SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0229 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, SEPTEMBER 01, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for September 01, 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. Sabah/Milliyet: A group of alleged PKK/KADEK militants attacking the Security Directorate in Silvan, Diyarbakir province, last night killed one policeman and wounded two others. The provincial Security Director of Diyarbakir went to Silvan immediately after the attack, and the security forces launched an operation in the region to arrest the assailants. ¶3. Milliyet/Evrensel: Over ten thousand people attended the"Peace and Democratic Solution Meeting" organized by DEHAP (Democratic People's Party),EMEP (Labor Party),SDP (Socialist Democratic Party, and Free Society Party in Mersin. Despite warning by police, a group of demonstrators shouted pro-Ocalan slogans, such as: "Biji Serok Apo (Long Live Leader Apo),"Ocalan, Ocalan Greetings to Imrali." Police tried to scatter the group and detained eight persons. DEHAP's Deputy Chairman, Naci Kutlay claimed that the Reintegration Law had turned into denouncing, and he was often interrupted with pro-Ocalan slogans. The groups threw stones at police when they tried to intervene. The crowd dispersed peacefully after the police withdrew. ¶4. Turkiye: Mehmet Can Cicek, 15, was killed as the explosive he found while grazing his live stocks in rural Solhan, Bingol province, exploded. ¶5. DEHAP's Youth Organization is going to deliver letters to three hundred thousand youths under its "You should do something for peace, too" campaign on September 1 World Peace Day. DEHAP's members will hand deliver the letters in thirty five provinces in the Thrace, Aegean, Mediterranean, and Central regions of Turkey and ask the youth in those regions to be more sensitive to social issues and do more for protecting internal peace. ECONOMIC ¶6. Bolge/Tercuman/Zaman: Kamu-Sen's (Public Employees Union) representative for Adana, Ismail Koncuk, said the government "showed the group the streets" regarding their demand for a salary increase. Koncuk added that Kamu-Sen's five thousand administrators would go on a hunger-strike nationwide and one hundred people would participate in a hunger strike in Adana. Collective bargaining with the government commenced on August 15 and concluded with disagreement on August 30. ¶7. Turkiye: The carcass of a cow was found in the yard of Social Security Hospital and Provincial Health Department Lodgings in Bingol, causing panic in town. The tests by the Provincial Agricultural Department revealed that the cow had contracted anthrax. The carcass of the cow was buried in a lime-lined ditch by municipal officials. TOURISM and CULTURE ¶8. Hurriyet: Excavations and restoration work at the Zeugma site in Gaziantep restarted with funds made available by Special Administration Directorate of Gaziantep. Three more mosaics, a wine storage, and a fountain were discovered. REID