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Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary for September 13, 2006

Published: Wed 13 Sep 2006 12:55 PM
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SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER 13, 2006
This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for September 13,
2006. 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: A bomb with a mobile device was remotely detonated
yesterday at around 9 p.m. in Baglar quarter of Diyarbakir.
Five people were killed instantly. The death toll reached 10
after the wounded people were hospitalized. Seven of those
killed were children. Thirteen people were wounded. The blast
created a hole with a half-meter depth. Windows of the
buildings around the site of the incident were all broken.
Diyarbak?r Mayor Osman Baydemir branded the incident, which
targeted the civilians, as a provocation, and an attempt to
sabotage efforts launched for attaining peace.
OZGUR GUNDEM / EVRENSEL: EMEP (Party of Labor), ODP
(Liberty and Solidarity Party), SDP (Socialist Democracy Party),
IHD (Human Rights Association) and Mazlum-Der (Solidarity
Association for Oppressed People) extended support to the call
of DTP made for PKK to declare a unilateral cease-fire.
EVRENSEL: Alaadin Dincer, National Chairperson of Egitim-Sen
(Teacher's Union) paid a visit to Ahmet Turk, Chairperson of
DTP. Dincer solicited support for Egitim-Sen's campaign
launched in order for the government to allocate more funding
for education. During the visit, journalists asked Ahmet Turk,
"What were the reactions you received pursuant to you call for
cease-fire?" Turk said that he sincerely hoped that call would
be evaluated and receive a positive response. According to
Turk, a new phase should be started for peace and everybody in
all sections of society must pay attention to his call for a
cease-fire.
HURRIYET: It is reported that the PKK terrorist organization
might declare a unilateral cease-fire in the coming days.
Unnamed sources said that PKK never responded negatively to the
calls made by DTP.
EVRENSEL: Three people, including the former mayor of
Kayapinar district (from former DEHAP) in Diyarbakir, were
allegedly attacked by ten village guards and hit by the butt of
the guards' guns in Diyarbakir's Kulp district.
OZGUR GUNDEM: Military operations by the Turkish Armed
Forces, which were started in rural sections of Diyarbakir and
Bingol, have reportedly been continuing. Meanwhile, an
explosion took place as a cargo train was passing through a
section of Bingol's Genc district. Three cars of the train were
damaged.
OZGUR GUNDEM / HURRIYET: European Parliament Deputy
Feleknas Uca and a group of other parliamentarians made a press
announcement and declared results of the referendum called "I
accept Abdullah Ocalan as representative of political will" at
the European Parliament. Reportedly, 3,243,000 people signed
and acknowledged the statement.
RADIKAL: According to the daily, people representing the PKK
in Europe were among the organizers of the announcement held at
the European Parliament for Abdullah Ocalan. PKK was able to
defend terrorism with this press event opportunity, according to
Radikal daily.
EVRENSEL: Ilan Berman, Vice-Chairperson of the American
Foreign Policy Council, which is a think-tank group in the U.S.,
said that if the U.S. did not extend support to Turkey in its
fight against the PKK, Turkey would seek Iran's support in
countering the PKK terrorism. According to Berman, Turkey had
not been able to get the support it wanted from the U.S., to
date.
EKSPRES: Tacidar Seyhan, Adana deputy from CHP, paid a visit
to the local Ekpres daily's premises. During his visit, Seyhan
fired criticism at the AKP government. According to Seyhan, AKP
is losing power day by day and running the government
ineffectively. Seyhan also said that PKK was gaining power and
was getting to be a strong threat in northern Iraq while the
government was committing itself to appointing a coordinator for
issues about PKK.
SABAH (GUNEY): Chairperson of Mersin Chamber of Commerce and
ADANA 00000201 002 OF 002
Industry said that newly launched hydrofoil trips between port
of Mersin and Syria's Lazkiye district invigorated the city's
tourism and its commercial development.
EKSPRES / BOLGE: European Information Bureau of Adana's Chamber
of Commerce will offer a training called "Latest Applications in
the Foreign Trade - Certified Foreign Trade Training" to address
shortage of qualified employees in the foreign trade sector.
BOLGE: Cheaper shoes imported from China have reportedly
been adversely affecting the businesses of people in the shoe
manufacturing sector.
SABAH (GUNEY) / BOLGE / OZGUR GUNDEM: Twenty-five people
have been arrested in Adana for establishing a criminal ring and
conducting criminal activities such as kidnapping,
drug-trafficking, blackmailing etc. Seven pistols, one
automatic hunter's gun, masks, and drugs were found with the
people.
HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): Van Police received a tip-off and found
2.7 tons of acid anhydride, which constitutes a raw material for
production of heroin, in a truck that set off from Van.
GREEN
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