SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

UNCLAS ADANA 0173 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, JULY 07, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for July 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. Gunaydin / Workers at the government operated Cukobirlik textile factory will lose their jobs when their contracts are cancelled on July 4. They will receive severance pay. The World Bank and IMF had been asking for the closure of the factory, as it was not making any profit for a long time. A private, currently unpublicized company, will rent the factory and 1200 workers will work in the new company. ¶3. Turkiye, Milli Gazete / Hatice Fistikci, a pregnant woman from Gaziantep, and her unborn baby died on the way to the hospital. The health clinic in her town was closed and she had to be transported to the nearest hospital to give birth. The husband of the woman blames the government for the deaths due to the closure of the health clinic in their town. ¶4. Turkiye / Munip Ustundag from Diyarbakir Mother and Child Health Organization announced that three babies die of diarrhea in Diyarbakir everyday. "Mothers should get special education about how to feed their babies," he added. ¶5. Evrensel / Igdir villagers who want to live on the mountains for the summer have to prove that they haven't previously been convicted by the government of any crimes. If they have, they are not allowed to live on the mountains. Attorney Ibrahim Tikiz stated that this practice is against human rights and asked for an explanation from the government. (Editor's Note: PKK militants used to hide in the mountains and make their homes there.) ¶6. Evrensel / In Van, NGOs and DEHAP (Democratic People's Party) are planning a meeting on July 5 for Democracy in Turkey. Selim Bozyigit, the organizer of the meeting, announced that their aim is to inform the people about the EU Harmonization Package, the problems of migration, and the conditions in the prisons. GABRIELSON