SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR APRIL 11, 2006

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000079 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR APRIL 11, 2006 This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for April 11, ¶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: Abdullah Torun, Adana deputy from AKP; Cahit Kirac, Adana Governor; Alper Akinoglu, Cukurova University's Rector; Omer Topcu, Yuregir District Mayor; Walter Scott Reid, U.S. Consul to Adana; honorary consuls of Finland and Germany participated in the cocktail in Adana that marked the 161st anniversary of the Turkish National Police. ZAMAN / EKSPRES / BOLGE / RADIKAL / CUMHURIYET: As a result of an attack carried out by a leftist oriented group with clubs and stones on an art exhibition in Cukurova University in Adana six students have been wounded and hospitalized at the Balcali Hospital of the University. (Note: Zaman daily noted that the group was comprised of TKP communist party members. End Note.) Radikal daily noted that health condition of two people were grave. Anti-riot teams started searching for the assailants. The painter, who condemned the attack, is known for his stance opposing oppression against the Turkish minority in Bulgaria. SABAH (GUNEY): Police Week has been celebrated in many parts of the southeastern region including Mersin, Adana, Kahramanmaras, Gaziantep, Hatay and Sanliurfa. OZGUR GUNDEM / CUMHURIYET: Following the ceremonies held to celebrate the Police Week in Diyarbakir, Police College students marched from Governor's Office to the Ofis quarter of Diyarbakir and chanted these slogans, "This country is Turkey", "Unity in the country", "Homeland cannot be separated." The daily noted that the students' march was not a scheduled activity of the police week celebrations. While some news agencies announced that Mayor Osman Baydemir, despite the fact that he was invited, did not attend the ceremonies, Ozgur Gundem daily reported that Baydemir was not invited. Meanwhile, Radikal daily quoted a speech of Diyarbakir Governor Efkan Ala as follows, "People who do not choose between democracy and terrorism, have no right to press demands for democracy." HURRIYET / RADIKAL: A mine blast killed a private and wounded another in Diyarbakir's Silvan district. CUMHURIYET / HURRIYET / BOLGE / OZGUR GUNDEM / ZAMAN: Chief of Staff Hilmi Ozkok and Land Forces Commander Yasar Buyukanit came on Sunday (04/09) to Van to inspect the military units and to conduct studies there. Ozkok and accompanying officers flew to Hakkari with a military helicopter on Monday and paid a visit to the Hakkari Mountain and Commando Brigade. Commanders later paid visits to Yuksekova, Semdinli, and Cukurca to inspect the border military units. In his address to the 21st Jandarma Border Brigade Ozkok said, "Nobody will be able to replace the regime or divide the country as long as the Turkish soldier remained adamant in his commitment to unity and solidarity of the country, remained loyal to his duties, and acted in a self-sacrificing manner." OZGUR GUNDEM: PKK reportedly claimed responsibility for the bomb incident which took place in Elazig and killed two military officers (see press summary 04/10). EVRENSEL / OZGUR GUNDEM: Anti-terror teams in Diyarbakir conducted unannounced raids at many houses in different parts of Baglar quarter and detained two people the previous night. Meanwhile, anti-terror teams have detained nearly 16 people in Ankara reportedly on grounds that those people attended demonstrations that marked the anniversary of the arrest of Abdullah Ocalan. OZGUR GUNDEM: The daily claims that DTP had been subjected to the firm grip of the judicial process, and had been the target of the government. Three provincial chairpersons, four district chairpersons and nearly 50 party administration members have been arrested to date. A faculty member from Ankara University's School of Law reportedly described such policies pursued as an "implementation of a political operation." EVRENSEL / OZGUR GUNDEM: Diyarbakir Prosecutor's Office started an investigation against Abdullah Demirbas, mayor of Sur Municipality in Diyarbakir for asking the couples at wedding ceremonies questions both in Turkish and Kurdish, and for submitting a report called "Issues of Mayorship and Local Authorities in the Light of a Multi-language Environment" to European Social Forum. EVRENSEL: Batman Governor's Office announced that one PKK ADANA 00000079 002 OF 002 member was killed during a military operation at Batman's Besiri district. The daily separately reported that a 3-hour clash took place between PKK militants and security officers at a Jandarma command in Hakkari. The number of casualties has not been announced yet. Hakkari Provincial Jandarma Command sent 10 helicopters to the area. Meanwhile, Iran arrested seven members of PEJAK, an organization that has affiliations with the PKK. EVRENSEL: Police prevented 500 people from marching towards the AKP provincial building following the opening of DTP provincial party building in Mus's Bulanik district. CUMHURIYET / EVRENSEL / OZGUR GUNDEM: Reportedly, children, who entered a mined zone around a Jandarma station in Sirnak's Cizre district, have been wounded by a mine blast. CUMHURIYET / EVRENSEL / OZGUR GUNDEM: In a speech at ceremonies held to mark the birthday of the prophet Mohammed, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc urged PM Erdogan to send roses to all political party leaders in Turkey, including DTP. OZGUR GUNDEM: A gang comprised of reported JITEM members, who reportedly disguised themselves as PKK members, have extorted money from businessmen in Diyarbakir to date and collected large amounts of money. Diyarbakir Security Directorate is reportedly scrutinizing the issue. OZGUR GUNDEM: Mihdi Perincek, Diyarbakir Human Rights Association Chairperson, said that they will start a judicial process against authorities who have still not handed over dead bodies of four terrorists killed on April 3 in the Cudi Mountain in Sirnak. OZGUR GUNDEM: According to the daily, some nationalist circles have broken ties with MHP to form a group called Union of Patriotic Forces in Mersin. The group reportedly will hold a "Meeting for Flag - Big Turkish March" activity on April 15 in the city. Reportedly, members of that group have been exerting efforts to incite local people against Kurdish citizens. OZGUR GUNDEM: Unidentified people reportedly conducted attacks on the businesses of Kurdish people in Kucukdikili quarter of Adana's Seyhan district. RADIKAL / CUMHURIYET: A 47 year-old feud going on between two families claimed lives of two people at the entrance of the Court Hall of Diyarbakir. Six people have been wounded and five people have been detained. REID