Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary, October 15, 2004

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

UNCLAS ADANA 000139

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM IZ TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, OCTOBER 15, 2004

This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for October 15,
2004. 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

MILLIYET/SABAH/RADIKAL/TURKIYE/EVRENSEL/TERCU MAN/YENI SAFAK:
Former DEP Deputy Leyla Zana, during her visit to Brussels as
the guest of the European Parliament (EP), objected to the
European Commission's Report calling the Kurds a minority. Zana
said, "Kurds are not a minority but a member of the majority.
This definition has hurt us a lot." Zana said Kurdish and
Turkish people needed a new constitution, which would consider
them as equal people. Zana added that the armed persons in the
mountains should be reintegrated into society, and that
applications such as the Compensation Law hurt the honor of the
Kurdish people. She added that the EU was a bridge between Turks
and Kurds, and that Turkey should be accepted as a member of the
European Union.

CUMHURIYET: As a result of an explosion of a remote-controlled
mine planted by PKK/Kongra-Gel militants on a road in Yuksekova,
Hakkari province, two soldiers were wounded and some military
vehicles were damaged.

CUMHURIYET/TURKIYE: The Elazig Governorate announced that as a
result of GOT forces' operations in Istanbul, Tunceli, and
Elazig provinces, nine persons allegedly trying to plan bomb
attacks in Elazig and other major towns were detained. GOT
forces seized 7 kilograms of C-4 explosive, and 20 electrical
percussion caps in places indicated by the detainees.

TURKIYE/BOLGE/EKSPRES: Attorney Ismet Altug has been elected as
the President of the Adana Bar Association at the election held
on October 10, 2004.

ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM: Based on information provided by a Heze
Parastina Gel (HPG-People Protection Forces) member, who
surrendered to the GOT forces a few days ago, the Nusaybin and
Midyat Jandarma Commands, Mardin province, launched a joint
operation in the rural Doganli, Goruntepe, Cali, and Habise
regions. A number of HPG shelters in the region were discovered
by GOT forces.

ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM: Twenty-seven "Human Shield Initiative"
members from Adana and Mersin set up tents in the Kato Mountain,
Hakkari province, aiming to stop likely military operations in
the region. Thirty persons from the Mardin "Human Shield
Initiative" will go to Cudi Mountain for the same purpose.

REID

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