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 SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0273
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,
OCTOBER 18-20, 2003
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary
for October 18-20, 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. Vakit / According to research conducted by the
Sanliurfa Municipality Press Department in
Siverek, about 2,000 children in Siverek do not
have birth certificates or any other kind of
legal documentation to confirm their identity.
3. Evrensel, Cumhuriyet / A statue of Pir Sultan
Abdal, who was a famous poet,folk singer, and
peacemaker, was dedicated in Tunceli. Three
thousand people were in attendance.
4. Evrensel, Ozgur Gundem / In Eruh, Siirt
province, three people allegedly introducing
themselves as PKK-KADEK members, came to the
Gulgornu village and asked for food. They also
wanted the villagers to act as village guards
to help protect them. Villagers reportedly
became distressed about the incident.
According to Ozgur Gundem, the three people
were "fake" guerillas, possibly investigating
PKK sympathizers.
5. Turkiye / A terrorist escaped from Kandil
Mountain and applied to Turkish officials in
Sirnak to benefit from the "reintegration" law.
6. Zaman / According to the reports of the
National Intelligence Office (MIT) and National
Security Office, there are 3,000 foreign
(secret) agents from 40 different countries in
the southeast Turkey. Turkish officials
expelled thirteen of these agents. According
to the reports, these agents are instigating
the separatist issues in the area. (Editor's
Note: The article doesn't state where or when
the agents were expelled.)
7. Turkiye, Ozgur Gundem / Ramazan Demir (75), who
was shot by Turkish security forces, believing
him to be a terrorist, died in Diyarbakir Dicle
University Hospital at the weekend. He was
wounded during the attack on Kovali Village,
Derik, Mardin on October 13. According to
Ozgur Gundem, a large number of people attended
Demir's funeral and shouted, "We are Apo fans,"
and "we don't regret."
8. Yeni Safak / The case of six people, including
a high school manager and 2 teachers,
previously detained and released, commenced in
Mus. The Turkish Jandarma forces are accused
of torturing them during their detention.
9. Turkiye / A PKK/KADEK terrorist was found dead
in Dicle, Diyarbakir province. Security forces
found 1 Kalashnikov rifle, 50 bullets, 2
grenades and a pair of binoculars with the
terrorist.
10. Turkiye / In Nizip, Gaziantep province,
Jandarma found 10 kg of marijuana and detained
3 people for the incident.
11. Turkiye / Petroleum Pipeline Corporation
(BOTAS) pipeline in Demiryolu village, Batman
province was the target of the thieves who
stole some crude oil and escaped. The
investigation still continues.
12. Ozgur Gundem / PKK/KADEK attacked a Turkish
Army helicopter in Kirkpinar, Dicle, Diyarbakir
province and killed 7 soldiers and a KADEK
member.
13. Ozgur Gundem / In Barbaros district, Adana,
police collected white "peace" flags from the
shop windows prepared by the Democratic
People's Party (DEHAP). In Diyarbakir, Ramazan
Dengiz, Diyarbakir head of DEHAP, is being
investigated for putting up a white flag on the
DEHAP party building.
REID