SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY

UNCLAS ADANA 0286 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY NOVEMBER 19, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for November 19, 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. Ekspres / Adana police detained Bayram Gunindi, who was fighting with Muhittin Gunindi at a location 100 meters from the U.S. Consulate. Police found two guns on M.G. B.G. told the police that he had a bomb. Bomb specialists arrived and discovered that B.G had two candles wrapped with brown tape with him. ¶3. Turkiye / Bingol police found 40 kg of heroin and detained Nedim Aydemir, Sadik Demirhan, Kadir Sezer and Sahin Sezer. Police also found 2 guns and 24 bullets with the detainees. In Baskale, Van province, police found 16 kg of marijuana and are investigating. ¶4. Yeni Safak / In Sanliurfa, a Kurdish Language Course commenced with the approval of the Turkish Ministry of Education. The course has an 80-student capacity. ¶5. Ozgur Gundem / In 96 villages of Ozalp and Saray, Van province, Jandarma took individual and family photographs of the villagers. Allegedly, the Jandarma met with the village guards and wanted the submission of the photographs to the local Jandarma Stations. In Eruh, Siirt province, the Jandarma wanted a passenger list from the local minibus drivers. According to the report, Eglence Jandarma Station in Siirt is also recording the amount of the groceries taken home and the number of the family members. CULTURE and TOURISM ¶6. Hurriyet Cukurove / Kursat Tuzmen, state minister and Gaziantep MP, announced that the Turkish Government would be organizing an international symposium with the attendance of distinguished archeologists to introduce Gaziantep's Zeugma archeological site to the world. REID