SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR JULY 17, 2006

UNCLAS ADANA 000169 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR JULY 17, 2006 This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for July 17, 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: The Bingol Governorate announced that a PKK/Kongra-Gel terrorist had been killed in the ensuing clashes with the GOT forces in rural Uckaya village of Bingol the previous night, and that the operations in the region continued. ZAMAN: A group consisting of approximately 15 persons held an unauthorized demonstration in Daglioglu Quarter of Adana. The crowd chanted pro-PKK and pro-Ocalan slogans and demanded that isolation in prisons be abandoned. The crowd dispersed into the side streets when police intervened. HURRIYET/SABAH/GUNDEM/CUMHURIYET/YENI SAFAK/EVRENSEL/RADIKAL/BOLGE: Five soldiers were martyred when a military vehicle hit a PKK mine planted on a road in Bitlis the previous day, and seven soldiers and one village guard were killed during the clashes between GOT forces and PKK militants in Eruh of Siirt yesterday. As a result of the increase in death toll of GOT forces in the clashes, the Anti-terror High Commission convened in Ankara urgently and discussed the measures to be undertaken. Prime Minister Erdogan gave the following message to PKK: "We have run out of our patience. You will pay the cost heavily," and asked people in southeastern Turkey to possess their state. During the meeting of the Anti-terror High Commission presided by Foreign Affairs Minister Gul the following topics were discussed: Possibilities for a cross-border operation, an air raid at PKK's safe-heaven at Kandil Mountain in Northern Iraq, application of stringent security measures at Habur Border gate, sending diplomatic demarches to Iraq and the United States, calling for an urgent tripartite (Iraq-USA-Turkey) meeting, and renewing of "Hot Pursuit Agreement" between Turkey and Iraq. Based on data given by HPG -People's Protection Forces- Ulkede Ozgur Gundem newspaper reported that Turkish forces had launched 66 operations and Iran had realized 10 operations in various parts of the region, and that guerillas had retaliated 58 times. 5 officers, 2 village guards, 2 policemen, 102 soldiers, and 32 Iranian soldiers had been killed while 24 HPG guerillas lost their lives in the ensuing clashes, the paper reported. ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM: A letter mailed from Karaman to Samsun read that suicide assassinations would be organized by Mahmut Yildirim, AKA "Yesil," who has been involved in many mysterious killings and acts, against YOK -Higher Education Council- President Prof. Dr. Erdogan Tezic, Rector of 19 Mayis University of Samsun, Eskisehir Mayor, and Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir. REID