SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY

UNCLAS ADANA 0009 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY JANUARY 10-12, 2004 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for January 10-12, 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. Evrensel, Hurriyet, Milliyet / According to Evrensel and Hurriyet, The Washington Post reported that an agreement has been signed between Ankara and Washington for the use of Adana's Incirlik Airbase for the rotation of American soldiers in Iraq. According to The Washington Post, the Pentagon's plan is to remove some 123,000 American soldiers from Iraq and replace them with 100,000 soldiers. According to Milliyet, the numbers are 130,000 and 110,000. ¶3. Cumhuriyet / It is reported that American soldiers have started to be transferred from Iraq through Adana's Incirlik Airbase. This created some questions on Turkey's acceptance of using Incirlik just for humanitarian aims. It is also reported that Ankara and Washington signed a secret agreement to rotate the soldiers. Ankara hasn't made an official announcement about the issue yet. ¶4. Ozgur Gundem / Prisoners in Batman and Iskenderun wanted the government to change its policy on prisons. Prisoners complained about the transfer to F and D-type prisons. ¶5. Ozgur Gundem / Tunceli Law Bar Head Huseyin Aygun announced that stamping "terror" on prisoner relatives' wrists during open visits in prisons is illegal, and that the responsible officials could face legal action. ¶6. Ozgur Gundem / In Hazro, Diyarbakir, Kutbettin Celik complained about threats from Jandarma 3rd lieutenant Fatih Gultekin and a person called "Hasan". He stated that he is being threatened by them because he is a DEHAP member and is involved in the local elections. ECONOMIC ¶7. Milliyet / Shopkeepers in Incirlik village are pleased about the news of possible new American soldiers coming to Incirlik Airbase. REID