Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary for June 29, 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 000132

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR JUNE 29, 2005

This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for June 29, 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

EKSPRES: Bulent Ozulku, a businessman and a former CHP
candidate of CHP in 2004 local elections for the Greater City of
Adana, addressed the party grassroots in a local TV program and
said; "CHP in Adana is unfortunately pursuing policies that
severed its ties with the public. We have embarked upon efforts
to form a party administration that would consolidate its ties
with the public back again. We invite people, who feel
dedication to CHP, to take part in this action."

BOLGE: Bolge reports that CHP Provincial Chairperson Serdar
Seyhan's remarks stating, "Our national leader does not allow
such a press conference", allegedly aims to prevent the press
announcement that the opposition group will be making tomorrow
in Adana. The Provincial leader of CHP reportedly drew serious
criticism from the members of the opposition group.

EKSPRES: The Mardin Governor's Office announced that 6,000
people, who left their houses and land due to terror-related
activities since 1986 to date, have applied to the Office to
benefit from the Law on Compensation for Sufferers of
Anti-Terror Activities. Reportedly, 266 cases have been
examined, and 15 of them have earned the right to compensation
in Mardin. A total of 100,000 NTL (approximately 74,000 USD)
has been paid to 15 people.

EKSPRES/BOLGE: Efforts to tear into pieces the hardened crust
formed by M/V Ulla's 2,200 tons of waste is under way. The
tools required to break apart the hardened crust have recently
arrived. Following this operation, the waste will be loaded on
to a Liberian-registered vessel waiting anchored 100 meters away
from M/V Ulla.

HURRIYET/BOLGE: AKP Adana Provincial Chairperson Abdullah
Dogru, criticizing Prof. Ali Goren, assembly member of Seyhan
Municipality and the Deputy Mayor of Adana for subjecting
people, including the PM Erdogan, AKP ministers and the AKP
organization to harsh criticisms, further stated that AKP
demanded the dismissal of Goren from the party. (Note: Prof.
Ali Goren was attacked and beaten by an unknown group of people
as he was exiting a hall in Seyhan Municipality in Adana on June
6. End Note.)

HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): In a symposium marking the summit of
religions in Antakya, members of different faiths expressed
messages of tolerance. Mustafa Kemal University Rector Prof.
Metin Gurkanlar said that people of different religions are able
to live harmoniously in Antakya and that tolerance of people
belonging to different faiths in Antakya sets an example to the
whole world.

HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): Peter Vogel, journalist and Europe
Representative of the EU Platform for Turkey, came to Adana and
paid visits to the Turkey representatives of the Platform.
Vogel said that he had discussed the progress in the path of
democratization with the NGOs in Istanbul and Adana.

SABAH (GUNEY): Fake agricultural pesticides entering the
country illegally from Iran are being used in the agricultural
fields of the Cukurova plain. These pesticides are reportedly
seriously hazardous to human health.

HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): A children's mafia comprised of 10
teenagers between the ages of 16 and 18 in Sukru Tulay Child
Caring Center in Adana are reportedly beating the smaller
children and appropriating their money. Teenagers are
reportedly forcing the smaller children to wash their socks and
clean their rooms. Director of the Center reportedly said they
have been unable to prevent beating in the center.

OZGUR GUNDEM: The Van Security Directorate's Foreigners'
Branch did not allow hunger strikers to stage a strike in front
of the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
building in Van. The strikers stated that they would continue
their protest in their houses (see press summary 06/23 and
06/27).

OZGUR GUNDEM: Tensions that broke out because of the death
of a protestor at the funeral of a terrorist in Bostanici area
of Van still continue and people are reportedly complaining
about the current situation, which resembles a state of
emergency. Soldiers are reported as marching along the streets,
singing military songs and conducting raids to the houses.
Armored vehicles are reportedly patrolling the streets day and
night, and security officers are searching the people they
suspect.

OZGUR GUNDEM: Bismil Deputy Mayor Sebap Baran asked for
support for the intelligentsia's call to lay down arms saying
that only one party's call for peace would not suffice to bring
peace in the southeastern region.

HURRIYET/CUMHURIYET/OZGUR GUNDEM: Nearly a hundred people
commemorated the 80th anniversary of the execution of Seyh Said
and his 47 friends in Diyarbakir. The event was primarily
organized by the Kurd-Der (Kurdish Association). The newly
founded Turkish Republic in 1920s had to deal with the Kurdish
uprising in the southeastern Turkey in 1925 and the leaders of
this uprising, Seyh Said and his friends were executed then to
end the unrest.

CUMHURIYET: CHP National Headquarters set up a commission to
investigate the killing of a former Kilis Mayor and his son on
June 3 in Kilis. CHP Gaziantep Provincial Chairperson noted
that the perpetrator of the killing has still not been found.

CUMHURIYET: Murat Karayilan, Executive Council Chairperson of
the KKK (Union of Kurdish People), the new political formation
of the PKK/Kongra-Gel, reportedly dismissed allegations in the
Turkish media which said the PKK rejected the call of the
intelligentsia to lay down its arms. Karayilan reportedly told
Mesopotamian News Agency, "We respect the calls for laying down
the arms. These calls show good will despite the fact that the
calls came late and are insufficient in character. Everything
that aims to bring peace is good and positive. We are trying
hard not to waste the efforts of the intelligentsia and are
aiming to discuss the situation in an upcoming evaluation
process."

HURRIYET: Selim Sadak, former DEP (Party of Democracy) deputy
and member of the Coordination Board of DTH (Democratic Society
Movement), called the PKK to end its activities and stop laying
mines.

REID

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