Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary,

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

UNCLAS ADANA 0250

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,
SEPTEMBER 24, 2003

1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary
for September 24, 2003. 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, SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS

2. Bolge, Zaman / Adana Social Security Hospital
pediatrician S. C. Tuysuz is accused of
accepting 70,000,000 TL (Editor's Note:
approximately 50 USD) from his patient. Police
detained the pediatrician. (Editor's Note: This
is another separate case involving a different
doctor and hospital than the one recently
reported).

3. Bolge, Zaman / Adana Democratic People's Party
(DEHAP) members organized a sit down protest in
front of their party building. DEHAP Party
spokesman stated that they do not approve of
the detention of DEHAP head Tuncer Bakirhan for
attending a concert in Germany.

4. Evrensel / Salih Alan, a Catak village guard
who lives in Van, committed suicide in his
house a day before the start of military
operations in which he was to participate.

5. Evrensel / Human Rights Organization (HRO)
investigated the death of six people in the
recent flooding in Mus. Attorney Mensur Isik
stated that the six had returned to their
villages under the protection of the "Home
Return" law, but were left alone and forced to
live in plastic tents. Isik accused the
government of being responsible for these
deaths.

6. Ekspres / In his statement to police, Oktay
Uzun claims Umit Ozgumus, head of Adana Chamber
of Industry, recruited and hired him to assault
Kemal Kucuk, a newspaper reporter. Kucuk's
nose was broken during the assault that took
place about a week ago.

ECONOMIC

7. Tercuman, Cumhuriyet / Ismet Ciris, an Izmir
investor, opened a textile factory and shopping
center in Van employing 450 people. Ciris's
attempt is expected to encourage other
businessmen to invest in the Southeast.
REID

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