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Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary for April 21, 2005

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 000086

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR APRIL 21, 2005


This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for April 21,
2005. 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
RADIKAL/BOLGE/SAFAK/ZAMAN/EVRENSEL/HURRIYET/S ABAH/ULKEDE OZGUR
GUNDEM/CUMHURIYET: At the Turkish War Academy Graduation
Ceremony yesterday the Head of the Turkish General Staff,
General Hilmi Ozkok, expressed his views concerning PKK;
reactionary movements; Armenia; Turkish-EU and Tukish-American
relations; and Turkey's being perceived as a moderate Islamic
country. Regarding the PKK, General Ozkok said it had become a
third power in northern Iraq and that he considered the US-Iraqi
forces' not launching an operation against it meaningful. He
said the PKK has been trying to influence public opinion about
discussing Article Three of the Turkish Constitution with the
goal of harming the unitary structure of Turkey, and that such
an effort would cause clashes. General Ozkok added that PKK was
trying to dictate its demands through the European Union under
the name of cultural rights. General Ozkok said that reactionary
movements that couldn't change the state's features have been
trying to give the image that they wish reconciliation with
people and the state, and have been manipulating the public with
devices such as the media.
RADIKAL/ZAMAN/EVRENSEL/HURRIYET/ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM/CUMHURIYET:
Papers report the duration of the decree that allows use of
Incirlik Airbase for humanitarian operations in Iraq and
Afghanistan per the United Nations' decision has been extended
for one year.
RADIKAL/ZAMAN/ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM: Nine DEHAP (Democratic
Peoples Party) mayors from the southeast, including Diyarbakir
Mayor Osman Baydemir, met with newspaper and TV-station
representatives in Ankara yesterday. Mayor Baydemir said that a
more dramatic and tragic situation could be faced if the Kurdish
issue remained unsolved. He added that there was not a
Turkish-Kurdish fight at the moment and that the Turkish flag
belonged to everybody living in Turkey. Mayor Baydemir
reportedly said a "Brotherhood Law" that would disarm the PKK
and allow members to rejoin the society should be passed.
BOLGE/EKSPRES/SABAH GUNEY SUPPLEMENT/HURRIYET CUKUROVA: The bomb
that exploded at Elektrosel company that sells fax materials in
Resatbey quarter of Adana yesterday night caused material
damages. The explosion caused panic but no casualties have been
reported.
BOLGE: The Vatican's Representative for Catholic Churches in
Anatolia, Bishop Luigi Padovese, the priest of the Adana
Catholic Church, Roberto Newinski, and the monk of the Mersin
Catholic Church, Roberto Ferrari visited Adana Mayor Aytac Durak
to get his support in solving the issue of access to rental
property surrounding the Catholic church in Adana. The Bishop
told Mayor Durak the church could not take advantage of
properties surrounding it because landlords were demanding high
rents; this was affecting visitors' ability to visit the church.
The Bishop reportedly said, "We cannot understand a cultural
property being surrounded." Mayor Durak stressed the importance
of legal status. Under the recent legal amendments, some
criteria have been accepted for cultural properties and places
of worship, he said, adding his pledge of assistance and belief
the issue would be resolved in a short time and amicable manner.
ZAMAN: The 5th Felony Court of Adana gave ten years and five
months of imprisonment to Tarkan Ince, 35, a policeman in Adana.
Five flame throwing guns had been found in Tarkan's house.
Tarkan had been detained by police a year ago on the charges of
violating the Fire Arms Law and resisting police. Tarkan stated
that he had found the guns while he was stationed in Sirnak
province and had brought them along when he was transferred to
Adana and added that he was not engaged in arms trade.
EVRENSEL/EKSPRES/SABAH GUNEY SUPPLEMENT/: The Confederation of
Alevi Associations in Europe launched a signature campaign
asking for the abolishment of the religion classes mandated by
the Constitution. The General Secretary of the Alevi/Bektashi
Federation, Atilla Erden, expressed that compulsory religion
classes violated articles 2, 4 and 10 of the Constitution and
the European Human Rights Accord. In order to remove the
religion classes from the curriculum, the Alevi/Bektashi
Federation's Adana Chapter undertook an action in front of the
Provincial National Education Directorate.
EVRENSEL: Forces from the Gelenler Jandarma Station allegedly
raided Ozpinar village of Baskale, Van province, on the grounds
that the villagers possessed smuggled oil. Women and children
threw stones at soldiers and did not allow them to search their
houses.
HURRIYET: Following the April 12 operation in the
Bestler-Dereler region of Sirnak province, in which 21 PKK
members were killed, GOT forces have reportedly engaged with PKK
elements at seven more locations. Five more PKK have reportedly
been killed during the ensuing clashes, including the PKK
terrorist in charge of the Besta region, code named Dijvar. One
Turkish First Lieutenant, two Sergeants, and one village guard
have reportedly been killed in clashes so far. Operations that
commenced in rural Silvan area of Diyarbakir the previous day
reportedly continue. The GOT forces raiding a house in Batman
allegedly arrested three persons alleged to have been preparing
to undertake actions.
ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM: The Yuksekova Public Prosecutor allegedly
initiated an investigation into 11 persons, including seven
Nevruz festivity organizers, and allegedly jailed Mesut
Karabulak and Sefik Soydan on charges of making propaganda in
favor of an outlawed organization (note: read PKK) by displaying
the "Democratic Confederalism" flag.
CUMHURIYET: Bitsy Sheer and Amy Bergman from the American Jewish
Joint Distribution Committee inspected the status of street
children in Diyarbakir and made a donation to the 75th
Anniversary Child and Youth Education Center for the
rehabilitation of the children.


REID

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