SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY

UNCLAS ADANA 0279 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY OCTOBER 29-30, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for October 29-30, 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 / Nevzat Abay, the man who reportedly planned the October 16 Kurkculer, Adana attack on the patrolling jandarma minibus, was arrested after his court hearing. Abay stated in the court that his plan was also to attack a police patrol car after the attack on the jandarma minibus. Abay is also allegedly known to help PKK/KADEK in the distribution of food and clothing. Operations continue to find the two terrorists involved in the attack; the alleged terrorists are believed to be hiding in Hatay province. ¶3. Turkiye, Ozgur Gundem / In Ovacik, Tunceli province, two soldiers were wounded after the explosion of a bomb placed in their guard booths. (Editor's Note: exact date of the incident is unclear from the article, but most likely it was October 28). ¶4. Ozgur Gundem / DEHAP spokesman Resul Sadak announced that "Peace Meetings" will start throughout Turkey on November 1 to find a democratic solution for the Kurdish problem. ¶5. Ozgur Gundem, Evrensel / In Patnos, Agri province, police detained 14 people, including the Patnos head of DEHAP, for organizing a press conference condemning the prison condition of Abdullah Ocalan. ¶6. Turkiye / Dr. Ilhan Diken, head of the Diyarbakir Physicians' Association, announced that physicians all around Turkey will be on strike on November 5. CULTURE and TOURISM ¶7. Yeni Safak / Diyarbakir Literary Days is starting on November 4. Approximately 50 authors and poets from different parts of the world are coming to Diyarbakir to participate in the event. REID