SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR APRIL 14, 2006

UNCLAS ADANA 000085 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR APRIL 14, 2006 This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for April 14, ¶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 RADIKAL / YENI SAFAK: Denmark's Ambassador to Ankara said that Roj TV issue was currently being handled by the judiciary in Denmark, therefore it was not possible to intervene in the process. The Ambassador further reiterated that they regarded PKK as a terrorist organization. RADIKAL / CUMHURIYET: Part of the 1019 historical artifacts seized during a search made at Van Centennial University Rector Yucel Askin's house in July 2005 has been regranted to Askin. RADIKAL: Mortality rates for babies in the southeastern region are reportedly three times higher than the average rates in Turkey. ZAMAN / SABAH (GUNEY) / BOLGE / YENI SAFAK: During the funeral in Mersin of a Jandarma private, who was killed as a result of a mine explosion in Diyarbakir's Silvan district, the mother of the private reportedly said, "We are of Kurdish origin as well; but PKK does not represent the Kurds." Meanwhile, the funeral of a non-commissioned officer who was killed in a military operation in Sirnak has been held in Osmaniye's Kadirli district. Many people that attended the ceremony shouted anti-PKK slogans. Another funeral of a commissioned officer, who was killed during a military operation in Sirnak, has been held in Adana's Ceyhan district. Adana Governor Cahit Kirac, Mayor Aytac Durak, Adana Jandarma Regiment Commander Colonel Mahir Konak, and Ceyhan Mayor Huseyin Sozlu attended the funeral procession. ZAMAN: A group called Union of Patriotic Forces in Mersin will hold a march called "Meeting for Flag - Big Turkish March" (see press summary 04/11) in Mersin on April 15. Reportedly, members of that group have been telling the villagers in Mersin that PKK had turned Mersin into a base for its activities and police has been ineffective to date to address counter such a PKK influence. Reportedly, members of this group has been hanging posters in villages and inciting people into action. OZGUR GUNDEM: It is reported that inmates at an Erzurum jail have been banned from speaking Kurdish among themselves. The daily further reported that Pelda Women's Association would be dissolved because of the association's non-Kurdish name. HURRIYET ONLINE / OZGUR GUNDEM: Three siblings aged 25, 32 and 40, who stepped over a mine as they were gathering bushes as feed for their animals in Diyarbakir's Dicle district, have been wounded when the mine went off. Health conditions of two of the sisters have been reported as grave. KENTHABER.COM / OZGUR GUNDEM: Students with leftist tendencies staged a protest at the Cukurova University and denied allegations accusing them as attacking at the art exhibition held at the University 3 days ago (see press summary 04/11 and 04/12). Meanwhile, Ozgur Gundem reported that attack was actually carried out by nationalist oriented people. RADIKAL / OZGUR GUNDEM / YENI SAFAK: Claudia Roth, leader of Germany's Greens Party, met with chairperson of Turkish Parliamentary Commission for Human Rights Issues and has expressed concern over recent developments in Turkey and escalation of nationalist and ethnically oriented tendencies. The daily separately placed a question on whether Roth will probe if it was appropriate for Turkey to use military tanks sold by Germany during the protest activities in Diyarbakir. OZGUR GUNDEM: The daily claimed that Turkish Military Forces (TMF) arranged itself in a position to launch war at any time. Most of TMF has been shifted to the southeastern region and a war regime has reportedly been adopted. The daily further pointed out that military operations intensified following the recent visit of Chief of Staff and senior officers in the region. The daily further stated that authorities have not been allowing attorneys and relatives of Abdullah Ocalan to see Ocalan on various grounds. SABAH (GUNEY): Police discovered an illegal heroin production center in Hatay's Belen district. Three people have been detained in connection with the incident. REID