SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, OCTOBER 15, 2004

UNCLAS ADANA 000139 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM IZ TU ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, OCTOBER 15, 2004 This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for October 15, ¶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 MILLIYET/SABAH/RADIKAL/TURKIYE/EVRENSEL/TERCU MAN/YENI SAFAK: Former DEP Deputy Leyla Zana, during her visit to Brussels as the guest of the European Parliament (EP),objected to the European Commission's Report calling the Kurds a minority. Zana said, "Kurds are not a minority but a member of the majority. This definition has hurt us a lot." Zana said Kurdish and Turkish people needed a new constitution, which would consider them as equal people. Zana added that the armed persons in the mountains should be reintegrated into society, and that applications such as the Compensation Law hurt the honor of the Kurdish people. She added that the EU was a bridge between Turks and Kurds, and that Turkey should be accepted as a member of the European Union. CUMHURIYET: As a result of an explosion of a remote-controlled mine planted by PKK/Kongra-Gel militants on a road in Yuksekova, Hakkari province, two soldiers were wounded and some military vehicles were damaged. CUMHURIYET/TURKIYE: The Elazig Governorate announced that as a result of GOT forces' operations in Istanbul, Tunceli, and Elazig provinces, nine persons allegedly trying to plan bomb attacks in Elazig and other major towns were detained. GOT forces seized 7 kilograms of C-4 explosive, and 20 electrical percussion caps in places indicated by the detainees. TURKIYE/BOLGE/EKSPRES: Attorney Ismet Altug has been elected as the President of the Adana Bar Association at the election held on October 10, 2004. ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM: Based on information provided by a Heze Parastina Gel (HPG-People Protection Forces) member, who surrendered to the GOT forces a few days ago, the Nusaybin and Midyat Jandarma Commands, Mardin province, launched a joint operation in the rural Doganli, Goruntepe, Cali, and Habise regions. A number of HPG shelters in the region were discovered by GOT forces. ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM: Twenty-seven "Human Shield Initiative" members from Adana and Mersin set up tents in the Kato Mountain, Hakkari province, aiming to stop likely military operations in the region. Thirty persons from the Mardin "Human Shield Initiative" will go to Cudi Mountain for the same purpose. REID