This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ADANA 000125
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR JUNE 16, 2005
This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for June 16, 2005.
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
HURRIYET(CUKUROVA)/SABAH(GUNEY): The Mayor of Greater City of
Gaziantep said that THY (Turkish Airlines) will resume its
flights between Gaziantep and Istanbul on June 20. THY had
halted its flights between Gaziantep and Istanbul three months
ago reportedly because of the airport runway upgrading efforts
in Gaziantep, a decision which has been seriously criticized by
the people of Gaziantep to date.
BOLGE/SABAH(GUNEY): Tension was stirred when a group of
people in Adana retaliated with anti-PKK slogans against a
30-person group called the "Democratic Free Women's Movement",
attempting to make press announcement, chanting pro-PKK slogans
and carrying posters of Abdullah Ocalan, reportedly to call for
the end of the military operations (conducted against the
terrorist organization PKK). Riot police arrived, tried to
dissolve the disobeying mob, and a chase began. Some of the
protestors reportedly threw stones at the police as they were
being chased away and ran into the building where DEHAP
(Democratic People's Party) and SDP (Socialist Democracy Party)
Seyhan District Headquarters were located, continuing to throw
stones from the roof of the building. One police officer and 3
protestors were injured.
OZGUR GUNDEM: The paper reports the Adana protest (at the
second item of this summary) along with two other protest
incidents in Mardin and Van. According to the paper, the police
intervened and allegedly hit the women with truncheons in Adana
when a group of women attempted to protest the isolation of
Ocalan in Imrali prison. The protestors in Kiziltepe district
of Mardin chanted slogans saying, "Shut down Imrali prison",
''Kurdish people are not alone", "Put an end to war and
isolation". Democratic Free Women's Movement in Van staged
similar protests in Van.
SABAH (GUNEY): Mehmet Agar, National President of DYP (True
Path Party), will come to Adana today to hear about the problems
of producers and farmers in the Ceyhan district and to pay
visits to contacts in Adana.
OZGUR GUNDEM: Ten people, who were arrested before the
Newruz celebrations on March 17 in Mersin and who were being
prosecuted at the 7th Heavy Penalty Court in Adana on the
charges of "being a member of the terrorist organization," were
released.
OZGUR GUNDEM: The paper reports that 30 PKK prisoners in
Adana Jail were transferred to another (unspecified) jail
without sending prior notification to the prisoners' families.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
1. EKSPRES/BOLGE/SABAH(GUNEY): A group of farmers in Ceyhan
district of Adana, in an attempt to protest the agricultural
policies of the government, poured 2.5 tons of wheat into the
Ceyhan river. Chairperson of the Ceyhan Chamber of Agriculture
said that the farmers were not able to sell wheat even for 0.25
YTL (approximately 20 cents), reportedly a very poor return in
exchange for the work of the producers. The protest of the
farmers was organized by MHP (National Movement Party) Ceyhan
Headquarters.
REID