pipeline. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul announced that he thinks the explosion is the result of sabotage. Hidir Aziz, an Iraqi said " the Iraqis came and installed the bomb. They don't want the Americans to run oil to Turkey." On the other hand, a press spokesman for the US Army announced that the explosions occurred due to some leakage of gas." ¶3. Bolge/ The Association of National Independence Army in Adana declared that it would hurt Turkey if the US Parliament accepted the Armenian Massacre Law. Selahattin Gungor, the Head of the association, stressed his regrets about the law. ¶4. Evrensel/Serdar Tanis, The head of Hadep in Silopi and Ebubekir Deniz, the secretary of HADEP in Silopi have been reported lost for nearly three years. Tahir Elci, their attorney asked for a detailed investigation but his appeal has been rejected. He was told their file was marked Secret and no investigation could be done on SIPDIS their file. ECONOMICAL AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS Turkiye/ The businessmen who have investments in the Diyarbakir Organized Industrial Zone got together and started an association(DOSIAD). The Head of the association is Muhittin Bal. HOLTZ