SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR OCTOBER 09, 2006

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000217 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR OCTOBER 09, 2006 This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for October 09, ¶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 HURRIYET: Three PKK terrorists caught in Erzurum's Karacoban district told the prosecutor that the Karacoban district mayor (from DTP) was allegedly helping and providing aid to them. The mayor, for his part, said that he provided phone units and hygiene supplies, under pressure from those terrorists. ¶3. HURRIYET: Diyarbakir's Security Directorate reportedly imposed fines on the cars of the Kayapinar district municipality on September 20. Allegedly in response, Kayapinar Municipality, which is administered by the DTP, attempted to close down the building of the Security Directorate on grounds that the building lacked a residence permit. The tension which has been going on between those two public institutions in Diyarbakir for months has been resolved as a result of the mediation efforts by the Governor's Office, according to the daily. ¶4. OZGUR GUNDEM: Special Team members reportedly conducted raids at many houses in a quarter of Hakkari's Yuksekova district for unknown reasons. Meanwhile, jandarma teams caught 13 illegal aliens in a passenger car they searched in Van's Muradiye district. Twelve of the people were Afghanis and one of them was an Iraqi national. Those people were traveling from Van to Istanbul. OZGUR GUNDEM: The daily claimed that Turkish Armed Forces Foundation website at www.tsk.org.tr has been hacked by Kurdish hackers. The hackers reportedly wrote the following statement on the site: "We sincerely back the cease-fire decision of the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan and KKK." (Note: Read KKK as the political wing of the PKK.) OZGUR GUNDEM: Despite the PKK's call for cease-fire, Turkish Armed Forces have been continuing its military operations in the region. The daily claims that one soldier died in Diyarbakir's Lice district in one of those operations. OZGUR GUNDEM: Many people and non-governmental organizations in Diyarbakir, Mardin, Sirnak, Sanliurfa and Mersin gathered and condemned the anniversary of the alleged international plot against Abdullah Ocalan eight years ago which reportedly forced him out of Syria on October 9, 1998. OZGUR GUNDEM: A German sociologist, who is also a counselor for a deputy from Democratic Socialism Party in Germany, conducting studies in Diyarbakir, said they were hoping that the cease-fire decision would bring permanent peace in the region. The sociologist expressed concern over the increasing pressure on the Kurdish politicians and DTP members. ¶8. BOLGE: Erkan Mumcu, National Leader of Motherland Party, will come to Adana today to attend the opening ceremony of party's new building in Yuregir. Mumcu will attend an iftaar dinner later. HUMAN RIGHTS ¶5. HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): For the first time in its history a female deputy governor has been appointed to the Kahramanmaras province. ECONOMY ¶6. OZGUR GUNDEM: French daily newspaper Le Monde claimed that Turkey was imposing an unannounced embargo on northern Iraq to penalize the Kurds in northern Iraq who are aspiring for independence. The daily pointed out that the number of operations at Sirnak's Habur Border Gate has decreased significantly as compared to the previous year. CRIME/LAW ENFORCEMENT ¶7. HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): Police found 23 kilograms of hashish in hidden sections of a small passenger bus in Bitlis. CULTURE/SOCIETY ¶8. BOLGE: A new rector is going to be elected for Mersin ADANA 00000217 002 OF 002 University after the faculty members vote tomorrow ¶9. BOLGE: A fire broke out in the library of the Cukurova University. No casualties but material damage was reported. GREEN