SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

UNCLAS ADANA 0165 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, JUNE 25, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for June 25, 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. Evrensel, / In Adiyaman, the government charged a man for giving his children Kurdish names. He protested the charge. Giving children Kurdish names still continues to be a problem in the area. ¶3. Evrensel, / In an in depth article, Evrensel discussed the plight of Sirnak villagers currently living in Istanbul. The government refuses to let the villagers return to Sirnak. The article notes the lack of drinking water and sewage. ¶4. Evrensel, / A student was expelled from the Military school for no specific reason. The family claims the reason was their Kurdish origin. The family lives in Iskenderun but they are from Tunceli. The authorities said they are conducting detailed security investigations for military students and their families and it is under their authority to make such decisions. ¶5. Cumhuriyet, / Mardin Young Businessmen Association asked for the removal of the landmines in the area. In their letter to the government they said these areas could be used for agriculture and help the economy in the region. ¶6. Cumhuriyet, / In Diyarbakir, 15 village guards attacked 3 DEHAP members who were campaigning for a general amnesty. ¶7. Sirnak Felony Court sentenced 3 soldiers, A.C Yildiz, A.Metin, K.Yasar, for 5 years and 4 months imprisonment. The soldiers had tortured a Sirnak man, S.Karaaslan, to death during his questioning. The incident occurred in 1999. ECONOMICAL ¶8. The chief of Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce announced a symposium on June 26-27 "The Turkish Agriculture Policies During the Process of Globalization and Harmonization with Europe." HOLTZ