Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ADANA37
2006-02-16 12:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Adana
Cable title:
SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY 15, 2006
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000037
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY 15, 2006
This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for February 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
OZGUR GUNDEM: The daily reported that today marked the 8th
anniversary of Abdullah Ocalan's 1999 capturing in Kenya and his
being brought back to Turkey as a result of "the unfortunate
concerted efforts of the international community." (Note: The
daily emphasized the anniversary as 8th in its front page, but
articles inside refer to the time frame that passed as 7. End
Note.) Murat Karayilan, a senior leader of the military wing of
the PKK, called on all the Kurdish people to fast today, to
close down their businesses, not to go outside and not to attend
their jobs for today. Many people branded today as a "black
day" and will wear black outfits accordingly. An imam
reportedly advised the community to pray for Abdullah Ocalan.
Separately, the daily provided coverage about the "aggravated"
prison condition of Ocalan, and further pointed out that
Ankara's 11th Heavy Penalty Court did not provide a copy of the
petition submitted by Ocalan demanding the start of his retrial
process (see press summary 02/14) to Ocalan's attorneys.
HURRIYET ONLINE: Daily Hurriyet, one of Turkey's mainstream
newspapers, claimed today on its internet site that despite the
ongoing calls of the terrorist organization to date to hold
various activities (as February 15 approached),people in
Diyarbakir did not respond to these calls today and no one
closed their businesses in the streets. The daily claims that
ordinary life has been going on safe and sound Diyarbakir.
Security forces have already raised security threat levels; but
no incidents have been reported to have happened yet. The daily
reported people in Agri's Dogubeyazit district as responding to
the call of the PKK and said that everybody closed their
businesses there. The daily observed some businesses staying
closed through the day today in Batman, Hakkari and Siirt and in
quarters of Adana.
CUMHURIYET: A protest activity and a sit-in protest were held in
Diyarbakir yesterday (02/14) under the leadership of DTP
(Democratic Society Party) provincial party organization.
Nearly 2000 people reportedly attended the event, carried
banners reading "Ocalan represents our political will", chanted
slogans in support for Abdullah Ocalan. The protest ended
peacefully amid the presence of anti-riot teams, police
barricades and armored police vehicles. As the group of people
was dispersing, a group of youth caused a scuffle. Police
detained two persons among the crowd. Tension reportedly lasted
briefly.
OZGUR GUNDEM: Demonstration activities to protest February 15
have continued reportedly in many parts of the southeastern
region including Sirnak, Hakkari, Diyarbakir and Siirt until
yesterday (02/14). Hundreds of people reportedly walked as cold
weather conditions and snowfall permitted. People, mostly
comprised of women and youth, set small fires and walked
carrying posters of Ocalan. Activities in the Idil district of
Sirnak continued until late hours. Reportedly, 3000 people
staged a march in Hakkari's Yuksekova district. People carried
banners reading, "Ocalan represents our political will."
Hundreds of people in Diyarbakir staged similar protests, made
press announcements and chanted slogans extending support to
Ocalan amid the presence of armored military vehicles and
anti-riot teams.
EVRENSEL: According to the daily, people, non-governmental
organizations and mayors expressed their disturbance about the
presence of military vehicles during a protest activity in
Sirnak's Cizre district and demanded an explanation from the
government.
EVRENSEL: A 21-year-old women attempted to commit suicide in
Batman, and was hospitalized.
RADIKAL / OZGUR GUNDEM: Murat Karayilan reportedly made an
announcement and dismissed allegations of any PKK involvement in
the killing of Kani Yilmaz, former European PKK representative
who split with the PKK and later established the PWD (Democratic
and Patriotic Party),and Sabri Tori, a PWD member, in a car
bomb attack in Iraq's Suleymaniyah province this weekend.
OZGUR GUNDEM: According to the daily, the powers that
surrendered Abdullah Ocalan to Turkey, have aimed at eliminating
Ocalan from Middle Eastern politics, a fact which allegedly
complies with these powers' medium and long-term policies in the
Middle East.
OZGUR GUNDEM: Osman Baydemir, Diyarbakir Mayor, completed its
program in his U.S. visit which sparked controversies between
the U.S. and Turkey and caused PM Erdogan to cancel his trip to
the U.S.-Islam World Forum. Baydemir responded to journalist's
questions. Reportedly, Baydemir said that instead of focusing
on the security aspect of the Kurdish issue, the government
should adopt legal changes to enhance democratic participation
in politics. Baydemir reportedly demanded that a general
amnesty be issued (by the government).
SABAH (GUNEY): Alikbek Ceksenkulov, Kyrgyzstan Foreign
Minister, and Kyrgyzstan Ambasssador to Ankara, following their
visit to Mersin, came to Adana and paid a courtesy visit on the
Adana Governor Cahit Kirac.
HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): The dispute between two AKP (Justice and
Development Party) politicians, Abdullah Dogru, AKP Adana
Provincial Chairperson, and Aytac Durak, Adana Mayor, continues.
Reportedly, Abdullah Dogru criticized Durak and said, "Is Adana
Mayor an almighty person that we can never criticize? Why should
I not criticize him? If my people are suffering because of
problems erupting, I will speak on behalf of them. If this
situation requires me to struggle, I will exert my efforts to
struggle."
BOLGE / HURRIYET / RADIKAL: Kemal Oncel, the farmer who had a
small altercation with the Prime Minister Erdogan during
Erdogan's visit to Mersin over the weekend said he regretted his
own arrogant manners while talking to Erdogan and was sorry.
Oncel withdrew his determination to file a lawsuit against
Erdogan.
RADIKAL: Adverse weather conditions and snowfall has been
badly affecting Bitlis province. The height of snow covering
the streets in the city center reached to two meters. The snow
reached five meters in the mountainous areas.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): 2nd Adana International Economic
Cooperation Forum, which will be held between February 22 and
24, will host the prime minister, four ministers, including
Foreign Affairs Minister, Minister of Industry and Commerce and
two state ministers, and ambassadors from France, Russia,
Belarussia, Kazakhstan, Syria and Ozbekistan.
2. EVRENSEL: Following the resumption of production in the
Adana Tekel Cigarette Factory, production restarted also in
Malatya Tekel Cigarette factory and workers ended their strike.
REID
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY 15, 2006
This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for February 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
OZGUR GUNDEM: The daily reported that today marked the 8th
anniversary of Abdullah Ocalan's 1999 capturing in Kenya and his
being brought back to Turkey as a result of "the unfortunate
concerted efforts of the international community." (Note: The
daily emphasized the anniversary as 8th in its front page, but
articles inside refer to the time frame that passed as 7. End
Note.) Murat Karayilan, a senior leader of the military wing of
the PKK, called on all the Kurdish people to fast today, to
close down their businesses, not to go outside and not to attend
their jobs for today. Many people branded today as a "black
day" and will wear black outfits accordingly. An imam
reportedly advised the community to pray for Abdullah Ocalan.
Separately, the daily provided coverage about the "aggravated"
prison condition of Ocalan, and further pointed out that
Ankara's 11th Heavy Penalty Court did not provide a copy of the
petition submitted by Ocalan demanding the start of his retrial
process (see press summary 02/14) to Ocalan's attorneys.
HURRIYET ONLINE: Daily Hurriyet, one of Turkey's mainstream
newspapers, claimed today on its internet site that despite the
ongoing calls of the terrorist organization to date to hold
various activities (as February 15 approached),people in
Diyarbakir did not respond to these calls today and no one
closed their businesses in the streets. The daily claims that
ordinary life has been going on safe and sound Diyarbakir.
Security forces have already raised security threat levels; but
no incidents have been reported to have happened yet. The daily
reported people in Agri's Dogubeyazit district as responding to
the call of the PKK and said that everybody closed their
businesses there. The daily observed some businesses staying
closed through the day today in Batman, Hakkari and Siirt and in
quarters of Adana.
CUMHURIYET: A protest activity and a sit-in protest were held in
Diyarbakir yesterday (02/14) under the leadership of DTP
(Democratic Society Party) provincial party organization.
Nearly 2000 people reportedly attended the event, carried
banners reading "Ocalan represents our political will", chanted
slogans in support for Abdullah Ocalan. The protest ended
peacefully amid the presence of anti-riot teams, police
barricades and armored police vehicles. As the group of people
was dispersing, a group of youth caused a scuffle. Police
detained two persons among the crowd. Tension reportedly lasted
briefly.
OZGUR GUNDEM: Demonstration activities to protest February 15
have continued reportedly in many parts of the southeastern
region including Sirnak, Hakkari, Diyarbakir and Siirt until
yesterday (02/14). Hundreds of people reportedly walked as cold
weather conditions and snowfall permitted. People, mostly
comprised of women and youth, set small fires and walked
carrying posters of Ocalan. Activities in the Idil district of
Sirnak continued until late hours. Reportedly, 3000 people
staged a march in Hakkari's Yuksekova district. People carried
banners reading, "Ocalan represents our political will."
Hundreds of people in Diyarbakir staged similar protests, made
press announcements and chanted slogans extending support to
Ocalan amid the presence of armored military vehicles and
anti-riot teams.
EVRENSEL: According to the daily, people, non-governmental
organizations and mayors expressed their disturbance about the
presence of military vehicles during a protest activity in
Sirnak's Cizre district and demanded an explanation from the
government.
EVRENSEL: A 21-year-old women attempted to commit suicide in
Batman, and was hospitalized.
RADIKAL / OZGUR GUNDEM: Murat Karayilan reportedly made an
announcement and dismissed allegations of any PKK involvement in
the killing of Kani Yilmaz, former European PKK representative
who split with the PKK and later established the PWD (Democratic
and Patriotic Party),and Sabri Tori, a PWD member, in a car
bomb attack in Iraq's Suleymaniyah province this weekend.
OZGUR GUNDEM: According to the daily, the powers that
surrendered Abdullah Ocalan to Turkey, have aimed at eliminating
Ocalan from Middle Eastern politics, a fact which allegedly
complies with these powers' medium and long-term policies in the
Middle East.
OZGUR GUNDEM: Osman Baydemir, Diyarbakir Mayor, completed its
program in his U.S. visit which sparked controversies between
the U.S. and Turkey and caused PM Erdogan to cancel his trip to
the U.S.-Islam World Forum. Baydemir responded to journalist's
questions. Reportedly, Baydemir said that instead of focusing
on the security aspect of the Kurdish issue, the government
should adopt legal changes to enhance democratic participation
in politics. Baydemir reportedly demanded that a general
amnesty be issued (by the government).
SABAH (GUNEY): Alikbek Ceksenkulov, Kyrgyzstan Foreign
Minister, and Kyrgyzstan Ambasssador to Ankara, following their
visit to Mersin, came to Adana and paid a courtesy visit on the
Adana Governor Cahit Kirac.
HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): The dispute between two AKP (Justice and
Development Party) politicians, Abdullah Dogru, AKP Adana
Provincial Chairperson, and Aytac Durak, Adana Mayor, continues.
Reportedly, Abdullah Dogru criticized Durak and said, "Is Adana
Mayor an almighty person that we can never criticize? Why should
I not criticize him? If my people are suffering because of
problems erupting, I will speak on behalf of them. If this
situation requires me to struggle, I will exert my efforts to
struggle."
BOLGE / HURRIYET / RADIKAL: Kemal Oncel, the farmer who had a
small altercation with the Prime Minister Erdogan during
Erdogan's visit to Mersin over the weekend said he regretted his
own arrogant manners while talking to Erdogan and was sorry.
Oncel withdrew his determination to file a lawsuit against
Erdogan.
RADIKAL: Adverse weather conditions and snowfall has been
badly affecting Bitlis province. The height of snow covering
the streets in the city center reached to two meters. The snow
reached five meters in the mountainous areas.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): 2nd Adana International Economic
Cooperation Forum, which will be held between February 22 and
24, will host the prime minister, four ministers, including
Foreign Affairs Minister, Minister of Industry and Commerce and
two state ministers, and ambassadors from France, Russia,
Belarussia, Kazakhstan, Syria and Ozbekistan.
2. EVRENSEL: Following the resumption of production in the
Adana Tekel Cigarette Factory, production restarted also in
Malatya Tekel Cigarette factory and workers ended their strike.
REID