Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary for May 17, 2005

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

UNCLAS ADANA 000108

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MAY 17, 2005

This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for May 17, 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

CUMHURIYET / OZGUR GUNDEM / HURRIYET: Various
representatives and leaders of NGOs including the Human Rights
Association (HRA), the Diyarbakir Bar Association, and
Mazlum-Der (Association for Human Rights and Oppressed People)
assembled in front of the Mardin Courthouse to protest the
decision to move the Ugur Kaymaz/Kiziltepe case (see press summ
11/30) proceedings from Mardin to Eskisehir. Meanwhile,
Hurriyet reported earlier that Kemal Donmez, the Mardin Deputy
Security Director who conducted the operation that resulted in
the death of Ugur Kaymaz and his father, has been listed among
the managers and supervisors that were granted promotion.

OZGUR GUNDEM: Following a brief lull, Turkish security
forces and village guards started military operations again in
the Gabar Mountain of Sirnak. Local observers also report a
45-vehicle convoy heading towards Eruh district of Siirt to
conduct an operation.

ZAMAN / SABAH (GUNEY) / BOLGE / EKSPRES / RADIKAL / OZGUR
GUNDEM: Greenpeace has opened a 'Peace Embassy' across the
street from Incirlik Airbase's main gate, from which they will
organize activities for three weeks against the proliferation of
nuclear arms. According to the Greenpeace Mediterranean Nuclear
Disarmament Campaign Coordinator, the U.S. Senate is now
debating redeployment of nuclear bombs from bases in Europe to
Turkey, an issue to which Greenpeace wants to draw public
attention.

YENI SAFAK / ZAMAN: Sanliurfa Environment and Forests
Director announced that decontamination activities on Ataturk
Dam have ended and the petroleum that had covered the surface of
part of the dam's lake has been cleaned (see press summary
4/18). The rehabilitation of polluted soil amounting to
200-truckloads will be handled in the next few days.

ZAMAN: Yesterday at 9:15 pm, two PKK/Kongra-gel members
readying to attack the Governor's Residence in Siirt were
allegedly given orders to stop by the security officers. The
terrorists disobeyed the orders and engaged in a clash with the
officers. One of terrorists reportedly detonated a bomb he was
carrying and was killed; the other one was shot dead as he was
trying to run away. A police officer was wounded during the
incident. An extensive operation was launched in the area
following the incident and security measures have been
intensified.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

1. BOLGE / SABAH (GUNEY): Ambassadors to Turkey representing
Latin American countries were invited to a meeting at Adana's
Chamber of Industry (ACI) over the weekend. Umit Ozgumus,
Chairperson of the ACI, is optimistic about enhancing economic
and commercial ties with Latin American countries, and said that
the Ambassadors got to know Adana better after touring the
city's big firms, such as TEMSA and SASA, as well as the
Organized Industrial Zone and Yumurtalik Free Trade Zone.
Meanwhile, Adana's AGID (Entrepreneurial Businessmen
Association) has invited Indonesian businessmen to exchange
ideas on promoting economic ties in a series of meetings.

REID

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