This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ADANA 0233
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,
SEPTEMBER 04, 2003
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary
for September 04, 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. Hurriyet/Turkiye/Bolge: The two female
PKK/KADEK militants who deserted their
organization in Iran and surrendered to the
security forces were released to their families
after the conclusion of their initial
interrogation in Yuksekova, Hakkari province.
The girls apologized to their families and
promised that they would never make such
mistakes again.
3. Evrensel: Murat Yanarer, from Golagili village
of Malazgirt, Mus province, said he migrated to
Mersin after his house was set on fire in 1994.
He claimed that his house, land, and shops in
Malazgirt were confiscated by the village guards.
Yanarer said he applied to the authorities to
return to his village several times, most recently
on August 20, 2003, but received no affirmative
responses to his petitions. He said he would take
the case to the European Human Rights Court if he
did not get his property back from the village
guards.
EDUCATION
4. Cumhuriyet/Turkiye: A joint study by UNICEF and
Turkish National education revealed that one-
eighth of the girls in Turkey are not sent to
schools at all. Many shortcomings have been
reported from East and Southeast Turkey before
the academic year starts on September 15. It is
reported that in Diyarbakir alone at least 200
classrooms and 7500 teachers are needed. The
ratio of the girls deprived of any education is
even greater in East and Southeast Turkey.
Approximately one-third of the girls deprived
of education in those regions. The number of
girls aged six to fourteen and who have not
enjoyed any education in Diyarbakir, Bitlis,
Batman, Agri, Hakkari, Mus, Sanliurfa, Siirt,
and Sirnak provinces reaches 250,000. A "Hurry
up, Girls to School" campaign initiated by
UNICEF aims to reduce the ratio of uneducated
girls by half. Regarding the issue, UNICEF's
Representative for Turkey, Edmond Mcloughney,
said all segments of the population,
particularly the media, had to take part in
that activity.
5. Sabah's Guney Supplement: The existing capacity
of the schools in Adana do not meet the demand
since no new classrooms have been built. The
Provincial National Education Director of
Adana, Omer Simsek, said they had 57 students
per classroom in Yuregir district and 69
students in Seyhan district of Adana. He added
that they needed 5,000 more classrooms in order
to have thirty students per classroom, which is
required for a normal education. The state is
expecting assistance from charitable
organizations to fill the gap for the schools.
REID