SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

UNCLAS ADANA 0234 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, SEPTEMBER 05, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for September 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. Bolge / A bag, found in Kucuksaat, a crowded shopping area in old Adana, caused panic in the city. Bomb specialists arrived to check the bag. The bag was empty. ¶3. Bolge / Sahin Baltaci, who had investments in Imarbank, burned himself in front of Imarbank Resatbey Branch, Adana. An ambulance took Baltaci to the hospital. His treatment will continue. ¶4. Bolge/ Members of Mersin State Employees' Union, Kamu-Sen, ended their three-day hunger strike. ¶5. Bolge, Turkiye, Express / After the complaints about the pollution caused by Sugozu Thermo- electric power plant, Adana Government tested the water in Yumurtalik and declared that it was clean. ¶6. Milli Gazete, Evrensel / State Hospital in Siverek, Sanliurfa province, does not have a working ambulance. Siverek has a population of 250.000 people. (Editor's Note: Two ambulances, which belong to the hospital, don't work). ¶7. Evrensel / Due to PKK/KADEK's announcement that it was ending the ceasefire, security officials In Cemisgezek, Tunceli province called upon the people to evacuate the rural areas. ¶8. Evrensel / It is claimed that about 832 people from the Southeast applied to benefit from the "reintegration law". The article does not provide the source for the figure. CULTURE and TOURISM ¶9. Cumhuriyet / In order to protect the historical and natural value of the island, the Culture and Tourism Center prohibited people to have picnics on Akdamar Island, Gevas, Van province. REID