Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ADANA155
2005-08-24 12:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Adana
Cable title:
SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR AUGUST 23, 2005
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000155
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR AUGUST 23, 2005
This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for August 23,
2005. 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
SABAH (GUNEY): Syria's Idlip Governor Atif Ganem El-Neddaf
and an accompanying delegation paid a courtesy visit to Hatay
Governor Abdulkadir Sari. During the visit, Sari pointed out
that the two countries both have projects to start. El-Neddaf
said, "I saw no borders as I was traveling to Hatay. Yet, there
never exists a border between brothers."
SABAH (GUNEY): Iskenderun district's Security Directorate and
Jandarma seized 400 Indian hemp roots, which were being grown in
a cornfield. Security officers took one person into custody.
OZGUR GUNDEM: The daily reported that, "as the [Turkish]
state was seeking ways to have the PKK lay down its arms", on
the other hand, the soldiers in southeastern Turkey have
allegedly been forcing the civilians to take up arms as village
guards. Reportedly, 50 families have returned to Donertas
village in Bitlis. However, the Tatvan District Jandarma
Command has been forcing the returnees to enroll as village
guards.
OZGUR GUNDEM: Reportedly, the soldiers are asking
"bothersome" questions when villagers attempt to bring food into
a village in Van's Gurpinar district. The soldiers reportedly
demand information from the villagers about the food, such as,
who will be eating it. The villagers are reportedly being
questioned about the number of family members, when they attempt
to bring in food.
OZGUR GUNDEM: It is claimed that Turkish soldiers, who are
deployed in Sirnak's Silopi district, are firing across the
border at a village in Iraq's Zaxo district.
OZGUR GUNDEM: The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) has reportedly
been continuing its military operations in Tunceli. The paper
reported that TAF was conducting unsuccessful operations in
Tunceli's Herekol and Besta districts.
OZGUR GUNDEM: A person wounded himself when the explosive he
grabbed went off as he was collecting herbs in Uludere district
of Sirnak.
OZGUR GUNDEM: Some families in the U.S. want to extend help
to R.G., a 15-year-old girl, who was reportedly raped and had
her nose cut off her face by her brother-in-law and
father-in-law in Diyarbakir in May (see press summary 05/05).
RADIKAL / HURRIYET / CUMHURIYET: MGK (National Security
Council) General Secretariat sent a report on terrorism to the
members of MGK in advance of today's MGK meeting. The report
read that the best way to address the terrorism problem was to
focus on socio-economic dimensions of the issue through paying
due consideration to EU perspectives.
HURRIYET: Murat Karayilan, a senior member of the PKK, in
response to the intelligentsias' call to lay down arms
unconditionally, said on a Roj TV program that the PKK would
definitely not cease its activities unconditionally.
ZAMAN / RADIKAL / HURRIYET / CUMHURIYET: One of three
terrorists, a Syrian national, was killed when the three clashed
with security officers in Macka district of Trabzon. The second
terrorist was caught alive. Operations have been going on in
Macka to catch the third terrorist. Security forces found 2.5
kilograms of C-4 explosives, two Kalishnakov guns, and three
hand grenades outside the town. When the angry local people
attempted to lynch the terrorist, who was caught alive, the
security forces opened fire in the air, and removed the
terrorist in an armored vehicle.
RADIKAL / ZAMAN: 50 Kurdish origin authors, artists, and
thinkers extended support to PM Erdogan who initiated a new
period in addressing the Kurdish issue. The declaration of the
group of intelligentsia called for an unconditional end to the
violence.
ZAMAN: Restoring the state of emergency rule in the
southeastern region, an issue that has come onto Turkey's agenda
nowadays, is reportedly troubling the people of the region.
NGOs and political party representatives in Diyarbakir issued a
joint call against the possibility of renewed emergency rule.
Chairperson of the Diyarbakir Chamber of Commerce and Industry
pointed out that the region has suffered serious economic losses
during the emergency rule. MHP Diyarbakir Provincial
Chairperson said that fighting terrorism should not curtail
people's rights and liberties.
ZAMAN: Sixty-two women in Southeastern Turkey have
benefited from a U.S. program, which aims to train woman
leaders. 23 women received 10 days of training in Ohio state in
the U.S. The program drew the Turkish Parliament's attention,
and a DYP (True Path Party) deputy solicited information about
the purpose, resources and attendees of the program.
CUMHURIYET: The Chief prosecutor started scrutinizing statements
made by Leyla Zana and other DHT (Democratic Society Movement)
members. The Prosecutor's office solicited from security
offices the statements delivered in public addresses and
meetings. The office has started examining related news articles
and accounts published on various media.
MANSON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR AUGUST 23, 2005
This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for August 23,
2005. 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
SABAH (GUNEY): Syria's Idlip Governor Atif Ganem El-Neddaf
and an accompanying delegation paid a courtesy visit to Hatay
Governor Abdulkadir Sari. During the visit, Sari pointed out
that the two countries both have projects to start. El-Neddaf
said, "I saw no borders as I was traveling to Hatay. Yet, there
never exists a border between brothers."
SABAH (GUNEY): Iskenderun district's Security Directorate and
Jandarma seized 400 Indian hemp roots, which were being grown in
a cornfield. Security officers took one person into custody.
OZGUR GUNDEM: The daily reported that, "as the [Turkish]
state was seeking ways to have the PKK lay down its arms", on
the other hand, the soldiers in southeastern Turkey have
allegedly been forcing the civilians to take up arms as village
guards. Reportedly, 50 families have returned to Donertas
village in Bitlis. However, the Tatvan District Jandarma
Command has been forcing the returnees to enroll as village
guards.
OZGUR GUNDEM: Reportedly, the soldiers are asking
"bothersome" questions when villagers attempt to bring food into
a village in Van's Gurpinar district. The soldiers reportedly
demand information from the villagers about the food, such as,
who will be eating it. The villagers are reportedly being
questioned about the number of family members, when they attempt
to bring in food.
OZGUR GUNDEM: It is claimed that Turkish soldiers, who are
deployed in Sirnak's Silopi district, are firing across the
border at a village in Iraq's Zaxo district.
OZGUR GUNDEM: The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) has reportedly
been continuing its military operations in Tunceli. The paper
reported that TAF was conducting unsuccessful operations in
Tunceli's Herekol and Besta districts.
OZGUR GUNDEM: A person wounded himself when the explosive he
grabbed went off as he was collecting herbs in Uludere district
of Sirnak.
OZGUR GUNDEM: Some families in the U.S. want to extend help
to R.G., a 15-year-old girl, who was reportedly raped and had
her nose cut off her face by her brother-in-law and
father-in-law in Diyarbakir in May (see press summary 05/05).
RADIKAL / HURRIYET / CUMHURIYET: MGK (National Security
Council) General Secretariat sent a report on terrorism to the
members of MGK in advance of today's MGK meeting. The report
read that the best way to address the terrorism problem was to
focus on socio-economic dimensions of the issue through paying
due consideration to EU perspectives.
HURRIYET: Murat Karayilan, a senior member of the PKK, in
response to the intelligentsias' call to lay down arms
unconditionally, said on a Roj TV program that the PKK would
definitely not cease its activities unconditionally.
ZAMAN / RADIKAL / HURRIYET / CUMHURIYET: One of three
terrorists, a Syrian national, was killed when the three clashed
with security officers in Macka district of Trabzon. The second
terrorist was caught alive. Operations have been going on in
Macka to catch the third terrorist. Security forces found 2.5
kilograms of C-4 explosives, two Kalishnakov guns, and three
hand grenades outside the town. When the angry local people
attempted to lynch the terrorist, who was caught alive, the
security forces opened fire in the air, and removed the
terrorist in an armored vehicle.
RADIKAL / ZAMAN: 50 Kurdish origin authors, artists, and
thinkers extended support to PM Erdogan who initiated a new
period in addressing the Kurdish issue. The declaration of the
group of intelligentsia called for an unconditional end to the
violence.
ZAMAN: Restoring the state of emergency rule in the
southeastern region, an issue that has come onto Turkey's agenda
nowadays, is reportedly troubling the people of the region.
NGOs and political party representatives in Diyarbakir issued a
joint call against the possibility of renewed emergency rule.
Chairperson of the Diyarbakir Chamber of Commerce and Industry
pointed out that the region has suffered serious economic losses
during the emergency rule. MHP Diyarbakir Provincial
Chairperson said that fighting terrorism should not curtail
people's rights and liberties.
ZAMAN: Sixty-two women in Southeastern Turkey have
benefited from a U.S. program, which aims to train woman
leaders. 23 women received 10 days of training in Ohio state in
the U.S. The program drew the Turkish Parliament's attention,
and a DYP (True Path Party) deputy solicited information about
the purpose, resources and attendees of the program.
CUMHURIYET: The Chief prosecutor started scrutinizing statements
made by Leyla Zana and other DHT (Democratic Society Movement)
members. The Prosecutor's office solicited from security
offices the statements delivered in public addresses and
meetings. The office has started examining related news articles
and accounts published on various media.
MANSON