Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary, December 10, 2002

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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0411

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, DECEMBER 10, 2002

1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for
December 10, 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. CONTINUED PRO-OCALAN DEMONSTRATIONS
(Evrensel) Isolation of PKK (KADEK) leader Abdullah Ocalan
was protested in Diyarbakir and Batman. In Diyarbakir, a
group of youths gathered in front of the Church of Saint
Mary and marched by displaying the KADEK flag and shouting
pro-Ocalan slogans. Residents gave support by applauding.
The youths said they would increase their demonstrations
between December 15 and February 15. In Batman, similar
protest demonstrations were held in eleven different
locations.

3. ADANA BAR ASSOCIATION WILL HELP HUMAN RIGHTS VICTIMS
(Milliyet/Bolge/Milli Gazete/Evrensel) Attorney Ismail
Arisoy, in charge of the Human Rights Commission of the
Adana Bar Association, encouraged victims of human rights
violations to apply to his commission. Speaking at a
meeting to mark Human Rights Week, Arisoy said the
commission had been formed to come up with concrete
solutions to human rights abuses, in collaboration with
other organizations and institutions.

4. OFFICER TO PAY REPARATIONS FOR INSULTING A SUBORDINATE
(Radikal/Sabah) The Military Supreme Administrative Court
(MSAC) ordered a first lieutenant to pay second lieutenant
Kemal Vuraldogan TL 300 million (approx. USD 190) in
reparations for insulting him. Vuraldogan served his
compulsory military duty at the 9th Main Jet Base Command
(in Diyarbakir) in 2000. MSAC's verdict stemmed from
Vuraldogan's filing suit against the first lieutenant.

5. WORKERS DISMISSED FOR PARTICIPATION IN DEHAP RALLY
(Evrensel) Eleven cleaning workers at the Pervari (Siirt)
Regional Boarding School were reportedly dismissed on
November 28 for participating in the November 3 rally of
the Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) in Pervari. The
workers filed suit against the school principal for firing
and insulting them. The principal re-hired six of the
workers when they withdrew their complaints. The remaining
five workers said they would petition the Administrative
Court as the Prosecutor's Office had decided not to pursue
the case.

6. WARNING AGAINST NON-TURKISH BUSINESS NAMES
(Turkiye) The Malatya Governor's Office sent an order to
the Malatya Municipality warning against non-Turkish names
given to places of business. "English is being taught even
in kindergartens. We are not against English, but it
should not precede Turkish," Governor Mustafa Yildirim
said.

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

7. PHYSICIANS FOR PEACE DONATES USD 110,000 TO DICLE U.
(Turkiye) Physicians For Peace Foundation, headquartered
in the U.S., donated USD 110,000 to the Prosthesis Center
at Diyarbakir's Dicle University. The foundation has thus
far provided the center with USD 440,000 worth of
assistance. The "Cad/Cam remote measurement taking system"
seminar was held to introduce studies carried out at the
Prosthesis Center. Dicle University Rector Fikri Canoruc,
U.S. Interplast Turkey Representatives Dr. David Young, Ron
Hopkings and John Burger, Turkish Interplast Association
President Prof. Namik Kemal Baran and representatives from
other universities attended the seminar.

8. WATER LEVEL RISES IN SOUTHEASTERN DAMS
(Evrensel) Officials from the Electricity Production
Corporation and the State Water Works (DSI) said the level
of water in the reservoirs behind the Keban (Elazig),
Karakaya (Diyarbakir) and Ataturk (Sanliurfa) Dams had
risen to their highest levels over the past five years.
"With rainfall over the first eleven months of the year,
Ataturk, Karakaya and Keban are experiencing their golden
year," they commented.
HOLTZ

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