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