SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MAY 10, 2006

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000106 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MAY 10, 2006 This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for May 10, 2006. 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 EVRENSEL / OZGUR GUNDEM / CUMHURIYET: Investigation has been started against DTP Co-Chairmen, Diyarbakir Mayor, SDP (Socialist Democracy Party) National Chairperson, a senior EMEP (Party of Labor) member, and a number of other people, who lit a torch to celebrate symbolically the coming of Newruz in Hakkari's Semdinli district on March 18. The subgovernor then did not grant authorization for celebrations in Semdinli district. Meanwhile, investigation has been started against five people, including deputy mayor of Sanliurfa's Viransehir district, because of the unrest that developed during an April 3 march in Viransehir that was conducted to protest the turbulent demonstrations that took place in Diyarbakir late in March. RADIKAL / OZGUR GUNDEM / CUMHURIYET: The courts have initiated trials of children accused of getting involved in the violent demonstrations in Diyarbakir late in March. Diyarbakir Children's Heavy Penalty Court, which held a trial for 23 children yesterday, started the trial of a group of 13 children today. Seven of the children, who were under arrest, have been released to stand trial with the rest of the children later. The daily reported that currently 30 children are still under arrest. ZAMAN: The Daily Ulkede Ozgur Gundem's May 9 editions, which reportedly published an announcement making a call for terrorist activities, were withdrawn from shelves yesterday. An Istanbul prosecutor's office initiated an investigation against the newspaper and the owner of the announcement. EVRENSEL: Mersin's 2nd Court of First Instance continued to hear the case of 6 children who were accused of burning Turkish flag in last year's Newruz celebrations. EVRENSEL: When state minister announced that the Turkish companies awaiting payment from Iraq for three months for the transportation services rendered would receive their money, truck drivers resumed transportation activities which currently caused congestion at the Habur Border Gate in Sirnak. ZAMAN / BOLGE / EKSPRES: Mustafa Attaroglu, newly elected chairperson of AKP Adana provincial party organization, assumed office with a ceremony marking transfer of duties. Former chairperson Abdullah Dogru was not present in the event because he was reportedly out of town. HURRIYET / BOLGE / ZAMAN: Council of Ministers' decision to found a faculty of communication at Adana's Cukurova University has been published on the Turkish Republic's Official Gazette. Cukurova Journalists' Association Chairperson expressed his gratification on the news. BOLGE / CUMHURIYET: AKP central executive board referred Fuat Gecen, AKP deputy from Hatay, who voiced allegations about irregularities in public tenders in Hatay some time ago, to the central disciplinary board with a demand to dismiss him from the party. SABAH (GUNEY): In four separate police operations of Mersin, Adana, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep and Van Security Directorates (see press summary 05/09),2-million-new-Turkish-lira-worth of smuggled goods, including drugs, fake stamps, electronic devices and cigarettes, have been seized in Mersin. Separately, Mardin Security Directorate seized 14 packets of heroin, each of which was 500 grams, found in a private car at the Nusaybin border gate in Mardin. SABAH (GUNEY) / OZGUR GUNDEM / HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): Heavy rains and hail caused flooding in Bitlis and its Tatvan district. Material damage on roads, city water network, sewage system, on houses and businesses has been reported. Meanwhile, flooding in Diyarbakir's Dicle district killed a child. Serious damage to agricultural fields has been reported. Meanwhile, a 3.2 magnitude earthquake hit Malatya's Arguvan district. No casualties or damage was reported. OZGUR GUNDEM: Masked special team members conducted a raid to the house of a person whom they detained the previous day in Diyarbakir. Meanwhile, police, who have reportedly been conducting raids at Sanliurfa's Suruc district, detained five people one of whom was a DTP member. OZGUR GUNDEM: Iran launched an operation against PKK ADANA 00000106 002 OF 002 guerillas at the border area with Turkey on May 7. OZGUR GUNDEM: The daily claimed that PKK terrorists attacked a Jandarma station in Mardin's Nusaybin district and allegedly killed five soldiers. Meanwhile, the scope of the military operation going on in Siirt has reportedly been extended. BOLGE: European Union Coordination Center at Adana Governor's Office held a seminar called "Agricultural Policies of EU" to mark the May 9 EU Day. REID