SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER 15, 2006

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000202 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER 15, 2006 This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for September 15, ¶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 / HURRIYET / RADIKAL / CUMHURIYET: Nearly 2000 people attempted to march from the site of the bomb incident in Diyarbakir towards a highway, upon a reported call from a DTP assembly member. The group blockaded the highway despite calls from Diyarbakir police not to do so. Children, who marched in front ranks of the crowd, were also chanting slogans against PM Erdogan and in support of the PKK. Demonstrators later dispersed as they finished their protests. Meanwhile, tradesmen in Baglar, Dortyol and Kurucesme quarters of Diyarbakir closed their businesses yesterday following the bombing incident. Zaman daily pointed out that not all the Diyarbakir tradesmen acted in accordance with this practice of shutting the doors of their businesses. However, Radikal daily reported that the practice soon became widespread in the province after Baglar quarter tradesmen initiated it. Democracy Platform declared three-day mourning in the city. Meanwhile, Minister of Interior, who conducted studies in Diyarbakir, allegedly said that the bombing had no connection with the Turkish Revenge Brigade, a group which claimed responsibility for the bombing on its internet site. PM Erdogan expressed his deepest grief since mostly children had become victims of the tragic event. ZAMAN / HURRIYET / SABAH: Diyarbakir Anti-Terror Branch obtained a three-day search warrant from the court to conduct an extensive search after the bombing event in Diyarbakir. Branch members later conducted raids on eight houses in Baglar district. Police is also searching the family backgrounds of the people killed in the incident. Meanwhile, Diyarbakir Police Labaratory said that the bomb was definitely made of plastic explosives and a gas canister was placed under it to create a more powerful blast impact. Police sources say that arrangement of the bomb was similar to the type of the bombs PKK used in previous incidents. The daily also reports that if the authorities and police did not find the perpetrators of the event, the PKK will abuse the situation and attempt to weaken the ties of the people with the state. EVRENSEL / OZGUR GUNDEM: As the investigation into the bombing in Diyarbakir continues, the dailies drew attention to the reported fact that the PKK condemned the bombing incident and Turkish Revenge Brigade claimed responsibility for the incident. According to the newspapers, the walkie-talkies found at the site of the incident were of the same model with the ones an illegal organization called "Atabeyler guerillas" were using. The dailies remind that a pilot captain and two bomb specialists from the Special Forces Command were arrested following an operation against that organization. The dailies also pointed out the allegations published a while ago in their editions about former JITEM members who were called back for duty in Diyarbakir. EVRENSEL / OZGUR GUNDEM: Salih Karaaslan, DTP Provincial Chairperson in Ankara, said that dark hidden forces behind the 1996 Susurluk scandal and 2005 Semdinli bombing were also the actors behind the recent bombing in Diyarbakir. Ozgur Gundem daily reported that white and black colored flags were hung in the province, tradesmen shut the doors of their shops, and thousands of people left carnations and erected candles at the site of the incident and condemned the event. Meanwhile, members of twenty-five organizations and political parties gathered in front of the Human Rights Association in Istanbul and made an announcement saying that the Diyarbakir bomb attack was another plot of the "criminal networks" whose activities were partly revealed in the Semdinli bombing incident on November 9, 2005. Meanwhile, DTP's and KESK's (Confederation of Public Workers' Unions) chapters in Adana protested the bomb attack. OZGUR GUNDEM: DTP Chairperson Ahmet Turk conducted studies in Diayrbakir following the bomb attack. Turk also paid a visit to the Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir to extend condolences. Turk said during the visit that nothing would be able to hinder the peace process and they would not yield to the provocations. SABAH: Sabah daily reports allegations that the real target of the Diyarbakir bombing was the Security Directorate which was 1.5 kilometers away from the site of the incident. Another ADANA 00000202 002 OF 002 transceiver's frequency could have triggered the fuse of the bomb, which was kept in a mode ready to be detonated, before the perpetrator was able to reach the actual target. SABAH / YENI SAFAK: Diyarbakir Governor's Office announced that three remotely controlled mines were found and safely detonated on a road between Lice and Kulp districts of Diyarbakir. Reportedly, devices which would enable detonation of the bombs with transceivers and phones were also found at the site. CUMHURIYET: Two separate explosions took place in Van's Baskale and and Sirnak's Gormec districts yesterday around 9.30 p.m. No casualties were reported after the bombings. The bombing in Van was close to the residences of army officers. Security personnel initiated military operations in the areas. SABAH (GUNEY): Gordon Dakota, Croatia's Ambassador to Ankara, paid a visit to Gaziantep's Chamber of Commerce. Dakota said that the economic cooperation between Gaziantep and Croatia will be further consolidated. CUMHURIYET / YENI SAFAK: Municipality teams allegedly culled street dogs with poison syringes ahead of an International Caucasian Cultures' Festival in the province. Some local televisions alleged that the team members killed the dogs that were still alive after being poisoned at the garbage pressing machinery. SABAH (GUNEY): Ihsan Erogul, Adana Chief Prosecutor, paid a visit to the Veterans' Association in Adana to mark the Veterans week. CUMHURIYET / EKSPRES: Restoration project at the Old Roman Bridge in Adana has been halted due to a funding shortage. Seventy percent of the project has been completed to date. GREEN