SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0262 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, OCTOBER 8, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for October 8, 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. Ekspres, Zaman, Sabah Guney / The Adana Women's platform organized a press conference in front of the AKP Adana Office and announced that, as mothers, they are against the presence of Turkish troops in Iraq. ¶3. Turkiye, Zaman / In Adana, M. Kemal Varol, complained about the slow work of the Turkish Government in Imarbank account repayments and announced that he is resigning from Turkish citizenship. "I would go and live in any country that would accept me", Varol stated. ¶4. Bolge, Zaman / Bystanders found a suspicious bag under a seat at the Adana train station yesterday. Bomb specialists carefully opened the bag. Police announced that there were some books and perfume in the bag. ¶5. Bolge / Some NGOs in Hatay organized a meeting in front of the AKP Hatay office and protested against the involvement of Turkish troops in Iraq. ¶6. Zaman, Sabah Guney / Hulusi Kilic, Turkey's Consul General in Aleppo, Syria, visited Adana Governor Kemal Onal on October 6. Kilic evaluated Israel's attack on Syria as "an abuse of a country by another country." ¶7. Sabah, Evrensel, Ozgur Gundem / The investigation regarding the Mardin girl known by the initials "S.E.," who was allegedly raped by Turkish soldiers in 1993, is continuing. Attorney Sabahattin Demirtas, head of the Diyarbakir Human Rights Organization, announced that 405 soldiers were not involved in the rape case. "Two to three soldiers are being accused of the rape," Demirtas stated. According to Evrensel and Ozgur Gundem, S.E's mother, "I.E", also accused Turkish soldiers of raping her. ¶8. Cumhuriyet / The State Employees' Union Confederation (KESK) Sirnak Platform announced in its annual report that villagers in cities should be encouraged to return to their evacuated villages. (Editor's Note: There are 114 evacuated settlements in Sirnak). ¶9. Evrensel / Semsi Bayraktar, head of the Turkish Agriculture Union, announced in Diyarbakir that mined areas in the Southeast should be given to the villagers in the area after the clearance of the landmines. ¶10. Evrensel, Ozgur Gundem / In Karliova, Bingol province, three soldiers were wounded during a clash between Turkish forces and PKK/KADEK guerillas. According to Ozgur Gundem, 2 soldiers and a KADEK member died and 6 soldiers were wounded during the clash. ¶11. Ozgur Gundem / In Hani, Diyarbakir province, Hasip Cali killed soldier Fatih Cevik for an unknown reason. In Dogubeyazit, Agri province, an unknown man killed a village guard. ¶12. Ozgur Gundem / The DEHAP Hakkari Women's Branch announced in a press release that Imrali Prison should be closed. The women also drew attention to the deteriorating health of Abdullah Ocalan. REID