Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary for October 09, 2006

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TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR OCTOBER 09, 2006

This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for October 09,
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

HURRIYET: Three PKK terrorists caught in Erzurum's Karacoban
district told the prosecutor that the Karacoban district mayor
(from DTP) was allegedly helping and providing aid to them. The
mayor, for his part, said that he provided phone units and
hygiene supplies, under pressure from those terrorists.

3. HURRIYET: Diyarbakir's Security Directorate reportedly
imposed fines on the cars of the Kayapinar district municipality
on September 20. Allegedly in response, Kayapinar
Municipality, which is administered by the DTP, attempted to
close down the building of the Security Directorate on grounds
that the building lacked a residence permit. The tension which
has been going on between those two public institutions in
Diyarbakir for months has been resolved as a result of the
mediation efforts by the Governor's Office, according to the
daily.

4. OZGUR GUNDEM: Special Team members reportedly conducted
raids at many houses in a quarter of Hakkari's Yuksekova
district for unknown reasons. Meanwhile, jandarma teams caught
13 illegal aliens in a passenger car they searched in Van's
Muradiye district. Twelve of the people were Afghanis and one
of them was an Iraqi national. Those people were traveling
from Van to Istanbul.

OZGUR GUNDEM: The daily claimed that Turkish Armed Forces
Foundation website at www.tsk.org.tr has been hacked by Kurdish
hackers. The hackers reportedly wrote the following statement
on the site: "We sincerely back the cease-fire decision of the
PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan and KKK." (Note: Read KKK as the
political wing of the PKK.)

OZGUR GUNDEM: Despite the PKK's call for cease-fire, Turkish
Armed Forces have been continuing its military operations in the
region. The daily claims that one soldier died in Diyarbakir's
Lice district in one of those operations.
OZGUR GUNDEM: Many people and non-governmental organizations in
Diyarbakir, Mardin, Sirnak, Sanliurfa and Mersin gathered and
condemned the anniversary of the alleged international plot
against Abdullah Ocalan eight years ago which reportedly forced
him out of Syria on October 9, 1998.

OZGUR GUNDEM: A German sociologist, who is also a counselor for
a deputy from Democratic Socialism Party in Germany, conducting
studies in Diyarbakir, said they were hoping that the cease-fire
decision would bring permanent peace in the region. The
sociologist expressed concern over the increasing pressure on
the Kurdish politicians and DTP members.

8. BOLGE: Erkan Mumcu, National Leader of Motherland
Party, will come to Adana today to attend the opening ceremony
of party's new building in Yuregir. Mumcu will attend an iftaar
dinner later.

HUMAN RIGHTS

5. HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): For the first time in its history
a female deputy governor has been appointed to the Kahramanmaras
province.

ECONOMY

6. OZGUR GUNDEM: French daily newspaper Le Monde claimed that
Turkey was imposing an unannounced embargo on northern Iraq to
penalize the Kurds in northern Iraq who are aspiring for
independence. The daily pointed out that the number of
operations at Sirnak's Habur Border Gate has decreased
significantly as compared to the previous year.

CRIME/LAW ENFORCEMENT

7. HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): Police found 23 kilograms of
hashish in hidden sections of a small passenger bus in Bitlis.

CULTURE/SOCIETY

8. BOLGE: A new rector is going to be elected for Mersin

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University after the faculty members vote tomorrow

9. BOLGE: A fire broke out in the library of the Cukurova
University. No casualties but material damage was reported.
GREEN

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