SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0244 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY SEPTEMBER 13-14-15, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for September 13-14-15, 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. Cumhuriyet / In Iskenderun and Adana, the Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) "freedom" meetings turned into PKK/KADEK meetings. Police warned the group and there was a mild clash. A police officer was wounded during the Adana event. ¶3. Cumhuriyet / In SASA-DupontSA, 253 workers decided to be members of Petrol-Is Union. The factory management did not welcome the workers' decision. ¶4. Ekspres / Pandora Street people in Adana protested the Municipality's decision to cut the trees on their street in order to continue road repair work. ¶5. Ekspres / Mujdat Akcinar, Head of Incirlik Merchants' Association, announced that 350 merchants in Incirlik are in financial crisis due to the war in Iraq. "Americans in Incirlik are not allowed to leave the base and 98% of our sales are with Americans. There are days some merchants close their shops without any sales", Akcinar reported. ¶6. Turkiye / In Iskenderun, Hatay province, 27 Syrians were found in a boat on September 13, with no legal papers. The Syrians were planning to go to Cyprus illegally. ¶7. Evrensel / Diyarbakir Human Rights Organization (HRO) released its monthly report. According to the report, 17 people lost their lives during the clashes in August. HRO also stressed the possible danger of PKK/KADEK ending its cease-fire. "Turkish military operations in the region do not solve the problem", S. Demirtas, the spokesman of HRO, stated. ¶8. Evrensel / In Van and Mus provinces, the Turkish military deployed 30 specially trained military personnel together with some village guards. These personnel will be helping the military personnel already serving in the area. ¶9. Evrensel / In Gevas, Van province, three people were hospitalized for anthrax. Gevas has been under quarantine since September 8. ¶10. Sabah Guney / About 50 people from the Human Rights Organization (HRO),the Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) and Labor Party (EMEP) gathered in Adana to protest the September 12, 1980 military coup. CULTURE and TOURISM ¶11. Milli Gazete / "Peace Ambassadors", who were in Iraq to protect Iraqi civilians, visited Mardin Monastery. The Peace Ambassadors joined in worshipping with Italian tourists in the monastery. Gabriel Akkurt, vicar of the monastery, announced his wish for peace in the world. REID