Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary August 16, 2004

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

UNCLAS ADANA 000102

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM IZ TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY AUGUST 16, 2004

This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for August 16,
2004. 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
CUMHURIYET, ZAMAN, EVRENSEL, TURKIYE, BOLGE: A report by the
Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crimes Department of National
Police General Directorate revealed that arms smuggling, which
had declined after 2000, has increased anew due to Coalition
Forces' invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the vacuum of authority in
Northern Iraq. According to the report, 2,993 persons involved
in arms smuggling were arrested, and 2,795 pistols and 319
long-barreled weapons were seized in the past five years.
CUMHURIYET, YENI SAFAK, MILLI GAZETE: Labor Party Chairman Dogu
Perincek claimed that the "Religions and Cultures Park Project"
to be implemented in Sanliurfa aimed at the "Judaization" of the
region. Perincek said Israel has agreed to pay $20 million to
the project provided a synagogue was included in it. The Current
Justice and Development Party Mayor of Sanliurfa is also
supporting the project. Perincek added that the project would
become the site of Jewish and Christian missionaries'
activities. Perincek said "This project forms the cultural leg
of the United States' Broader Middle East Initiative. The US
wants to make the Kurdish populated-Urfa and Kurds its
collaborators."
ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM: 101 students, 62 male and 39 female,
enrolled at the Diyarbakir Private Kurdish Language School in
one day prior to its official opening on August 22. The courses
will start on September 1, World Peace Day.
ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM, EVRENSEL: In Cizre, Sirnak province, Ferhat
Erincik (10), and Magdur Erincik (9) were killed when they
played with what was allegedly a military rocket shell they
found in the Konak Quarter of the town yesterday.
ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM, EVRENSEL: PKK guerillas attacked the
Basakci Jandarma Station in Tunceli on August 15, wounding one
soldier. A sound bomb placed in the Business Center owned by the
Tunceli Municipality caused material damages. No casualties have
been reported. Police detonated a suspicious parcel placed at
Mameki Bridge, right at the entrance of Tunceli.
ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM: The Van Migrant Association, VMA, formed a
"Legal Commission" to assist individuals who would apply for
benefits from the recently passed "Compensation of Losses
Stemming from Anti-terror Struggle" law. VMA demanded that the
maximum amount of indemnity determined by law be raised from 12
billion Turkish Liras (approximately $8,300) to 50 billion
Turkish Liras (approximately $33,500) per case. 384 persons have
applied to VMA's Legal Commission, and VMA officials attributed
the high number of applicants to the fact that some lawyers were
demanding up to 25 % of the indemnities for legal services they
would provide. A similar commission has been set up at Mardin's
Human Rights Association, as well.
EVRENSEL: The Diyarbakir Human Rights Association's President,
Attorney Selahattin Demirtas, announced that 30-40 houses in
Germav village of Beytussebab, Sirnak province, were evacuated
for security reasons on orders from the Regiment Commander. The
Beytussebab Mayor Faik Dursun confirmed the eviction and added
that the evacuees were living in tents and plastic shelters
under very tough conditions.

REID

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