SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY OCTOBER 01, 2004

UNCLAS ADANA 000132 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM IZ TU ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY OCTOBER 01, 2004 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for October 01, 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. MILLIYET/SABAH/MILLI GAZETE/TERCUMAN/YENI SAFAK/RADIKAL: GOT forces launched an operation in rural Tokat province, killing five DHKP-C militants, including two females. One Jandarma sergeant was also killed in the ensuing clashes. ¶3. EVRENSEL: In Hakkari, a mine exploded yesterday at a location between Yenimahalle and Bercelan Pasture where it is alleged that the security forces have thrown chemical material from helicopters on the forests in the region. A cow was killed in the explosion. The owner of the livestock, Cercis Bor, applied to the Hakkari Chapter of HRA for assistance in getting the area around the houses in the area swept for mines. ¶4. EVRENSEL: In Tunceli, EMEP ("Toil" Party) protested GOT pressure on the people of Tunceli and the burning of the forests in the region. EMEP Provincial Chairman Huseyin Tunc said burning forests and threatening journalists would not produce any solutions, and that steps should be taken to bring peace and brotherhood to the region. Approximately 250 persons carrying signs with "Budgets for education, not for war," marched in the town yesterday. Tunceli's CHP lawmaker Hasan Guyuldar brought a motion bringing forest burning in Tunceli to the agenda of Parliament. ¶5. ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM: In Siirt, Eruh Sub-governor Ozan Balci, Eruh District Jandarma Commander, and soldiers allegedly harassed Human Shield Initiative members attempting to travel to the Cirav Mountains where military operations were underway. ¶6. SABAH: In Mardin, Turkey's Director of Religious Affairs, Prof. Dr. Ali Bardakoglu, Mardin's Syriac Metropolitan Saliba Ozmen and Metropolitan Samuel Aktas of Midyat jointly opened a mosque built by a businessman from Mardin. In his opening remarks, Prof Bardakoglu said "We are grateful to our Prophet, Prophet Moses, and all saints for having created this unity." ¶7. EKSPRES/BOLGE: In Adana, the Cukurova University administration instructed guards not to allow female students wearing headscarves to enter the campus, but the decision was later changed. Female students said they had come to school for education, but some teachers did not allow students wearing headscarves to enter classes. Approximately 50 female students and male students supporting them protested the administration's decision. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will attend the October 7 Academic Year Opening Ceremony at the university. ¶8. YENI SAFAK: After being arrested in Van for drug trafficking and later kidnapped from a police station, former Van deputy Mustafa Bayram's son, Hamit Bayram, was arrested in Ankara on September 17. He was transferred to a prison in Malatya, where he denied accusations at the court, and claimed that he was tortured. Bayram said no drugs had been found on him or in his car, but he said that he was addicted to drugs. Bayram will be sent to Forensic Medicine to confirm his claims of addiction. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS ¶9. RADIKAL: Twenty industrious female students from poor families in Hakkari enrolled at the Industrial Vocational High School and started classes in German. The girls will be educated in Turkey and taken to Germany to work in the Mercedes Benz Company, based on an MOU signed between the company and the Association Supporting Modern Life. ¶10. CUKUROVA HURRIYET: In Adana, the Second Cukurova Industry and Trade Fair will be held between October 02-10. Approximately one million visitors are expected to visit the fair in which 404 domestic and international firms are participating.