Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ADANA230
2005-12-12 12:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Adana
Cable title:
SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR DECEMBER 09, 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 000230
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR DECEMBER 09, 2005
This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for December 09,
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 / HURRIYET / OZGUR GUNDEM: Photographs of Hakan Acil
(27),the police officer, whom the PKK kidnapped two months ago
(see press summary 10/11) on the road between Sirnak and Mardin,
have been published on a terrorist organization's website. Acil
reportedly said, "I thought I would be killed since I am a
police officer. However, they told me that I would be released
soon. They further said that a non-governmental organization
could come and take me...My health condition is good. They treat
me the way they treat the others in here." Hurriyet daily drew
attention to the weary-looking Acil as he was drinking tea in
the photo. Ozgur Gundem, published a second photo of Acil
sitting side by side with a PKK member and with a little smile
on his face.
HURRIYET / CNNTURK ONLINE / ZAMAN: CHP (Republican People's
Party) National Leader Deniz Baykal went to Semdinli and
Yuksekova districts of Hakkari. Baykal paid a visit to the
Semdinli Mayor Hursit Tekin and paid condolences to the wife of
Zahir Korkmaz, the only person who died during the bombing on
November 9. Baykal later conducted studies at the area, which
was devastated by the November 1 bombing, and at Umut Bookstore,
which was bombed on November 9. Baykal later addressed a nearly
1000-person crowd at the main square of the district and said,
"This country belongs to all of us. There is no such separation
as 'you' and 'us'. It is not possible for anybody to win
anything by way of disregarding the presence of each other or
not heeding the rights of one another." Baykal further stated
in Yuksekova that they came to the region because they wanted to
make sure that the incidents be exposed, and not covered. A
150-person group protested Baykal in Hakkari and shouted
slogans.
OZGUR GUNDEM: The daily reported that the people of Semdinli
were not interested at all in the arrival of the main opposition
party leader Baykal to their district, especially for his
arrival one month later than the incident. One of the local
people reportedly said, "If Esat Canan (the Hakkari deputy from
CHP) were not in the delegation that accompanied Baykal, people
would barely show the smallest hint of recognizing him down
here." (Note. A 12/01 press summary reported that CHP did not
appoint Esat Canan to the Parliamentary Investigation Commission
for the Semdinli Case. Canan had hinted then that not selecting
him as a commission member would be an inadequacy on his party's
part. End Note.)
HURRIYET / ZAMAN: As the December 14 trial date for Yucel Askin,
Van Centennial University Rector, neared, CHP Leader Deniz
Baykal paid a visit to Askin, who was arrested on October 14 on
charges of financial irregularities and who has been staying at
the hospital since November 13 because of a cardiac disorder
associated with psychological problems, which surfaced following
the suicide of the deputy general secretary of the university.
Askin has been under arrest for 56 days. The journalists, who
visited Askin, along with the CHP leader, were strictly banned
from taking photographs. Commenting on the physical appearance
of Askin, the journalists reported that he was weak and has lost
a lot of weight. Reportedly, Askin said that he wanted to
attend the trial; however, the doctors said he was not quite
sure whether his health status would permit that.
ZAMAN: Zaman daily quoted Diyarbakir Soz newspaper's report
alleging that Ali Kaya, one of the non-commissioned officers
held as defendants in the November 9 bombing in Semdinli, during
his tenure in Diyarbakir, reportedly prepared "fake intelligence
reports" about nearly 100 businessmen. The daily further
claimed that Kaya prepared intelligence reports about
Diyarbakir's 4th State Security Court Chairperson and its
members for their reported reactionary tendencies and submitted
this report to 7th Army Corps Command.
CNNTURK ONLINE: Four security officers died during an attack
of the terrorists on a military unit in Sirnak's Guclukonak
district on 1 a.m. this morning. Reportedly, the PKK members
attacked with rocket propelled grenades, hand grenades and
rifles. A confrontation between the security forces and
terrorists followed the attack, and two terrorists were killed
as a result of that. Upon hearing this news, Minister of
Education Huseyin Celik, who is currently in Sirnak's Idil
district to open a school, said, "We came here to open a school
and to celebrate this. We feel a deep sorrow now that we heard
this unfortunate news. Whatever its source is, we must all
condemn terrorism. Nobody benefits from terrorism. We are very
sad."
NTVMSNBC ONLINE: There were two bombing attempts in Tokat; in
the first incident, a packet was noticed yesterday evening in
front of the Subgovernor's Office in Tokat's Turhal district.
People, upon noticing the packet, called the bomb squad, which
defused the bomb. The bomb was comprised of two TNT blocks; and
the specialists said that the humidity of the blocks prevented
its detonation. The second bomb attack targeted the Governor's
Office in Tokat. A bottled gas canister with a fuse was placed
at the back entrance of the Office's building; however, although
the fuse ignited, the bottled gas reportedly did not detonate.
Governor Erdogan Gurbuz, former Hakkari governor, who was
appointed as a governor to Tokat following the Semdinli
incidents (see press summary 11/25),said that there was nothing
to worry about and the situation was under control.
ZAMAN: Thirteen students were arrested at Erzurum's
university on charges that they would hold a pro-PKK meeting to
discuss how to organize the youth in the universities. Police,
upon receiving a tip-off, conducted a raid on a house and seized
documents and books which made PKK propaganda. The students
arraigned were released by the court later. Separately, a
21-year-old soldier enrolled at 9th Army Corps Command in
Erzurum has been convicted and sentenced to six years and 3
months of imprisonment for being a member of the PKK.
ZAMAN: Two modified blank firing handguns and one blank
firing handgun were found in the locker of a 15-year-old student
at a Diyarbakir Boarding Primary School located on the road
towards Elazig. The police brought the child to the Security
Directorate's Children Branch.
ZAMAN: Members of the Turkish Parliament's Human Rights
Commission may reportedly resign because of an alleged
controversy involving the Chairperson Mehmet Elkatmis. Elkatmis
attributed the recent inefficiency of the commission to the
shortage of staff made up of specialists.
ZAMAN: Syria's olive oil factories have reportedly
discharged waste products into the Asi River and caused
significant environmental pollution. Thousands of fish
reportedly died on the Turkish part of the river because of the
oily layer formed on the water. Provincial Director of
Environment and Forests said that they took samples of water and
gave it to the Mustafa Kemal University in Hatay for analysis.
OZGUR GUNDEM: The daily reported that today marked the first
month of the November 9 Semdinli bombing. A big event will
reportedly be organized tomorrow and thousands of people from
around Turkey, non-governmental organizations, will pour into
Semdinli to condemn the bombing incidents and to strengthen the
bonds of solidarity.
OZGUR GUNDEM: According to the reported results of "a
referendum" held in Turkey's Agean Region, 30,000 people signed
a document that declared acknowledgement of (terrorist leader)
Abdullah Ocalan as the political will of the people.
OZGUR GUNDEM: Hulya Avsar, one of the most famous
celebrities in Turkey, said that she would do everything she
could to contribute to the resolution of the Kurdish issue.
OZGUR GUNDEM: Reportedly, the people in Mahmur Camp in Iraq
told the U.S. delegation that visited the camp that they would
not return to Turkey unless Turkey ended its "execution" and
"negligence" policies pursued against the Kurds (see press
summary 12/08).
REID
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR DECEMBER 09, 2005
This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for December 09,
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 / HURRIYET / OZGUR GUNDEM: Photographs of Hakan Acil
(27),the police officer, whom the PKK kidnapped two months ago
(see press summary 10/11) on the road between Sirnak and Mardin,
have been published on a terrorist organization's website. Acil
reportedly said, "I thought I would be killed since I am a
police officer. However, they told me that I would be released
soon. They further said that a non-governmental organization
could come and take me...My health condition is good. They treat
me the way they treat the others in here." Hurriyet daily drew
attention to the weary-looking Acil as he was drinking tea in
the photo. Ozgur Gundem, published a second photo of Acil
sitting side by side with a PKK member and with a little smile
on his face.
HURRIYET / CNNTURK ONLINE / ZAMAN: CHP (Republican People's
Party) National Leader Deniz Baykal went to Semdinli and
Yuksekova districts of Hakkari. Baykal paid a visit to the
Semdinli Mayor Hursit Tekin and paid condolences to the wife of
Zahir Korkmaz, the only person who died during the bombing on
November 9. Baykal later conducted studies at the area, which
was devastated by the November 1 bombing, and at Umut Bookstore,
which was bombed on November 9. Baykal later addressed a nearly
1000-person crowd at the main square of the district and said,
"This country belongs to all of us. There is no such separation
as 'you' and 'us'. It is not possible for anybody to win
anything by way of disregarding the presence of each other or
not heeding the rights of one another." Baykal further stated
in Yuksekova that they came to the region because they wanted to
make sure that the incidents be exposed, and not covered. A
150-person group protested Baykal in Hakkari and shouted
slogans.
OZGUR GUNDEM: The daily reported that the people of Semdinli
were not interested at all in the arrival of the main opposition
party leader Baykal to their district, especially for his
arrival one month later than the incident. One of the local
people reportedly said, "If Esat Canan (the Hakkari deputy from
CHP) were not in the delegation that accompanied Baykal, people
would barely show the smallest hint of recognizing him down
here." (Note. A 12/01 press summary reported that CHP did not
appoint Esat Canan to the Parliamentary Investigation Commission
for the Semdinli Case. Canan had hinted then that not selecting
him as a commission member would be an inadequacy on his party's
part. End Note.)
HURRIYET / ZAMAN: As the December 14 trial date for Yucel Askin,
Van Centennial University Rector, neared, CHP Leader Deniz
Baykal paid a visit to Askin, who was arrested on October 14 on
charges of financial irregularities and who has been staying at
the hospital since November 13 because of a cardiac disorder
associated with psychological problems, which surfaced following
the suicide of the deputy general secretary of the university.
Askin has been under arrest for 56 days. The journalists, who
visited Askin, along with the CHP leader, were strictly banned
from taking photographs. Commenting on the physical appearance
of Askin, the journalists reported that he was weak and has lost
a lot of weight. Reportedly, Askin said that he wanted to
attend the trial; however, the doctors said he was not quite
sure whether his health status would permit that.
ZAMAN: Zaman daily quoted Diyarbakir Soz newspaper's report
alleging that Ali Kaya, one of the non-commissioned officers
held as defendants in the November 9 bombing in Semdinli, during
his tenure in Diyarbakir, reportedly prepared "fake intelligence
reports" about nearly 100 businessmen. The daily further
claimed that Kaya prepared intelligence reports about
Diyarbakir's 4th State Security Court Chairperson and its
members for their reported reactionary tendencies and submitted
this report to 7th Army Corps Command.
CNNTURK ONLINE: Four security officers died during an attack
of the terrorists on a military unit in Sirnak's Guclukonak
district on 1 a.m. this morning. Reportedly, the PKK members
attacked with rocket propelled grenades, hand grenades and
rifles. A confrontation between the security forces and
terrorists followed the attack, and two terrorists were killed
as a result of that. Upon hearing this news, Minister of
Education Huseyin Celik, who is currently in Sirnak's Idil
district to open a school, said, "We came here to open a school
and to celebrate this. We feel a deep sorrow now that we heard
this unfortunate news. Whatever its source is, we must all
condemn terrorism. Nobody benefits from terrorism. We are very
sad."
NTVMSNBC ONLINE: There were two bombing attempts in Tokat; in
the first incident, a packet was noticed yesterday evening in
front of the Subgovernor's Office in Tokat's Turhal district.
People, upon noticing the packet, called the bomb squad, which
defused the bomb. The bomb was comprised of two TNT blocks; and
the specialists said that the humidity of the blocks prevented
its detonation. The second bomb attack targeted the Governor's
Office in Tokat. A bottled gas canister with a fuse was placed
at the back entrance of the Office's building; however, although
the fuse ignited, the bottled gas reportedly did not detonate.
Governor Erdogan Gurbuz, former Hakkari governor, who was
appointed as a governor to Tokat following the Semdinli
incidents (see press summary 11/25),said that there was nothing
to worry about and the situation was under control.
ZAMAN: Thirteen students were arrested at Erzurum's
university on charges that they would hold a pro-PKK meeting to
discuss how to organize the youth in the universities. Police,
upon receiving a tip-off, conducted a raid on a house and seized
documents and books which made PKK propaganda. The students
arraigned were released by the court later. Separately, a
21-year-old soldier enrolled at 9th Army Corps Command in
Erzurum has been convicted and sentenced to six years and 3
months of imprisonment for being a member of the PKK.
ZAMAN: Two modified blank firing handguns and one blank
firing handgun were found in the locker of a 15-year-old student
at a Diyarbakir Boarding Primary School located on the road
towards Elazig. The police brought the child to the Security
Directorate's Children Branch.
ZAMAN: Members of the Turkish Parliament's Human Rights
Commission may reportedly resign because of an alleged
controversy involving the Chairperson Mehmet Elkatmis. Elkatmis
attributed the recent inefficiency of the commission to the
shortage of staff made up of specialists.
ZAMAN: Syria's olive oil factories have reportedly
discharged waste products into the Asi River and caused
significant environmental pollution. Thousands of fish
reportedly died on the Turkish part of the river because of the
oily layer formed on the water. Provincial Director of
Environment and Forests said that they took samples of water and
gave it to the Mustafa Kemal University in Hatay for analysis.
OZGUR GUNDEM: The daily reported that today marked the first
month of the November 9 Semdinli bombing. A big event will
reportedly be organized tomorrow and thousands of people from
around Turkey, non-governmental organizations, will pour into
Semdinli to condemn the bombing incidents and to strengthen the
bonds of solidarity.
OZGUR GUNDEM: According to the reported results of "a
referendum" held in Turkey's Agean Region, 30,000 people signed
a document that declared acknowledgement of (terrorist leader)
Abdullah Ocalan as the political will of the people.
OZGUR GUNDEM: Hulya Avsar, one of the most famous
celebrities in Turkey, said that she would do everything she
could to contribute to the resolution of the Kurdish issue.
OZGUR GUNDEM: Reportedly, the people in Mahmur Camp in Iraq
told the U.S. delegation that visited the camp that they would
not return to Turkey unless Turkey ended its "execution" and
"negligence" policies pursued against the Kurds (see press
summary 12/08).
REID