SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR JANUARY 26, 2006

UNCLAS ADANA 000014 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR JANUARY 26, 2006 This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for January 26, ¶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 ZAMAN / OZGUR GUNDEM / EVRENSEL: Inspectors of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have completed their investigation of support extended by 56 DTP (Democratic Society Party) mayors to the pro-PKK Roj TV in late December in 2005. The inspectors' report, which designated Roj TV as the broadcasting instrument of the PKK/Kongra-Gel, will be included in the file opened by the Diyarbakir Prosecutor's Office for its ongoing probe concerning the issue. It was highly probable that an investigation will be started by the Diyarbakir Prosecutor's Office following this report, reported Ozgur Gundem daily. 56 mayors announced that they would not back away from their support. ZAMAN / HURRIYET: During his visit to the U.S., National Security Council Secretary General Yigit Alpogan, sought U.S. support for the fight against PKK/Kongra-Gel. Reportedly, Turkey, disturbed about the PKK presence in northern Iraq, made a call to U.S. officials to seek help in arresting top PKK officials in the northern Iraq. Hurriyet reported that Alpogan found no positive response to his call from the U.S. side. BOLGE / SABAH / EKSPRES / SABAH (GUNEY) / ZAMAN / OZGUR GUNDEM / EVRENSEL: When workers of the TEKEL Cigarette Factory and members of the workers' unions such as KESK, DISK and Kamu-Sen attempted to block the flow of traffic on D-400 Highway in Adana as they marched towards the spot where the factory is located, police intervened. One worker was hospitalized as a result of the turmoil. Some of the protesters shouted slogans against the government in front of the AKP (Justice ad eveopentPaty) provincial par organizatio's reisein Aana. HURRIYET / ZAMAN / OZGURGUDEM Vn Cntennial University Rector Yuce Askinand Chief octor of the Research Hospital of the university aid that a crisis management team of the universty's hospital did a good job during the bird-flu outbreak in th region. The Rector further announed that a bird-flu research center would be estalished in the hospital. Currently, 28 patients hae been treated at the hospital and 103 people hae been discharged to date. SABAH (GUNEY): Th daily pointed out that Adana only received 1.2 illion YTL for its tourism investments from the ovrnmnts 206budet whereas a province like Sinak reeied mllins YTL. HURRIYET: Adebtebroe ut he former DEP (Democracy Pary) dputy Hatip Dicle said in a speech he deliveed in London that they have founded DTP (Democraic Society Movement) on the principles put forth y Abdullah Ocalan. Since Hatip Dicle is not amog the founding members of DTP and his affiliation o DTP is a de facto one, his remarks would not b taken as uttered on behalf of the party. OGUR GUNDEM: The delegation set up by the joint eforts of the Human Rights Association and Mazlum-er (Association of Solidarity for Human Rights ad Oppressed People) to save police officer Hakan Acil has been waiting in a hotel in Sirnak's Cizre district. Mihdi Perincek, the head of the delegation, said that they have been waiting for a response from the PKK. OZGUR GUNDEM: Abdullah Ocalan's attorneys were not able to go to the Imrali Island to see Ocalan due to bad weather conditions. Meanwhile, PKK prisoners in jails have sent a warning about Ocalan's 20-day confinement to the government through a press announcement. BOLGE / EKSPRES: Fishing nets were reported as the cause of the death of 30 birds on the shore of the Seyhan Dam by the laboratory of Adana's Veterinary Control and Research Institute. REID