SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR OCTOBER 18, 2005

UNCLAS ADANA 000190 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR OCTOBER 18, 2005 This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for October 18, ¶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 BOLGE / ZAMAN: Adana Governor's Office launched a campaign to raise money for the earthquake victims in Pakistan. ¶2. HURRIYET: Van Bar Association condemned the remarks of Van Prosecutor Kemal Kacan, who reportedly told a bar member in September that he did not trust the Bar Association attorneys because half of their members were also supporters of the PKK. Kacan was already known for his July 19 disclosure to the press of details of a classified investigation conducted against the rector of Van's Centennial University. ¶3. SABAH / HURRIYET: Mehmet Kartal, Van deputy from the CHP (Republican People's Party) and Chief Doctor of the Istanbul Kosuyolu Hospital, paid a visit to Van's Centennial University rector, who is currently under arrest at a Van jail on charges of smuggling historical artifacts and for irregularities while conducting the purchase of a 25-million-dollar medical device for the faculty of medicine in the university. Meanwhile, YOK (Higher Education Board) deputy chairperson has been conducting studies in Van to submit a report on the case to the extraordinary meeting of the YOK members tomorrow. ¶4. HURRIYET: Erzurum's Veterinary Control Research Institute announced that chicken deaths in Agri's Patnos district were most probably due to a type of cholera seen in chickens. ¶5. OZGUR GUNDEM: Women activists in Adana and Diyarbakir held activities to extend support for the "World Women's March", an event that started on March 8, 2005 in Brazil and ended in Burkina Faso, one of the poorest countries of Africa. ¶6. OZGUR GUNDEM: Adana Security Directorate conducted home raids in Adana and detained 6 persons. The officers did not divulge any information about the reasons for the detentions. ¶7. OZGUR GUNDEM: A 21-year-old male disappeared in Adana on October 10, and his family has "serious" concerns for the life of their son. ¶8. OZGUR GUNDEM: The daily reported incidences of mutilated bodies of terrorists killed, and drew attention to the (Turkish) judicial system for not responding to cases in which there were complaints filed by the regional Human Rights Associations on the issue of terrorists' body parts, such as ears, noses, and other extremities, found cut apart or dissected from the body. ¶9. OZGUR GUNDEM: The second court hearing of the Ugur and Ahmet Kaymaz case will be held in Eskisehir on October 24. (The first hearing was held in Eskisehir on July 12.) According to the daily, MHP Provincial Cahirperson in Eskisehir has been issuing "intimidating" messages and "stirring" tension in the province as the day for the court trial draws closer. Security officers in the province have already been taking precautions to heighten security measures. ¶10. BOLGE: A whirlwind caused material damage in Adana's Karatas district causing a roof of a building in a mosque complex and two separately located minarets to collapse. REID