Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ADANA93
2004-07-14 05:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Adana
Cable title:  

SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY JULY 1, 2004

Tags:  PREL PINS PGOV PHUM IZ TU ADANA 
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UNCLAS ADANA 000093

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM IZ TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY JULY 1, 2004


This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for July 1, 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

Cumhuriyet, Zaman: As a result of a Jandarma operation two
PKK/Kongra-Gel militants were killed in Karabayirlar, (in the
Engizek Mountains) Kahramanmaras province. The terrorists were
identified as Zeki Tatar and Ismet Temirci. Kahramanmaras
Governor Ilhan Atis said three out of a group of six terrorists
were killed in a June 6 Jandarma operation in Kayaonu village,
Adiyaman province, while another was captured alive. The
remaining three militants were killed in the recent operation in
Kahramanmaras province.

Zaman, Sabah Guney Supplement, Bolge, Evrensel: Protestors will
picket against PKK/Kongra-Gel tomorrow in meetings to be held in
Hasankeyf, Gercus, and Sason townships, Batman province,
tomorrow. Two soldiers who were martyred in clashes with
PKK/Konrga Gel militants in Gurpinar, Van province, were buried
in Osmaniye province.

Zaman, Evrensel, Tercuman, Ulkede Ozgur Gundem, Milli Gazete:
The bill abolishing the State Security Courts and replacing
those courts with the new Felony Courts was endorsed by the
President the previous evening. The High Commission of
Prosecutors and Judges will determine the jurisdiction of the
newly established courts, which will cover multiple provinces.
According to the new arrangements, the detention period will be
48 hours. Increasing the detention period from four days to
seven days will be possible for persons arrested or detained in
places where a State of Extraordinary Rule is declared.

Ulkede Ozgur Gundem: The Diyarbakir Governorate's decision
regarding the "Decision on Where to Make Press Announcements,
and Place Signature Stands" was published in the Official
Gazette. According to this decision, which runs contrary to the
Constitutional amendments regarding expression and assembly
rights, the number of attendees to a press announcement can not
be more than five times an association's administrators, and the
duration of such activities by NGOs cannot exceed one hour. The
decision said stands could not be opened and press announcements
could not be made in front of the governorate, courthouse,
prisons, and police and military buildings, the Grand Mosque,
and at a distance closer than 500 meters to the Dagkapi Square
in town. The President of the HRA Chapter in Diyarbakir,
Selahattin Demirtas, said he would apply to the Administrative
Court for annulling the Governor's decision.

Ulkede Ozgur Gundem: Jandarma arrested 17 persons from Tasnacak
village and Geziyurt hamlet in Gurpinar, Van province, where
three soldiers were killed in a recent PKK/Kongra Gel ambush. It
is claimed that villagers are being detained at Kirkgecit
Jandarma Command building.

Ulkede Ozgur Gundem: The National Human Rights Association Vice
President Reyhan Yalcindag announced at a press conference in
Diyarbakir that the dead bodies of three PKK/Kongra Gel
militants who were killed during operations in rural Siirt on
April 15-16 and May 6, 2004 had not been turned over to their
families, and inspections by human rights advocates led them to
suspect that chemical weapons had been used by the security
forces. Yalcindag said not turning over the dead bodies to their
families was a violation of the Constitution and the
international law.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

Zaman: 32.6 million US Dollars of trade was realized during the
first five months of 2004 from the Yumurtalik Free Trade Zone
(FTZ) in Adana province. The total trade volume, from the twenty
FTZs in Turkey, reached approximately 8.7 billion US Dollars
during 2004's first five months, a 57 % increase compared to the
same time period last year. The Tayseb Company, which belongs to
Tekfen Holding, established the Yumurtalik FTZ in 1998 and the
same firm operates it. Approximately 37,000 persons are employed
in the FTZs in Turkey.


REID