Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Summary

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS ADANA 0396

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY SUMMARY
NOVEMBER 19, 2002

1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for
November 19, 2002. Please note that Turkish press
reports often contain errors or exaggerations;
AmConsulate Adana does not vouch for the accuracy of
the reports summarized here.

POLITICS, SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS
--------------------------------

2. SARAY (VAN) TORTURE VICTIM RE-ARRESTED
(Evrensel) Saray (Van) torture victim Okan Yurdabak
was re-arrested on November 17 after he had filed suit
against torturers. Yurdabak claimed the local
Jandarma commander insulted and threatened him for
filing suit. Later the same day, Yurdabak was
released. He earlier claimed that Saray Jandarma
officials had raped him with a truncheon while in
custody after being arrested following a fight over a
land dispute. He reportedly applied to the Van Human
Rights Association (HRA) for assistance as he was
afraid he might "disappear" while in custody.

3. STUDENT ARRESTED FOR SPEAKING IN KURDISH
(Evrensel) A Hazro (Diyarbakir) high school student
was arrested and threatened with a pistol for speaking
in Kurdish at school.

4. CLOSURE OF STUDENT ASSOCIATION EXTENDED
(Evrensel) The Dicle University (Diyarbakir) Students
Association, which had been closed for three months
under Article 11/0 of the State of Emergency (OHAL)
Law, was re-closed on November 18, when the earlier
three-month closure ended. The closure stemmed from
the association's "disrupting general security and
public order, and causing acts of violence to
increase."

5. CONTINUED PRO-OCALAN PROTESTS
(Evrensel) Hundreds of youths staged demonstrations
in six Batman districts to protest implementation of
isolation policies against PKK (KADEK) leader Abdullah
Ocalan. The youths marched, carrying torches and
Ocalan posters, and shouting pro-Ocalan slogans.

6. ADANA BUSINESS LEADER DISPLEASED WITH NEW CABINET
(Bolge) Adana Chamber of Industry president Umit
Ozgumus criticized the new government for not
appointing a minister from Adana. Ozgumus complained
Adana, Turkey's sixth largest province, has been
neglected.

ECONOMIC AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS
--------------------------------------

7. SIRNAK TEMPORARY WORKERS LAID OFF
(Evrensel) Citing budgetary reasons, the municipality
of Sirnak laid off 70 temporary workers hired prior to
the November 3 parliamentary elections. The
Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) provincial chairman
claimed the workers were employed as election graft
and were told to vote for the Motherland Party (ANAP).
According to the chairman, the workers were dismissed
after the elections when ANAP failed to pass the 10%
election threshold to enter the parliament.
HOLTZ

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