SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, OCTOBER 5, 2004

1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for October
05, 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. SABAH/HURRIYET: In Gaziantep, former banker Betul Kurt (27)
disappeared with $10 million she had received by promising high
interest rates to those who made deposits in a currency
exchange. The currency exchange office belonged to her
relatives. While working as a banker, Kurt had been charged
with using clients' money in her name, and she is facing 8.5
years of imprisonment.



3. CUMHURIYET/EVRENSEL: In Siirt province, 33 Istanbul and
Siirt "Human Shield Initiative" members who had attempted to
travel to the Cirav Mountain in order to stop military
operations underway against PKK/Kongra Gel, were arrested by the
Eruh Criminal Court of Peace for opposing Assembly and Marches
Law No. 2911, damaging others' property, disobeying officials'
orders, openly instigating hatred and animosity among people,
and resisting enforcement officers.

CUMHURIYET: American diplomats from the Political Section of the
US Embassy in Ankara, Philip Kaplan and James Sopp, arrived in
Van. During their visit with the Van Mayor, Mr. Kaplan said they
were undertaking a trip with the goal of understanding Turkey
better, and had been visiting Van as a part of that trip.
Kaplan said that they called on governors, mayors, NGO
representatives, and public prosecutors in the towns they
visited.

MILLIYET/BOLGE/ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM: The trial related to Siyar
Perincek, an alleged PKK/Kongra Gel militant who died in clashes
with police, started in Adana. Three policemen charged with
manslaughter face sentences varying from 5 to 15 years of
imprisonment. One of the defendants, police supervisor D.O.,
claimed Perincek fired at him two rounds before he shot at him.
The hearing was adjourned to November 11.

VAKIT: Approximately 10,000 Turkish trucks have been "stranded"
for two weeks in Zakho, Northern Iraq, because of unjust
practices by the Kurdish peshmergas. Truckers have been
claiming that they are forced to buy fuel from the Halil Ibrahim
Customs Station and pay a fee of $125, an increase of $25 over
the past. Truckers have been petitioning Turkish authorities to
find a remedy.

TURKIYE: Jandarma teams seized 16.785 kilograms of heroin in
operations in the Aktoprak and Tekpinar villages of Adiyaman.
Three persons were arrested in connection with drugs.




ALLISON