SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

UNCLAS ADANA 0268 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, OCTOBER 14, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for October 14, 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. Ozgur Gundem / Security forces detained 5 children in Sirnak for removing the Turkish flag from the flagpole at Mehmetcik Primary School. ¶3. Ozgur Gundem, Evrensel / The Diyarbakir Democracy Platform is going to start a protest to maintain peace and find a permanent solution for the Kurdish problem. People will be turning off their lights at 8:30 every night for two minutes between October 15-30. ¶4. Evrensel / During the Cukurova University opening ceremony students who protested against the US and Higher Education Council (YOK) were taken to remote areas on the campus and beaten by the university private contract security guards. ¶5. Evrensel / Esma Sevgin, who was arrested after the Newroz celebrations in Bitlis in 2002 and released a short while ago, stated that Turkish security forces forced her to sign a paper showing that she had applied to Turkish officials to benefit from the "reintegration law". "This is not the truth, I was released because it is not a crime to attend Newroz celebrations anymore after the acceptance of the EU Orientation Packages," Sevgin announced. ¶6. Expres, Bolge / Saban Bas, Adana Chamber of Commerce Head, announced that over 500,000 people visited the Industrial Fair October 6- 12, and business agreements valued at 2 billion USD were signed. ¶7. Bolge / The Adana Human Rights Organization (HRO) sued the police for detaining 11 HRO members, including the Adana branch head, during the meetings they organized last week to protest the deployment of Turkish troops to Iraq. ¶8. Bolge / An empty municipality bus was attacked by people in Ova mahalle, Adana province. Reportedly, PKK/KADEK members attacked the bus and it's in an unusable condition at the moment. ¶9. Bolge / Sonmez Koksal, a retired National Intelligence Bureau (MIT) official, and Cevik Bir, a retired Turkish General, are coming to Adana to give a speech on the Turkish-American relationship. The Turkish-American Businessmen Association is organizing the event. REID