SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0271

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,
OCTOBER 16, 2003



1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary
for October 16, 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. Zaman, Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah / A Jandarma
minibus was attacked by terrorists around
Kurkculer area in Adana at 8:00 pm yesterday,
killing one soldier and wounding two. Kemal
Onal, Adana province governor, himself lead the
search and implemented controls around the
area. (Editor's Note: Jandarma, vice TNP,
regular patrols have been started in this area,
also the vicinity of Adana where the new
consulate building is under construction.)



3. Turkiye / During operations in Baskale, Van
province Jandarma forces detained 51 Afghans,
24 Pakistanis, and 1 Belgian who had entered
Turkey without any legal documents.



4. Sabah / Female lawyers from the Contemporary
Lawyers' Association Adana branch called upon
all women to fight against war.



5. Ekspres / M. Kemal Girmen, assistant head of
the Genc Party in Adana, announced at a press
conference that the present AKP Government does
not represent the Turkish people, but works for
the benefit of the US Government.



6. Sabah Guney / A group of people in Gaziantep,
including some children, walked to protest the
war in Iraq. People carried posters saying "Go
Home US," "Murderer US."



7. Ozgur Gundem / A delegation from the Human
Rights Organization conducted an investigation
in Kovali, Derik, Mardin province, concerning
the attack that resulted in the injury of 5
people in the village. The delegation
announced that the Jandarma had planned the
attack on purpose and Turkish General Staff
should make an official announcement for the
incident.



8. Ozgur Gundem, Evrensel / People, including the
Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) Mersin chief
Ali Tanriverdi, gathered in front of the DEHAP
Mersin office to announce that the Turkish
Government should put an end to the guerilla
war and the Kurdish problem should be solved in
peaceful ways. The same message was announced
at Diyarbakir and Hakkari DEHAP offices. In
Tunceli and Aydin, the Democracy Platform and
EMEP held similar protests. During the meetings
people also protested the isolation of Abdullah
Ocalan in Imrali prison.



9. Ozgur Gundem / Among nine people who were
detained in Diyarbakir on October 11 for
attending an unauthorized political meeting,
two were released and the rest were arrested
and placed in a Diyarbakir prison.



10. Evrensel, Bolge / Students who protested the
Iraq war and the Higher Education Council
during the Cukurova University official opening
ceremonies organized an alternative opening
ceremony yesterday. Students danced and played
music, announcing that they don't want police
on the university campus.



11. Evrensel / Students at Van's Centennial
University walked on the campus to protest
against the deployment of Turkish troops to
Iraq.
REID