SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0210 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, AUGUST 05, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for August 05, 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 / Cuma Elkatmis, hairdresser at Bingol Teachers' Guesthouse after arguing - when drunk- with a group of people went to Police Guesthouse for help. It is said that police didn't help him and he was beaten by the group in front of some policemen at the guesthouse. ¶3. Evrensel / Vedat Yamac, Secretary of DEHAP (Democratic People's Party) in Bitlis announced that they had started a Kurdish Speaking Campaign in Bitlis. ¶4. Milli Gazete / People in Malatya started a sitting protest against the limestone quarry in Yesilyurt/Malatya. They claim that the quarry pollutes the environment. ¶5. Turkiye / Three people are under police custody in Hakkari for helping PKK/KADEK. ¶6. Turkiye / A village headman in Malatya is under questioning for not reporting an incident which happened in the village to the Gendarme. ¶7. Turkiye / Gendarme Forces in Bismil found about 5000 root hemp and 11 kg of chemicals which are used in making marijuana. ¶8. Cumhuriyet / In Mardin/Derik, Pirincli Village Head and about 18 village heads converted to AKP on the condition of receiving water in their villages. They were known to vote for ANAP (Motherland Party) and Former Saadet Party in the previous elections. ECONOMICAL ¶9. Evrensel / Feridun Irak, Head of Van Chamber of Commerce announced that Iraq has started quotas in border trade. Irak stated that they had applied the Government for free trading at the border. EDITORIAL Ozdemir Ince from Hurriyet reported about the difficulties at Habur Border Gate. Ince complained about the office hours (9.00-18.00) and stated that it took them about two and half hours to get approval to cross the border. He also pointed out the problems in the security system. "They don't use X-rays, hand detectors and metal door detectors", he wrote. Ince wrote about the sign which says, "Welcome to Turkey" and said Habur Border Gate is "You are not Welcomed in Turkey Border Gate". HART