Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary,

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 0099

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,
APRIL 08, 2003

1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary
for April 08, 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.

POLITICICAL, SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS

2. Milliyet: Osman Ocalan, the brother of PKK
leader Abullah Ocalan, announced to Reuters that
the war on Iraq created a new opportunity for the
PKK, which now seeks to benefit from
disagreements between Washington and Ankara.
Osman Ocalan was interviewed by a Reuters'
reporter in PKK/KADEK camp at Kandil Mountain in
northern Iraq. He claimed the disagreement that
resulted by Ankara's refusal of the motion gave
them an opportunity to push their issues forward,
and assessed that it would be possible for the
PKK to establish ties with the US. He expressed
his wish to form an alliance with Washington.

3. Cumhuriyet/Evrensel/Tercuman/Milli Gazete: It
is reported that some of the 12 Patriot missiles
unloaded at Iskenderun port and forwarded on to
Incirlik AFB will be deployed at the Turkish
border, while others will be deployed in northern
Iraq. Meanwhile, 42 trucks that left the base in
Kiziltepe (Mardin) also arrived in Iskenderun.
"Explosive Material" and "Ammunition" signs were
seen on some of the containers. Following the
conclusion of the movement from the bases in the
Mardin industrial zone, the rented facilities
will be turned over to the owners again.

4. Sabah: Iskenderun will become the center for
transportation of food items to be exported to
Iraq under the oil-for-food program administered
by the United Nations. An independent company,
Cotegna, which has been selected by the UN, will
start working in Iskenderun to coordinate the
deliveries. Turkish firms interested in exporting
to Iraq will also apply to the office in
Iskenderun. It is reported that about 250 trucks
will carry foodstuffs from Iskenderun to Iraq on
a daily basis. Because the Habur border gate to
northern Iraq is sealed, the foodstuffs are being
kept in warehouses rented in Gaziantep for the
time being.

5. Radikal: The UN expedited its shipment of
food items to civilians in northern Iraq under
the World Food Program. One thousand tons of
flour was shipped to Dohuk last week, and more
shipment of food items continued the previous
night and today, too. The authorities announced
that most of the shipment of 6 thousand tons of
flour had been accomplished, and the shipments
would continue as needed. The UN has dispatched
100 trucks of food items to northern Iraq since
last week.

6. Radikal/Milli gazete: American doctors, who
evacuated their logistical support center in
Mardin, made rounds at the State Hospital in
Mardin. It is claimed that the Americans have
been doing such a study in order to evaluate the
possibility of bringing their wounded troops to
the hospital. The police visiting the hospital
afterwards determined that the US doctors had not
obtained permission from the governor's office to
visit the hospital. The police informed local
officials of the case.

7. Turkiye/Bolge: Based on a tip, the police
arrested 11 persons on alleged membership in a
gang involved in extortion in Tarsus township of
Mersin. Three pistols of assorted make and
radius, one automatic hunting gun, and various
promissory notes were seized on the suspects, who
were ordered held by the court.

8. Turkiye: Jandarmas searching some houses in
the hamlet of Dogan (Diyarbakir) seized 3
unlicensed Kalashnikovs, 371 bullets for that
weapon, and 32 pistol bullets. They arrested
three persons in connection with the weapons.

9. Turkiye: Jandarma teams arrested a Hizbullah
member in Kabasakal hamlet near Ergani
(Diyarbakir). His name had previously been found
in a computer disc seized during an operation in
Istanbul in 2000. The interrogation of the
Hizbullah member, whose name has not been
disclosed, is continuing.

10. Turkiye: 24 Afghan nationals who had
illegally passed into Turkey were arrested in
Ozalp township of Van. An investigation is
underway.

11. Milliyet/Tercuman: The number of families in
Yenikoy hamlet near Siverek (Sanliurfa), dropped
from 15 to 3 due to ongoing blood feud that
stemmed from land dispute between the Gurkan and
Gurkmen families of the "Kiran" tribe five years
ago. Some 13 people have been killed in the fight
between the two families who, as a consequence of
the feud, were unable to cultivate their land or
send their children to school. While many people
have evacuated the village, the remaining
inhabitants, mostly women and children, have
built positions on the roofs of their houses and
reinforced their doors and windows to guard
against possible attacks.
HOLTZ

© Scoop Media