SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

UNCLAS ADANA 0213 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, AUGUST 08, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for August 08, 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 / A group of DEHAP (Democratic People's Party) members who were arrested for attending Ismet Baycan's funeral were released. Mr. Baycan died in Mus Prison. ¶3. Evrensel / In Tatvan/Bitlis a group of villagers who wanted to raid the DEHAP Tatvan Office claimed that Turkish soldiers told them to raid the office or else they would be evacuated from their villages. Sabahattin Ozel, Head of DEHAP in Tatvan, convinced the villagers to return to their houses and prevented the raid. ¶4. Turkiye, Milliyet / Gendarme Forces found about 120,000 root hemp in Diyarbakir and Bingol. ¶5. Hurriyet / Mehmet Besir, AK Party MP for Mardin, announced that the attack against the policemen in Nusaybin/Mardin sabotages peace in the region. ECONOMIC ¶6. Milli Gazete / In Nusaybin/Mardin a new multi-purpose social center has opened. The center will primarily teach reading, writing, and preserving of fruits and vegetables to the women in the area. ¶7. Turkiye / Baki Turkoglu, AK Party MP for Elazig, stated that they need about 5.7 million US dollars to restore Elazig Airport. ¶8. Cumhuriyet / Turkish Mine Research Center found copper reservoirs in Elazig. They had been searching for copper in the area for three years. HART