SOUTHEAST TUREKY PRESS SUMMARY

UNCLAS ADANA 0278 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TUREKY PRESS SUMMARY OCTOBER 28, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for October 28, 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. Turkiye, Cumhuriyet, Evrensel, Milliyet, Ozgur Gundem / DEHAP members in eight provinces went to court yesterday in order to use the letters "x, q and w", (which do not exist in Turkish alphabet),when naming children. (Editor's Note: Turkish law permits giving children Kurdish names, but local registrars often refuse names with letters not found in the Turkish alphabet.) ¶3. Cumhuriyet / Fourteen people in Cukurca, Hakkari province, accused the security forces of pulling them through animal feces because they were PKK/KADEK supporters. Witnesses reported that the forces broke a man's hands and a woman's shoulders. The group brought suit against the security forces involved in the incident. ¶4. Evrensel / In Yellice village, Kurtalan, Siirt, village guards relinquished their guns on September 1, Peace Day, and announced that they are for peace. ¶5. Milliyet / Mustafa Erkal will be the new governor of Tunceli. Erkal was removed from his position by court order in February and applied to the high court to get his position back. The High Court's decision will return him to the governorship. ¶6. Bolge / There was a clash between the security forces and protesters during protests in Ova district, Adana province on October 27. A group of people gathered on 2nd street in Ova district and shouted slogans praising Abdullah Ocalan. People threw stones at the police and burned plastic tires. Two police officers were wounded during the clash. REID