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