SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY SEPTEMBER 30, 2004

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000131 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM IZ TU ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for September 30, 2004. 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/MILLIYET: Human rights activists frequently interrupted the speech of US Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman at the "Symposium on New Tactics in Human Rights" in Ankara. Approximately 500 human rights activists from 100 countries attended the symposium. ¶3. ZAMAN: In Iraq, PKK/Kongra Gel founded an organization called the "Democratic Front." Thirty-eight Kurdish/Arab political parties and non-governmental organizations attended a meeting of the organization held in Muntansiriye, Iraq. Aiming to bring together Kurdish organizations in Northern Iraq, the Democratic Front will hold its first congress on October 14. ¶4. EKSPRES: In Adana, members of the Yuregir Jandarma Command along with Security Directorate teams arrested Hasan Sucu and Nazim Gokmen with 7.165 kilos of material used in making hash. Recep A. is also wanted by security teams for assisting drug sellers. ¶5. EKSPRES: A bomb placed at HSBC Bank on Ataturk Street, Adana, exploded at 9:00 p.m. on September 29 causing material damage and breaking windows in the surrounding buildings. No casualties were reported. Adana Security Director Mehmet Cebe visited the scene of the explosion and said that the investigation was continuing. Security measures around the American Consulate and other banks have been increased. ¶6. ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM: Twenty-five Human Shield Initiative (HSI) members from Istanbul set off for the Cirav Mountain in Siirt, along with 14 Siirt HSI members. HSI aims to bring the military operations and clashes in the region to an end. An HSI spokesman, Yakup Kadri Karaboga, said the group's demands were clear: a bilateral truce, a general political amnesty, removal of impediments to freedom of expression, compensation of war victims, returns to evacuated villages, an end to military operations and an end to solitary confinement for Abdullah Ocalan. ¶7. ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM: Soldiers evacuated Kocanis village, previously the only village in the Bercalan Pasture of Hakkari province that had not been evacuated. GOT forces dropped chemical material from helicopters and evacuated many villagers on September 22 on the grounds that Heze Paratstina Gel (HPG - Public Protection Forces) members had found shelter there. Many soldiers and village guards were dispatched to the region for the ongoing operation. ¶8. CUMHURIYET/TURKIYE/MILLIYET: A mine planted by PKK/Kongra-Gel militants on the road between Bukardi and Aricak, Elazig province, exploded right after a minibus carrying students passed by. No casualties were reported. ¶9. TURKIYE/RADIKAL/MILLIYET: Sergeant Seref Dede was killed by gunfire from the Iranian border on September 22. Two sergeants and one private were killed in the clashes between GOT forces and PKK/Kongra Gel militants in Pervari, Siirt province, on September 9. ¶10. CUMHURIYET: Residents of the Karaduvar quarter of Mersin filed petitions asking the Mersin Municipality to close down the installations for operating without a license (including TUTA, OPET, ATAS, Petrol Ofisi, GS Petroleum, and Shell Gaz companies),and for "being detrimental to environment and society." The residents are getting ready to press charges against those companies at the European Human Rights Court for "violating the right to life." ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS ¶11. MILLIYET: Thirteen sheep and four calves died from foot-and-mouth disease in Ulubatli and Mutlu quarters of Adana. No animal transportation was allowed in the area, which was put under quarantine right after the incident. The area was disinfected, and sheep and cattle in those quarters were given shots against foot-and-mouth disease. The Adana Governors Office announced that no animals had become sick or died since the measures were taken. ¶12. CUKUROVA HURRIYET: GAPFOOD 2004 Fair was held in Gaziantep from September 23-26. Gaziantep will also host the MOTEKS 2004 5th Fashion and the GATEMAK 2004 Textile Machinery Fairs from September 29 through October 3. One hundred forty companies will open stands at the fairs.