SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER 06, 2006

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000196

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER 06, 2006


This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for September 6,


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

HURRIYET / ZAMAN: According to dailies, two PKK terrorists who
hitched a ride with a family on a road in Batman's Kozluk
district, opened fire from that car at Jandarma officials doing
road checks for their search for the terrorists. The exchange
of fire between the two terrorists and security officials killed
the two terrorists in the back seat and a ten year old girl
sitting in the front seat (see press summary 09/06). The mother
of the girl was wounded and the girl's brother, who was driving
the car, incurred a minor wound. Batman Security Director
expressed his sorrow and said that the girl was shot dead in
error by police during the crossfire. Reportedly, explosives
and automatic guns were found with the bodies of the terrorists.

RADIKAL / OZGUR GUNDEM: The dailies report statements by the
Batman chapter of Human Rights Association (HRA) about the
killing of a 10 year old girl, Mizgin Ozbek, in Batman's Kozluk
district allegedly by the security officials. According to HRA
officials, who spoke with the mother of the girl at the
hospital, the girl was sitting at the back seat with two young
persons who asked for a ride from the family. As the car was
traveling, security officials allegedly suddenly opened fire at
the car without shouting a demand to halt or without any attempt
to stop the car. HRA officials pointed out that the back seat
of the car was allegedly targeted during the incident and all of
the people who died were in the back seats. HRA also said that
there were no guns in the car.

OZGUR GUNDEM: HPG (People's Protection Forces) reportedly
dismissed any involvement of the PKK with the explosion that
took place in Van's Catak district (see press summary 09/05).



ZAMAN: A PKK member reportedly surrendered to security
officials at Agri's Provincial Jandarma Command.

EVRENSEL / ZAMAN / OZGUR GUNDEM: European Court heard
statements of two parties concerning the controversial case of
national election threshold in Turkey, which, according to
former DEHAP politicians, has been hindering the representatives
of the electorate base to win seats in the Turkish parliament
(see press summary 09/05). According to Turkey's stance, the
election threshold is necessary for political stability in
Turkey.

SABAH (GUNEY): Second Army Corps Commander Lieutenant General
Dursun Bak, who retired from his post recently, paid a farewell
visit to the Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce. Democratic
organizations in Mersin also protested the government for its
considerations about sending troops to Lebanon.

SABAH (GUNEY): Non-governmental organizations and political
parties in Adana protested the AKP government for its recent
attempt to contribute troops to the UN force in Lebanon. The
protesting group laid a black wreath in front of the AKP
provincial party building.

SABAH (GUNEY): Under sponsorship of Gaziantep Governor's
Office, some organizations in Gaziantep have undertaken efforts
to organize a festival called "International Golden Pistachio
Festival" between September 14 and 17.

BOLGE: The queue of trucks waiting to be processed at the
Oncupinar Border Gate in Kilis province formed an 8 kilometer
line because of the workload at the border gate and slowness of
operations on the Syrian side. A team from the Ministry of
Transportation met with the Syrian authorities about the issue
last week, but there was only a slight change in the pace of the
operations afterwards. Meanwhile, Zaman daily pointed out that
issues at the Oncupinar Border Gate and Cilvegozu border gate in
Hatay have adverse affects on vegetable and fruit exports from
Turkey.

BOLGE: Chairperson of Adana's Chamber of Industry will take
part in a symposium called 'Regional Development and
Administration' in Ankara which is an event organized by Middle
East Technical University and Foundation for Research on

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Turkey's Economic Policies.

BOLGE / EKSPRES: Registrations for the 2006-2007 academic
semester in Adana's Cukurova University will end on September 8.
Registrar's Office required the students, who came to register
themselves, to comply with the university regulations about not
wearing religious headscarves at the university. Some of the
students who refused to uncover their head reportedly were not
able to register.

BOLGE: The daily reports rumors surfacing in the political
arena of Adana. A distinguished businessman of Adana has
reportedly been making preparations for his future candidacy
(from AKP) for the mayorship of Adana two years ahead of the
local elections. The daily did not provide the name of the
businessman in its report.
GREEN