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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000075
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TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MAY 29, 2007
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for May 29,
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. SABAH (GUNEY) / CUMHURIYET: Primary elections were held
in 6 provinces on May 27 to determine the candidates of CHP (see
press summary for May 25) for the May 22 parliamentary
elections. The primary elections stirred controversy and many
candidates objected to the results. Rumors are spreading that
some of the voters sold their votes in exchange for certain
benefits. In Tarsus district of Mersin, it is claimed that the
delegates held off on their election in order to first learn
about the results of the other places in Mersin: Then, through a
type of block voting, they were able to rank their two
candidates first and second on the party ticket. Sabab Guney
daily also points out some controversies stirred in the CHP
primary elections of Gaziantep: two former Gaziantep deputies
from CHP, who were not elected as candidates, expressed
frustration.
3. EKSPRES: DP party grassroots and many businessmen
reacted against Saban Bas's (Chairman of Adana Chamber of
Commerce) reported recent efforts to secure a nomination as a DP
candidate through support he reportedly obtained from Sinan
Aygun (Chairman of Ankara Chamber of Commerce). DP circles
claim that it was unethical for Bas to turn to the DP after
finding out that he would not be able to get nominated from CHP.
4. GUNDEM / CUMHURIYET: The daily reports that two
separate lawsuits were brought against DTP Adana Provincial
Chairperson Ali Arslan because of his remarks during a congress
of DTP youth branches on March 4 concerning the 8th anniversary
of Abdullah Ocalan's arrest. The speeches were carried on
pro-Kurdish Roj TV, as well. Separately, Sirnak Mayor Ahmet
Ertak (from DTP) gave his statement to the Sirnak prosecutor's
office concerning the investigation that was brought against him
and other 54 mayors (from DTP) in the southeastern province
because of their press announcement about the health condition
of Ocalan under imprisonment on an unspecified date.
Separately, a lawsuit was brought against DTP Erzincan
provincial chairperson on charges of making "propaganda of the
terrorist organization." The daily claims that the telephone of
the chairperson was tapped. Separately, following completion of
investigation process brought against former DTP Kars Provincial
Chairperson Mahmut Alinak allegedly because of the Kurdish
language posters hung at the party building during March 8
Women's Day, Kars Prosecutor's Office asked for a lawsuit in
line with the investigation to be brought against Alinak who has
recently resigned from office to run in the parliamentary
elections.
5. GUNDEM: A conference called "Democratic Unity for
Peace" was held in the municipality hall of Tunceli. Ways to
resolve the Kurdish issue were discussed during the conference.
6. CUMHURIYET: European Parliament's Turkey-EU Joint
Parliamentary Commission Co-Chairman Joost Lagendijk will visit
several provinces in the eastern and southeastern Turkey ahead
of the July 22 elections to observe the developments about
elections there.
SECURITY
7. CUMHURIYET: During a time when Turkish Armed Forces has
been carrying out military operations at the border areas with
Iran and Iraq, PKK has reportedly been avoiding conflicts with
security forces in those areas. Instead, the terrorist
organization has reportedly been intensifying efforts to send
militants and ammunition to carry out suicide missions in the
urban city centers reportedly to create chaos in the cities.
The PKK is also resorting to methods such as using mines instead
of entering into conflicts to decrease the number of their death
toll.
8. EKSPRES / BOLGE: Adana police heightened security
measures in the province and increased the number of police
patrolling the city. Checkpoints have been set up at the
entrance points from the main highway to the city. It is
reportedly noticed that the police paid attention to searching
well-dressed women and their cars during their checks because it
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was learned by the police that the recent terrorist activities
would be carried by such women (see press summary for May 25).
9. GUNDEM: Bomb squad teams were sent to MHP party
organization's building in Diyarbakir's Lice district upon
receiving a bomb threat alert. The box that was detonated
safely turned out to be empty.
10. ZAMAN: Gaziantep police reportedly caught two people
who were making preparations to carry out a bomb attack on a
police station in Gaziantep. Police reportedly found a bomb
device with a mobile phone in the vehicle of the two people
caught.
11. CUMHURIYET: A conflict broke out when security forces
encountered a group of terrorists in Tunceli's Cemisgezek
district. Two terrorists were killed.
12. CUMHURIYET / ZAMAN: Anti-terror branch of Konya Police
conducted an operation against the PKK and detained 26 people in
Konya. Twenty-three of the people detained were university
students. DTP Konya Provincial Chairperson was among the
detainees.
CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
13. SABAH (GUNEY): Karatas District Jandarma Command teams,
upon receiving a tip-off, caught 51 Iraqi nationals, who are
illegal migrants waiting to set off for Northern Cyprus with a
boat, in a beach area in Karatas district of Adana. It is found
out that the migrants paid 3000 USD each, except for the kids,
for their illegal travel.
14. CUMHURIYET: Diyarbakir Police seized 33 kilograms of
hashish in an anti-drug operation in Diyarbakir. Four of the
eight people detained have been arrested.
ECONOMY
15. SABAH (GUNEY): A record was reportedly broken with a
total of 60,000 visitors in five days at the International Iraqi
Fair in Gaziantep this year.
CULTURE / SOCIETY / ENVIRONMENT
16. GUNDEM / EVRENSEL / CUMHURIYET / ZAMAN: Two floods
caused by heavy rain in Agri and Van killed 10 people. Six of
the casualties are children.
GREEN