SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY APRIL 9, 2004

UNCLAS ADANA 000040 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM IZ TU ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY APRIL 9, 2004 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for April 9, ¶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. Hurriyet, Milliyet / In Omerli, Mardin province, a thirteen year old girl allegedly was sexually abused by several people, including some government officials. A school deputy manager's name is also included in the reports. Fourteen people were arrested and the police are questioning 10 people in relation to the incident. ¶3. Zaman, Ekspres, Bolge / Two Adana Yuregir Municipality Council members, Sami Durmus and Celal Turan were attacked in front of the municipality building by three unidentified young men after their first council meeting. ¶4. Sabah / In Kiziltepe, Mardin province, five police, including a female police officer, allegedly raped a woman during the time she was in detention. Mardin Public prosecutors refused the case, stressing the point that it is impossible for a woman to rape another woman. ¶5. Ulkede Gundem / The Turkish Interior Ministry announced that 92,186 people returned to their evacuated villages in 12 cities in year 2003. ¶6. Ulkede Gundem / The Turkish army started operations around the Gabar Mountains in Sirnak province on April 8, 2004. It is reported that approximately 100 village guards supported the operations. Two HPG guerillas are reported to have died during the operations. CULTURE and TOURISM ¶7. Cumhuriyet / The Culture and Tourism Ministry applied the court to display the Zeugma mosaics in Istanbul during the NATO Summit. The Gaziantep Courts decided that the mosaics should continue to be under the protection of the Gaziantep Museum until the end of the court deliberations.