SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MAY 29, 2007

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000075 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MAY 29, 2007 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for May 29, ¶2007. 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: ¶2. SABAH (GUNEY) / CUMHURIYET: Primary elections were held in 6 provinces on May 27 to determine the candidates of CHP (see press summary for May 25) for the May 22 parliamentary elections. The primary elections stirred controversy and many candidates objected to the results. Rumors are spreading that some of the voters sold their votes in exchange for certain benefits. In Tarsus district of Mersin, it is claimed that the delegates held off on their election in order to first learn about the results of the other places in Mersin: Then, through a type of block voting, they were able to rank their two candidates first and second on the party ticket. Sabab Guney daily also points out some controversies stirred in the CHP primary elections of Gaziantep: two former Gaziantep deputies from CHP, who were not elected as candidates, expressed frustration. ¶3. EKSPRES: DP party grassroots and many businessmen reacted against Saban Bas's (Chairman of Adana Chamber of Commerce) reported recent efforts to secure a nomination as a DP candidate through support he reportedly obtained from Sinan Aygun (Chairman of Ankara Chamber of Commerce). DP circles claim that it was unethical for Bas to turn to the DP after finding out that he would not be able to get nominated from CHP. ¶4. GUNDEM / CUMHURIYET: The daily reports that two separate lawsuits were brought against DTP Adana Provincial Chairperson Ali Arslan because of his remarks during a congress of DTP youth branches on March 4 concerning the 8th anniversary of Abdullah Ocalan's arrest. The speeches were carried on pro-Kurdish Roj TV, as well. Separately, Sirnak Mayor Ahmet Ertak (from DTP) gave his statement to the Sirnak prosecutor's office concerning the investigation that was brought against him and other 54 mayors (from DTP) in the southeastern province because of their press announcement about the health condition of Ocalan under imprisonment on an unspecified date. Separately, a lawsuit was brought against DTP Erzincan provincial chairperson on charges of making "propaganda of the terrorist organization." The daily claims that the telephone of the chairperson was tapped. Separately, following completion of investigation process brought against former DTP Kars Provincial Chairperson Mahmut Alinak allegedly because of the Kurdish language posters hung at the party building during March 8 Women's Day, Kars Prosecutor's Office asked for a lawsuit in line with the investigation to be brought against Alinak who has recently resigned from office to run in the parliamentary elections. ¶5. GUNDEM: A conference called "Democratic Unity for Peace" was held in the municipality hall of Tunceli. Ways to resolve the Kurdish issue were discussed during the conference. ¶6. CUMHURIYET: European Parliament's Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-Chairman Joost Lagendijk will visit several provinces in the eastern and southeastern Turkey ahead of the July 22 elections to observe the developments about elections there. SECURITY ¶7. CUMHURIYET: During a time when Turkish Armed Forces has been carrying out military operations at the border areas with Iran and Iraq, PKK has reportedly been avoiding conflicts with security forces in those areas. Instead, the terrorist organization has reportedly been intensifying efforts to send militants and ammunition to carry out suicide missions in the urban city centers reportedly to create chaos in the cities. The PKK is also resorting to methods such as using mines instead of entering into conflicts to decrease the number of their death toll. ¶8. EKSPRES / BOLGE: Adana police heightened security measures in the province and increased the number of police patrolling the city. Checkpoints have been set up at the entrance points from the main highway to the city. It is reportedly noticed that the police paid attention to searching well-dressed women and their cars during their checks because it ADANA 00000075 002 OF 002 was learned by the police that the recent terrorist activities would be carried by such women (see press summary for May 25). ¶9. GUNDEM: Bomb squad teams were sent to MHP party organization's building in Diyarbakir's Lice district upon receiving a bomb threat alert. The box that was detonated safely turned out to be empty. ¶10. ZAMAN: Gaziantep police reportedly caught two people who were making preparations to carry out a bomb attack on a police station in Gaziantep. Police reportedly found a bomb device with a mobile phone in the vehicle of the two people caught. ¶11. CUMHURIYET: A conflict broke out when security forces encountered a group of terrorists in Tunceli's Cemisgezek district. Two terrorists were killed. ¶12. CUMHURIYET / ZAMAN: Anti-terror branch of Konya Police conducted an operation against the PKK and detained 26 people in Konya. Twenty-three of the people detained were university students. DTP Konya Provincial Chairperson was among the detainees. CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ¶13. SABAH (GUNEY): Karatas District Jandarma Command teams, upon receiving a tip-off, caught 51 Iraqi nationals, who are illegal migrants waiting to set off for Northern Cyprus with a boat, in a beach area in Karatas district of Adana. It is found out that the migrants paid 3000 USD each, except for the kids, for their illegal travel. ¶14. CUMHURIYET: Diyarbakir Police seized 33 kilograms of hashish in an anti-drug operation in Diyarbakir. Four of the eight people detained have been arrested. ECONOMY ¶15. SABAH (GUNEY): A record was reportedly broken with a total of 60,000 visitors in five days at the International Iraqi Fair in Gaziantep this year. CULTURE / SOCIETY / ENVIRONMENT ¶16. GUNDEM / EVRENSEL / CUMHURIYET / ZAMAN: Two floods caused by heavy rain in Agri and Van killed 10 people. Six of the casualties are children. GREEN