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Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary for March 7, 2007

Published: Thu 8 Mar 2007 10:43 AM
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SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MARCH 7, 2007
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for March 7,
2007. 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
2. EKSPRES / SABAH (GUNEY) / BOLGE / EVRENSEL / ZAMAN /
RADIKAL: Kahramanmaras Governor Ilhan Atis, who has been
assigned to the governor's position in Adana through a decree
that reshuffled governors, said, 'if my new position in Adana is
being seen as a promotion, that I should have earned through
working with the courage that Kahramanmaras people instituted me
with. My happiness is only because I am not going to a far away
place.' Adana Governor Cahit Kirac has been assigned as the new
Izmir Governor. Former Izmir Governor has been assigned as the
National Security Director.
3. GUNDEM: Sezgin Tanrikulu, Chairperson of Diyarbakir
Bar Association, said that authorities must open the doors of
the Imrali Prison, where Abdullah Ocalan is being kept, to an
independent commission of doctors. DTP welcomed the decision of
the government to send three doctors to Imrali to take samples
from Ocalan, but regarded Justice Minister's remarks that
allegations about the poisoning of Ocalan would be soon refuted
as unfortunate since those remarks were exerting pressure on the
three-doctor delegation. 300 people, including members of
several civil society associations, unions and DTP members
gathered in Tunceli to hold a press announcement upon remarks
made by Justice Minister about the health condition of Abdullah
Ocalan (see press summary for March 6). Thousands of women are
reportedly continuing their March 8 Women's Day activities in
Sirnak and the women are reportedly pointing out the health
condition of Ocalan. The daily reports some people as hurling
Molotov cocktails at non-passenger train cars in Mersin and
Istanbul and causing small fires and material damage, to protest
the alleged poisoning of Ocalan.
4. ZAMAN / GUNDEM: The dailies report that hair and skin
samples taken from Ocalan were sent to Istanbul Forensic
Authority for further examination.
5. RADIKAL / ZAMAN / GUNDEM: A Diyarbakir court sentenced
Ahmet Turk, National Chirperson of DTP, to six months in prison
for using a courtesy title before the name of Ocalan during a
speech he delivered at a meeting with mayors from DTP on January
18, 2006.
6. GUNDEM: Subgovernor's Office in Sanliurfa's Halfeti
district overturned the application of the local newroz
committee requesting authorization to conduct local celebrations
on grounds that the application document included a non-Turkish
alphabetical character, which is 'w'. DTP distict chairperson
of Halfeti said that they changed the text of the document and
reapplied to hold celebrations in the district.
7. GUNDEM: DTP Siirt provincial party organization will
send an invitation to PM Erdogan for the Newroz celebrations in
Siirt. The Newroz committee will reportedly soon apply to
governor's office to get permission for celebratory activities.
CRIME / LAW ENFORCEMENT
8. GUNDEM: Four of the six people, who were detained on
March 4 for allegedly holding a protest over news about Abdullah
Ocalan's health in Diyarbakir's Ergani district, were arrested
after being arraigned on charges that they violated the Law on
Holding Demonstrations and Gatherings. Meanwhile, two persons,
deputy district chairperson of DTP and members of DTP's youth
branches in Hakkari's Yuksekova district, were detained on
unspecified grounds.
9. SABAH (GUNEY) / HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): Hakkari police
unveiled a drug network in Hakkari and seized 28 kilograms of
heroin which the dealers intended to market in the European
countries.
10. SABAH (GUNEY): Sirnak police seized 19,746 liters of
smuggled fuel oil in the last one month in Sirnak's Cizre
district. Along with fuel oil, police also seized large amounts
of smuggled cigarettes, tea, cigars and tobacco. Five persons
have been detained.
11. SABAH (GUNEY): As a result of the efforts of the
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Kahramanmaras police, three alcohol and historical artifact
smugglers were caught in operations conducted simultaneously at
separate districts.
12. HURRIYET (CUKUROVA) / ZAMAN: Seyhan Municipality police
in Adana cracked down on counterfeiters and seized 1 tons of
detergents that copied brand-names and are ready to be offered
for sale.
ECONOMY
13. SABAH (GUNEY): Hatay's Antakya and Iskenderun districts
will also extend support to Mersin's "2nd Animal Breeding Fair,"
and, "Food, Food Technologies and Packaging Fair."
14. SABAH (GUNEY): TOBB (Turkish Union of Chambers and
Commodity Exchange) is going to build an international transit
customs gate at the border area with Syria in Mardin's Nusaybin
district. The gate will be an alternative to the Habur Border
Gate in Sirnak. 2500 vehicles will be processed at the gate on
a daily basis. TOBB will invest 20-25 million dollars to
de-mine the area where the border gate will be constructed.
CULTURE / SOCIETY / ENVIRONMENT
15. HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): Cukurova University rector said
that a helicopter landing platform will be built south of
university's Balcali Hospital in Adana. The platform will be
useful in making the hospital more effective during a possible
disaster in the area.
16. HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): ANAP (Motherland Party) Adana
provincial chairperson Necati Erdem pointed out that the overall
crime rate in Turkey soared in 2006 and the streets of big
cities have become unsafe places for people. Erdem pointed out
that the crime rate should in fact be higher because most of the
people are not reporting crimes because of their distrust of the
police.
17. GUNDEM: Istanbul Kurdish Association Institute awarded
Abdullah Demirbas, Mayor of Sur Municipality in Diyarbakir, with
a prize for his efforts in developing the Kurdish language.
Meanwhile, the daily reports that senior officials of DTP
Diyarbakir party organization paid visits to Mayor Demirbas to
extend support to him following the Ministry of Interior's file
lodged with the Council of State to dismiss Demirbas and
municipality assembly members from their positions reportedly on
grounds that they undertook efforts to promote a multi-language
environment.
18. ZAMAN: Following Batman province, which has
increasing suicide rates, the daily reports that the suicide
rate in Diyarbakir's Bismil district has also increased.
GREEN
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