SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR NOVEMBER 1, 2005

UNCLAS ADANA 000201 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR NOVEMBER 1, 2005 This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for November 01, ¶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 ZAMAN: A bomb, probably a sound bomb, which was placed in a police station 300 kilometers away from the Van Security Directorate, exploded at 4.40 p.m. yesterday. Since police officers were having their iftaar dinners, the bomb caused no casualties. ZAMAN: BBP (Grand Unity Party) reacted to the press's recent reporting on the new party logo of the newly formed DTP (Democratic Society Party),which used a rose image. Deputy national chairperson of BBP said that the rose was a symbol identified with their own party logo and it was unacceptable for them to share that identity with "supporters of separatism." ZAMAN / BOLGE: Aytac Durak, Mayor of Adana, will go to China to make a presentation at the Summmit of International Union of Municipalities and Local Administration Boards about relevant activities in Adana. RADIKAL / CUMHURIYET / SABAH: It was found out that seven of the girls aged between 13 and 18 staying at a student residence in Sanliurfa fled from their residences, and two of them attempted to commit suicide because of the alleged violence and sexual harassment committed by the residence director (see press summary 10/31). An investigation has been started against the director. CUMHURIYET: CHP (Republican People's Party) Provincial Chairperson Serdar Seyhan criticized Azim Ozturk, Seyhan District Mayor from AKP, for not attending the wreath laying ceremony to pay respect to Ataturk in Adana's Inonu Park or the official parade organized to celebrate the 82nd anniversary in Adana on October 29 (see press summary 10/31). OZGUR GUNDEM: Mother and Child Medical Education Center in Diyarbakir announced that typhoid fever and hepatitis were very common in the region. OZGUR GUNDEM: A 12-year old shepherd was seriously wounded when a mine he stepped on allegedly exploded in a military zone in Hakkari's Yuksekova district. OZGUR GUNDEM: Four people were wounded as a result of a fight between children that led to a bigger fight with guns and knives between members of two clans in Adana. OZGUR GUNDEM: Police intervened with armored vehicles when a group of people in Mersin attempted to stage a protest against authorities not allowing attorneys and relatives of Abdullah Ocalan to see him in his prison cell on the Imrali island. OZGUR GUNDEM: DEHAP (Democratic People's Party),DTP (Democratic Society Party),Democratic Free Women's Movement, Goc-Der (Migrants' Social Assistance and Culture Association) and THAYD-DER (Prisoners' Relatives Association) members gathered at the headquarters of THAYD-DER in Adana and protested the new Anti-Terror Law. The group faxed a letter to the Ministry of Justice demanding that Abdullah Ocalan's attorneys and relatives be allowed to meet with Ocalan. OZGUR GUNDEM: The daily reported that a man locked his daughter to a chicken coop in Hakkari's Yuksekova district. Reportedly, the daughter's husband, a while after they were married, "returned" the woman to her father's house alleging that she was mentally ill. Since then, the father kept his daughter locked in a chicken's coop. However, the neighbors and witnesses are claiming that she was not mentally ill. Women's rights activists have reacted strongly to the case. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS ZAMAN: Tradesmen in Hatay are looking forward to the arrival of 30,000 Syrians to the city during the Ramadan holiday. The Syrians coming to the city will boost the economy. REID