VZCZCXRO6432
RR RUEHDA
DE RUEHDA #0119 2840642
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 110642Z OCT 07
FM AMCONSUL ADANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4619
INFO RUEUITH/AFOSI DET 521 ANKARA TU
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1162
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1005
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/AFOSI DET 522 INCIRLIK AB TU
RUETIAA/DIRNSA FT MEADE MD
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 1222
UNCLAS ADANA 000119
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR OCTOBER 10, 2007
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for October
10, 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 / ZAMAN: The Adana Governor, Adana Mayor, several
district mayors, several Adana deputies, Cukurova Journalists
Association in Adana condemned the October 7 PKK attack in
Sirnak martyring 13 Turkish soldiers, through messages issued on
local dailies. Adana Chamber of Commerce suggested that people
hang Turkish flags at heir houses till the end of Ramazan as a
way to condemn terrorism. Zaman daily reports that the Seyhan
Mayor decided to keep a low-profile in their efforts to
celebrate Ramazan in Adana because of the martyring of Turkish
soldiers. Meanwhile, RTUK (Higher Board of Radio and
Television) made a call to television stations to be more
sensitive about airing entertainment programs during a time of
sorrow and mourning.
3. BOLGE / HURRIYET ONLINE / ZAMAN: A DTP delegation
comprised of DTP Siirt deputy, DTP Sanliurfa deputy, two DTP
chief executive board members who came to Adana to meet with
Adana Provincial Jandarma Commander were told that the commander
would not be available to meet them. The deputies came to
Adana following detention of five DTP district mayors (from
Diyarbakir's Baglar district, Sirnak's Silopi district, Mardin's
Kiziltepe district, Sanliurfa's Viransehir district, Adana's
Kucukdikili district), two municipality assembly members, DTP
Adana Provincial Chairperson and Chairperson of Adana Chapter of
Human Rights Association in Adana yesterday afternoon. DTP
Adana Provincial Chairperson and Chairperson of Adana Chapter of
Human Rights Association were released a while later. The
detention grounds were that the detainees held an unauthorized
protest against apprehension of a DTP mayor of a township in
Yuregir district of Adana who is also the niece of Abdullah
Ocalan. The deputies who could not meet the commander decided to
follow the arraignment process of the deputies at the court hall
of Adana.
4. EVRENSEL: DTP Kayapinar Vice-District Chairperson
Husniye Duzel in Diyarbakir was detained yesterday on reported
grounds that he attended a pro-Ocalan press conference on
September 30 in Diyarbakir's Baglar district. Separately, the
daily notes that anonymous persons threw stones at the DTP party
building in Iskenderun district of Hatay and broke all the
windows.
SECURITY
5. HURRIYET ONLINE / ZAMAN: Turkish Armed Forces stepped
up military operations in the Kupeli Mountains in Sirnak where
the PKK ambushed and martyred 13 soldiers on Sunday (10/7). The
operations have been intensified especially in sections of
Gabar, Cudi, and Kato mountains in Sirnak, Siirt and Hakkari in
a bid to block the passage terrorists use and to uncover their
shelters where vital supplies are being kept.
6. ZAMAN: Four PKK members were reportedly caught and
apprehended in Adana. The PKK members took part in a pro-PKK
protest in a section of the province a while ago and they
reportedly damaged four cars with flammable chemicals.
CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
7. HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): Sanliurfa police found 14
kilograms of hashish in a car they searched in the province.
CULTURE / SOCIETY / ENVIRONMENT
8. HURRIYET ONLINE: Four American soldiers, who were
returning from vacation in Antalya, were wounded when their car
had an accident and rolled over. The accident took place
yesterday night near Anamur district of Mersin. Because of
speeding, the driver, Wooten Daniel (26), lost control of the
car as he was turning a bend. The driver along with three other
persons in the car, namely Houddleston David (21), Ray Antonio
Reyes (24) and Cofey Lillec (22), were wounded.
9. HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): The Women's Basketball Cup
organized by BOTAS basketball team started yesterday in Adana.
The sports event will last three days.
GREEN