SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR APRIL 25, 2006

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000091 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR APRIL 25, 2006 This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for April 25, ¶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 HURRIYET: Leyla Zana, Kurdish activist and former DEP deputy, has embarked upon fresh moves to seek dialogue with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and IKDP (Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party) leader Massoud Barzani in a four-day trip in Iraq which started yesterday morning when Zana set off for Arbil with her advisor and her attorney. Zana, in an environment where PKK have resumed its activities and where military activities have been intensified, will reportedly strive to explore ways to revive "a new era of ceasefire" by talking to Talabani and Barzani, who had both previously invited Zana for talks at separate occasions. RADIKAL / HURRIYET (CUKUROVA) / BOLGE / EKSPRES / SABAH (GUNEY): Members of a gang, who have been allegedly stealing aircraft fuel from pipelines of NATO and Botas (Petroleum Pipeline Corporation) in Seyhan, Ceyan, Yumurtalik, Yuregir and Karaisali districts of Adana for nearly two years, have been identified, caught and arrested. BOLGE / SABAH (GUNEY): Three terrorists have been killed in a clash during a military operation in Sirnak, announced Sirnak Governor's Office. A 21-year-old private has reportedly been killed during clash. The private's funeral will be held in Adana tomorrow. OZGUR GUNDEM: German Greens Party Leader Claudia Roth assessed her recent visit to Turkey and criticized increasing deployment of Turkish troops in the southeastern region: "Kurdish region does not need anymore soldiers there", Roth said as she pointed out to surging nationalistic sentiments in Turkey. OZGUR GUNDEM: Iran's Army reportedly deployed 300 village guards and special team members in Hewraman, Kamyaran and Kirmasan regions in Iran against PJAK (Party for Free Life in Kurdistan) guerillas. CNN TURK ONLINE: All crossing points at the border gates have been closed reportedly to prevent PKK members' border crossing from northern Iraq to Turkey as well as to prevent escape of the PKK militants from Turkey. RADIKAL: An indictment has been prepared and Diyarbakir Children's Heavy Penalty Court brought action against 80 children who were detained during Diyarbakir demonstrations that took place between March 28 and 30 and that claimed lives of 12 people. The indictment prescribed action against children on charges of "being a member of an armed illegal organization", "damaging public property including public buildings and facilities", "preventing a public officer from performing his duties", "breaching the codes on demonstrations and public gatherings." The children may reportedly face prison terms ranging between 9 and 24 years. Another case concerning 36 children (see press summary 04/24) has been rejected by (unspecified but most probably Diyarbakir-based) Children's Heavy Penalty Court and transferred to Ankara Children's Heavy Penalty Court. CNN TURK ONLINE: Selim Sadak, former DEP deputy and founding member of DTP, made a call in Nusaybin to the Chief of General Staff to end various military operations that the security forces started in the southeastern region. Sadak made this call during his address in the reopening event DTP's Nusaybin chapter. (Note: Nusaybin chapter of DTP was briefly closed following an April 9 police raid at its party building and arrest of eight DTP administrators. End Note) FIRAT NEWS AGENCY ONLINE : It is reported that Mehmet Ali Alt?ndag, a Diyarbakir businessman whose controversial statements targeting Land Forces Commander Yasar Buyukanit was included by Van Prosecutor Ferhat Sarikaya in the Semdinli indictment, has won 160-million-new-Turkish-lira worth of eight public tenders to date since the onset of AKP rule. OZGUR GUNDEM: Sur district mayor in Diyarbakir, against whom an investigation process was started for conducting a marriage ceremony in Kurdish, has conducted twenty marriages again in Kurdish. Meanwhile, three children have reportedly been arrested for tearing a Turkish flag in Sanliurfa's Halfeti district. Separately, Van Prosecutor initiated an investigation against the Newruz committee because of use of prohibited flags, banners and slogans during celebrations in Van. ADANA 00000091 002 OF 002 HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): Diyarbakir police seized fourteen shotguns which have been illegally brought to Diyarbakir. Six smugglers have been arraigned and arrested. SABAH (GUNEY): Erkan Mumcu, national leader of Anavatan (Motherland Party),came to Malatya and attended a public meeting where he addressed reportedly 4000 people. BOLGE: Azim Ozturk, Seyhan Mayor in Adana, dismissed his and the municipality's alleged links with a campaign striving to gather signatures against attempts to black-out pro-PKK Roj TV operating in Denmark. Reportedly, a hand-out prepared for the campaign cites title of the Seyhan Mayor as endorsing the campaign. EKSPRES: A columnist reported that Omer Kaya will not run for the chairmanship of AKP Adana provincial party organization (see press summaries 04/20 and 21). It reportedly seems that the contest for chairmanship would take place between Abdullah Dogru (current chairman),Mustafa Kebude, and Mustafa Attaroglu. BOLGE / EKSPRES: Fruit and vegetable exporters in the region have reportedly been concerned about the procedures enforced about their exports to Russia. All fruit and vegetables are to be examined at laboratories for remnants of chemicals in them. BOLGE/ SABAH (GUNEY): A fair on agriculture and animal breeding will be held in Mersin between May 17 and 21 through efforts of Mersin's Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 250 companies will reportedly take part in the fair. REID