This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ADANA 000179
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR OCTOBER 11, 2005
This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for October 11,
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 / RADIKAL: Resit Yardimci, DEHAP Sanliurfa
Provincial Chairperson, has been sentenced to 6 months in prison
and a fine of 1,640 New Turkish Liras for attempting to speak in
Kurdish at a party congress in June 2003.
RADIKAL / SABAH / CUMHURIYET / ZAMAN / OZGUR GUNDEM: Alleged
PKK/Kongra-Gel terrorists, who disguised themselves in soldiers'
uniforms, stopped the flow of traffic in Sirnak. When one of
the passengers on the road said that he was a police officer,
the terrorists kidnapped him. Meanwhile, security forces
launched a large-scale operation against 350 terrorists who
reportedly slipped from Iraq into the Tunceli province.
Sporadic clashes have occurred in separate places in Tunceli.
Three alleged PKK terrorists were killed in a clash in Tunceli,
reported the Tunceli Governor's Office. Separately, three
soldiers were wounded when their car hit a mine in Bingol's
Yayladere district.
CUMHURIYET / ZAMAN / OZGUR GUNDEM: Hamit Ergin, a mayor, who
had been serving his term outside his district in Diyarbakir
because of a security threat against him, has returned to his
place of office. The Diyarbakir Governor's Office assigned a
police escort of 15 cars and guards for Ergin.
ZAMAN: Orhan Dogan, a former DEP (Democracy Party) deputy,
applied to the court on August 18 to solicit clarification of
his legal status. Ankara's Heavy Penalty Court responded that
he was still banned from political life. This decision will
reportedly set an example for the cases of Leyla Zana and Hatip
Dicle, blocking any chance of them becoming national leaders in
the DTH (Democratic Society Movement).
OZGUR GUNDEM: Pro-Ocalan demonstrators staged demonstrations
in Adana, Mersin and Van yesterday. When the protestors set
fires and blocked traffic on a road in Adana, the police
intervened with armored vehicles. The demonstrators retaliated
with Molotov cocktails. The police blockaded the area.
OZGUR GUNDEM: The European Council's Committee of Delegates
will discuss the issue of Abdullah Ocalan tomorrow.
OZGUR GUNDEM: Turkey is reportedly embarking on efforts to
legislate a draft law that aims to set up counter information
measures to fight against terrorism in the international arena.
OZGUR GUNDEM: The paper quoted remarks from Newsweek
alleging that the U.S. was conducting studies in areas in
Northern Iraq, which are under the control of the Kurds, in
preparations for building U.S. military bases there.
REID