SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR DECEMBER 20, 2004

UNCLAS ADANA 000167

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR DECEMBER 20, 2004


This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for December 20,

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

VAKIT / CUMHURIYET / TERCUMAN / SABAH: Scarcity of prey in
the mountains for wolves, due to sharply decreasing temperatures
and heavy snowfall, causes the wolves to approach villages of
Yuksekova, Hakkari, and attack people. Fifteen villagers have
been wounded by wolves. A sample taken from one of the wolves
shot dead is being sent to Ankara for examination regarding
rabies.

OZGUR GUNDEM: With the participation of 2000 people, NGOs in
Kiziltepe made a press announcement in Mardin. The NGOs demanded
that Minister of Education Huseyin Celik pay more attention and
get more involved with the Ugur Kaymaz incident, and that the
Turkish Association of Drivers be more involved in the case of
Ahmet Kaymaz. Resat Kaymaz, who is the brother of Ahmet Kaymaz,
denied the allegations of Mardin Deputy Security Director, (who
is) saying that the weapons found beside the bodies had been
used in a raid on a police station. Resat Kaymaz stated that
Ahmet Kaymaz was in Iraq on the date of the raid on that police
station.

OZGUR GUNDEM: Mehmet Elkatmis, the President of the TBMM
Human Rights Commission, showed "incompetence" when he received
the application of families whose relatives, Serdar Tanis and
Ebubekir Deniz (HADEP Silopi district officials),have
(allegedly) not been seen after being in Jandarama detention
(note: in 2001. end note). Mehmet Elkatmis stated that the
judicial proceedings about the incident are still continuing and
they cannot interfere while the process is ongoing. Elkatmis
sent an application form of European Court of Human Rights to
the family though the family had already applied to the Court.

OZGUR GUNDEM: Twnety village guards from Beytussebap, Sirnak
were removed from office without explanation. The guards were
not paid their last month of salary.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS


1. EVRENSEL / CUMHURIYET / MILLIYET / BOLGE / TURKIYE: The
workers of a factory of CUKOBIRLIK (Cooperative Organisation for
Agricultural Product Sales in Cukurova),as well as several
producer members of the same organization, protested against the
management of CUKOBIRLIK for shutting down a factory and firing
4000 workers in Adana. The protestors claimed that a big,
full-fledged, beneficial factory that has the potential to
operate with 100% capacity and employ 5000 workers was shut down
simply due to ineffective and unsuccessful management. The
workers carried banners reading "AKP Government, take your hands
off CUKOBIRLIK," and they demanded that the factory be reopened.



2. VAKIT / HURRIYET / EKSPRES / MILLI GAZETE / YENI SAFAK:
Citrus fruit producers gathered to pray for clients to buy their
produce. This protest was to criticize the government for not
supporting the purchase of citrus fruit at a price that would
help the producers cover their costs. The producers said that
the harvest of citrus fruit increased by 30% as compared to the
previous year's harvest. If this amount of production is not
going to be exported, it is impossible to consume it in internal
markets.


3. EKSPRES / MILLI GAZETE / BOLGE: Exports are increasing
thanks to the visit that the Adana Chamber of Commerce paid to
Greece last year with a delegation of 90 industrialists. A
furniture company signed an investment and cooperation agreement
worth $500,000 this year with a Greek firm. The president of
the Adana Chamber of Industry stated that the second rapidly
developing sector in Adana, after the textile industry, is the
furniture-manufacturing sector.





REID