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 ADANA 0199

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY
JULY 22, 2003

1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary
for July 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

2. Evrensel / Friction between the villagers
and Gendarme still continues in Bozova,
Urfa. Villagers claim that gendarme
collected about 10 boys from the village
school and asked where the villagers keep
their guns. When boys didn't answer they
beat the boys. Some boys claimed that
their noses were broken after the incident.
According to the newspaper the incident
started on June 15 during a wedding
ceremony. Gendarme heard the villagers
firing their guns "for fun" during the
ceremony. They came to the village and
wanted the villagers to hand their guns in.
Most of the guns were unauthorized.
Villagers objected and extra gendarme
forces came for support. About 30
villagers were taken to the nearest
gendarme station. Five of the villagers
were arrested for keeping unauthorized guns
and five of them were arrested for fighting
with the gendarme. On July 10 gendarme had
come to the village to search for more
guns. Ahmet Faruk Onsal from AKP, and
Huseyin Bayindir from CHP, Human Rights
Commission Members of the Parliament, are
leading the investigation.

3. Gunaydin, Bolge, Milliyet / Thirty students
from different countries are having a
summer camp at Cukurova University.
International University Students
Organization arranges this program.
Students take Turkish courses, see the
historical places in the region and have
fun. Camp ends on July 28.

4. Gunaydin / Forty-five students from
different towns of Turkey are having a
summer camp in Adiyaman. Students say they
weren't expecting such a wonderful
historical beauty in Adiyaman and they will
come for visits again.

5. Hurriyet, Bolge, / In Adana, Yusuf
Gullerden (50) injured his 7 year old
adopted disabled girl with a knife. Mother
Rabia Gullerden complained about her
husband and asked for support from the
government officials.
HART

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