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Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary September 30, 2004

Published: Mon 4 Oct 2004 06:51 AM
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 000131
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM IZ TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY SEPTEMBER 30, 2004
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for
September 30, 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
2. ZAMAN/MILLIYET: Human rights activists frequently
interrupted the speech of US Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman
at the "Symposium on New Tactics in Human Rights" in Ankara.
Approximately 500 human rights activists from 100 countries
attended the symposium.
3. ZAMAN: In Iraq, PKK/Kongra Gel founded an organization
called the "Democratic Front." Thirty-eight Kurdish/Arab
political parties and non-governmental organizations attended a
meeting of the organization held in Muntansiriye, Iraq. Aiming
to bring together Kurdish organizations in Northern Iraq, the
Democratic Front will hold its first congress on October 14.
4. EKSPRES: In Adana, members of the Yuregir Jandarma Command
along with Security Directorate teams arrested Hasan Sucu and
Nazim Gokmen with 7.165 kilos of material used in making hash.
Recep A. is also wanted by security teams for assisting drug
sellers.
5. EKSPRES: A bomb placed at HSBC Bank on Ataturk Street,
Adana, exploded at 9:00 p.m. on September 29 causing material
damage and breaking windows in the surrounding buildings. No
casualties were reported. Adana Security Director Mehmet Cebe
visited the scene of the explosion and said that the
investigation was continuing. Security measures around the
American Consulate and other banks have been increased.
6. ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM: Twenty-five Human Shield Initiative
(HSI) members from Istanbul set off for the Cirav Mountain in
Siirt, along with 14 Siirt HSI members. HSI aims to bring the
military operations and clashes in the region to an end. An HSI
spokesman, Yakup Kadri Karaboga, said the group's demands were
clear: a bilateral truce, a general political amnesty, removal
of impediments to freedom of expression, compensation of war
victims, returns to evacuated villages, an end to military
operations and an end to solitary confinement for Abdullah
Ocalan.
7. ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM: Soldiers evacuated Kocanis village,
previously the only village in the Bercalan Pasture of Hakkari
province that had not been evacuated. GOT forces dropped
chemical material from helicopters and evacuated many villagers
on September 22 on the grounds that Heze Paratstina Gel (HPG -
Public Protection Forces) members had found shelter there. Many
soldiers and village guards were dispatched to the region for
the ongoing operation.
8. CUMHURIYET/TURKIYE/MILLIYET: A mine planted by
PKK/Kongra-Gel militants on the road between Bukardi and Aricak,
Elazig province, exploded right after a minibus carrying
students passed by. No casualties were reported.
9. TURKIYE/RADIKAL/MILLIYET: Sergeant Seref Dede was killed
by gunfire from the Iranian border on September 22. Two
sergeants and one private were killed in the clashes between GOT
forces and PKK/Kongra Gel militants in Pervari, Siirt province,
on September 9.
10. CUMHURIYET: Residents of the Karaduvar quarter of Mersin
filed petitions asking the Mersin Municipality to close down the
installations for operating without a license (including TUTA,
OPET, ATAS, Petrol Ofisi, GS Petroleum, and Shell Gaz
companies), and for "being detrimental to environment and
society." The residents are getting ready to press charges
against those companies at the European Human Rights Court for
"violating the right to life."
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
11. MILLIYET: Thirteen sheep and four calves died from
foot-and-mouth disease in Ulubatli and Mutlu quarters of Adana.
No animal transportation was allowed in the area, which was put
under quarantine right after the incident. The area was
disinfected, and sheep and cattle in those quarters were given
shots against foot-and-mouth disease. The Adana Governors Office
announced that no animals had become sick or died since the
measures were taken.
12. CUKUROVA HURRIYET: GAPFOOD 2004 Fair was held in Gaziantep
from September 23-26. Gaziantep will also host the MOTEKS 2004
5th Fashion and the GATEMAK 2004 Textile Machinery Fairs from
September 29 through October 3. One hundred forty companies will
open stands at the fairs.
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