SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER 13, 2006

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000201 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER 13, 2006 This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for September 13, ¶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: A bomb with a mobile device was remotely detonated yesterday at around 9 p.m. in Baglar quarter of Diyarbakir. Five people were killed instantly. The death toll reached 10 after the wounded people were hospitalized. Seven of those killed were children. Thirteen people were wounded. The blast created a hole with a half-meter depth. Windows of the buildings around the site of the incident were all broken. Diyarbak?r Mayor Osman Baydemir branded the incident, which targeted the civilians, as a provocation, and an attempt to sabotage efforts launched for attaining peace. OZGUR GUNDEM / EVRENSEL: EMEP (Party of Labor),ODP (Liberty and Solidarity Party),SDP (Socialist Democracy Party), IHD (Human Rights Association) and Mazlum-Der (Solidarity Association for Oppressed People) extended support to the call of DTP made for PKK to declare a unilateral cease-fire. EVRENSEL: Alaadin Dincer, National Chairperson of Egitim-Sen (Teacher's Union) paid a visit to Ahmet Turk, Chairperson of DTP. Dincer solicited support for Egitim-Sen's campaign launched in order for the government to allocate more funding for education. During the visit, journalists asked Ahmet Turk, "What were the reactions you received pursuant to you call for cease-fire?" Turk said that he sincerely hoped that call would be evaluated and receive a positive response. According to Turk, a new phase should be started for peace and everybody in all sections of society must pay attention to his call for a cease-fire. HURRIYET: It is reported that the PKK terrorist organization might declare a unilateral cease-fire in the coming days. Unnamed sources said that PKK never responded negatively to the calls made by DTP. EVRENSEL: Three people, including the former mayor of Kayapinar district (from former DEHAP) in Diyarbakir, were allegedly attacked by ten village guards and hit by the butt of the guards' guns in Diyarbakir's Kulp district. OZGUR GUNDEM: Military operations by the Turkish Armed Forces, which were started in rural sections of Diyarbakir and Bingol, have reportedly been continuing. Meanwhile, an explosion took place as a cargo train was passing through a section of Bingol's Genc district. Three cars of the train were damaged. OZGUR GUNDEM / HURRIYET: European Parliament Deputy Feleknas Uca and a group of other parliamentarians made a press announcement and declared results of the referendum called "I accept Abdullah Ocalan as representative of political will" at the European Parliament. Reportedly, 3,243,000 people signed and acknowledged the statement. RADIKAL: According to the daily, people representing the PKK in Europe were among the organizers of the announcement held at the European Parliament for Abdullah Ocalan. PKK was able to defend terrorism with this press event opportunity, according to Radikal daily. EVRENSEL: Ilan Berman, Vice-Chairperson of the American Foreign Policy Council, which is a think-tank group in the U.S., said that if the U.S. did not extend support to Turkey in its fight against the PKK, Turkey would seek Iran's support in countering the PKK terrorism. According to Berman, Turkey had not been able to get the support it wanted from the U.S., to date. EKSPRES: Tacidar Seyhan, Adana deputy from CHP, paid a visit to the local Ekpres daily's premises. During his visit, Seyhan fired criticism at the AKP government. According to Seyhan, AKP is losing power day by day and running the government ineffectively. Seyhan also said that PKK was gaining power and was getting to be a strong threat in northern Iraq while the government was committing itself to appointing a coordinator for issues about PKK. SABAH (GUNEY): Chairperson of Mersin Chamber of Commerce and ADANA 00000201 002 OF 002 Industry said that newly launched hydrofoil trips between port of Mersin and Syria's Lazkiye district invigorated the city's tourism and its commercial development. EKSPRES / BOLGE: European Information Bureau of Adana's Chamber of Commerce will offer a training called "Latest Applications in the Foreign Trade - Certified Foreign Trade Training" to address shortage of qualified employees in the foreign trade sector. BOLGE: Cheaper shoes imported from China have reportedly been adversely affecting the businesses of people in the shoe manufacturing sector. SABAH (GUNEY) / BOLGE / OZGUR GUNDEM: Twenty-five people have been arrested in Adana for establishing a criminal ring and conducting criminal activities such as kidnapping, drug-trafficking, blackmailing etc. Seven pistols, one automatic hunter's gun, masks, and drugs were found with the people. HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): Van Police received a tip-off and found 2.7 tons of acid anhydride, which constitutes a raw material for production of heroin, in a truck that set off from Van. GREEN