Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary, December 2, 2002

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS ADANA 0406

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, DECEMBER 2, 2002

1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for
December 2, 2002. Please note that Turkish press
reports often contain errors or exaggerations;
AmConsulate Adana does not vouch for the accuracy of
the reports summarized here.

POLITICS, SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS
--------------------------------

2. ANTI-WAR PROTESTS
(Cumhuriyet/Bolge/Evrensel) Anti-war protests called
"No to War in Iraq" and "Peace and Brotherhood
Meeting" were held in Istanbul, Izmir, Adana, Antalya,
Mersin, Adiyaman, Tunceli, Elazig, Samsun and
Eskisehir upon a call by the Ankara Human Rights
Association (HRA). Protestors shouted various anti-
war and pro-peace slogans. In Adana, a group of 1,000
protestors carried such banners as "Close Incirlik Air
Base," "No to war" and "War means hunger, poverty and
death" and shouted "Down with American Imperialism,"
"Budget to laborers, not war," "We will not become
U.S. soldiers," and "Murderer U.S. get out of the
Middle East" slogans. On behalf of the Adana Anti-War
Platform formed by 57 political parties, labor unions,
associations and professional organizations, Adana
Civil Engineers Chamber (IMO) President Sadi Surenkok,
announced a similar anti-war protest would be
organized in Adana's Ugur Mumcu Square on December 22.
Turkiye cited State Employees' Union Confederation
(KESK) Malatya Term Spokesman Hasan Kaldik as saying
the U.S.' real purpose was not to destroy weapons in
Iraq, but to seize petroleum in that country. Kaldik
called on Turkey not to give support to the U.S.'
proposed operation against Iraq.

3. DISMISSED TEACHERS INDICTED FOR SUPPORT TO PKK
(Radikal/Sabah) The Diyarbakir Prosecutor's Office
has indicted five teachers, dismissed by the National
Education Ministry for singing Kurdish-language songs
at the general congress of the Diyarbakir chapter of
the Teachers Union Egitim-Sen, for assisting and
abetting the PKK. The teachers face a possible prison
term of four to seven years each.

4. TKP-ML FUGITIVE CAPTURED
(Cumhuriyet/Evrensel) Jandarma arrested Tunceli
resident Kenan Aloglu, who escaped after conviction by
the Malatya State Security Court for "membership in
and organizational activities for the Turkish
Communist Party/Marxist-Leninist (TKP/ML) - the
Turkish Workers and Peasants' Communist Army (TIKKO)".
Aloglu was sentenced to 12 years and six months
imprisonment.

ECONOMIC AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS
--------------------------------------

5. TROUT FISHERY IN MIDYAT (MARDIN)
(Turkiye) The Southeast's largest trout fishery has
been established in Midyat (Mardin). TL 17 billion
(approx. USD 11,000) was spent for the fishery, which
has the capacity to produce 80,000 trout (per year).
The fishery, into which 40,000 trout have initially
been placed, expects to do well financially.
HOLTZ

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