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Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary,

Published: Tue 22 Apr 2003 01:58 PM
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0116
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,
APRIL 22, 2003
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary
for April 22, 2003. 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: It is reported that the person code
named "Mahmut" who committed suicide during the
security forces' PKK/KADEK operation in Silopi,
was the PKK's person in charge for Cudi Mountain.
It is claimed that "Mahmut" whose ID has not been
disclosed yet, was a Syrian national. The police
in Silopi started surveillance last Friday of a
PKK/KADEK suspect, Abdullah Kayhan, who met with
two persons known as "Mahmut" and "Harun." When
the security forces arrested Harun, Mahmut,
recognizing that he also would be arrested,
committed suicide.
Cumhuriyet/Evrensel/Sabah/Radikal/Hurriyet: In
its most recent issue, Time Magazine selected the
chairwoman of Diyarbakir-based Ka-Mer (Women's
Center), Nebahat Akkoc, as one of the 38 persons
identified as "the heroes of the modern age."
The contestants were selected from people living
in Europe and the Middle East. The magazine
emphasized that Akkoc struggled for defending the
rights of Anatolian women exposed to domestic
violence, and added that according to the UN
figures, 58 percent of women in Anatolia were
exposed to violent acts by their spouses. The
mother of two children, Mrs. Akkoc, who lost her
husband to a mysterious killing in 1993, founded
Ka-Mer in Diyarbakir in 1997, and has been
providing legal and psychological support at its
seven branches in the southeast to women
subjected to violence. Currently, Mrs. Akkoc is
focused on fighting against honor killings in the
rural regions, a common practice, and has managed
to rescue a young girl for whom a death decision
was made.
Turkiye/Bolge/Milli Gazete: The new courthouse of
Adana, the construction of which started five
years ago and cost approximately USD 9.375
million, was opened for service. Regarding the
new courthouse, the Chief Public Prosecutor,
Cemal Sahir Gurcay, said he attached great
importance to security, and had assigned 58
policemen in addition to the jandarma for that
purpose. Gurcay added that he was particularly
interested in the internal security of the
building in order to eradicate the negative
reputation of the former courthouse famed for
fights among the families attending the hearings.
Turkiye/Bolge: In Adana, the police arrested 10
persons, including three women, for being members
of "Cakarlar," a gang which extorted money from
citizens in various quarters of the town by
threat or blackmail. The suspects were arrested
when the police launched an operation to arrest
the perpetrators of armed assaults at two tea-
shops and a house in Seyhan district. While
searching the suspects' homes, the police seized
one automatic Kalashnikov, one hunting gun, and
ammunition for those weapons. The suspects were
taken to the State Security Court following the
completion of their interrogation at the Security
Directorate. The suspects threatened a
journalist with death as they left for court. The
police are still looking for the alleged leader
of the gang, Tarik Cakar.
Turkiye: Based on a tip, the police in Adiyaman
arrested Dogan Tanriverdi red-handed while he was
trying to sell 4 kilos of heroin in town. An
investigation is underway, the officials said.
HOLTZ
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