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