Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary for October 5, 2005
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ADANA 000174
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR OCTOBER 5, 2005
This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for October 5,
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
ZAMAN / CUMHURIYET / EVRENSEL / OZGUR GUNDEM: Orhan Dogan, DTH
(Democratic Society Movement) spokesperson and former DEP
(Democracy Party) deputy, said during the DTH convention in
Ankara (see press summary 10/03) that DTH's aim was to replace
the impasse created by conventional politics, to reach broader
sections of society, and adopt a new political mentality. For
Dogan, DTH is the new century's project for solutions.
According to Dogan, despite AKP undertaking significant reforms
before the EU negotiation talks, it now remains reluctant about
the Kurdish issue. Zaman daily separately reported that the DEP
grassroots of the DTH vetoed any form of unification with Celal
Dogan.
EVRENSEL: UYD (Accessible Life Association) introduced a new
project to assist in finding solutions to migration and internal
displacement issues in Tunceli. Tunceli Governor Mustafa Erkal
said, to date, return of people to their villages has been
achieved in four villages in Tunceli.
EVRENSEL/OZGUR GUNDEM: Villagers in Hakkari's Semdinli district
claimed that soldiers wearing snow masks were being deployed in
the environs of the village and were frequently doing identity
checks in the village.
EVRENSEL: Thirty organizations, including unions, some NGOs
and political parties set up an "Anti-Privatization Platform" in
Mersin.
OZGUR GUNDEM: A 12-year-old child was killed in Bitlis's
Tatvan district on August 14. The child's head was found severed
from his body. Following the incident, soldiers reportedly
blockaded the roads to the village where the murder was
committed. Two children, who witnessed the murder, are
reportedly forbidden by their families to speak because of fear.
One DIHA news agency journalist was reportedly detained as he
was trying to look into the issue.
OZGUR GUNDEM: A mine exploded on the side of the
Hani-Diyarbakir road yesterday as Jandarma Command was
conducting a road check. No casualties were reported.
CUMHURIYET / ZAMAN / OZGUR GUNDEM: Diyarbakir Governor's Office
announced that C-4 explosives and mines were found in five
different locations, and 8 underground shelters were found in
the rural sections of Diyarbakir's Lice and Genc districts
during military operations conducted between September 25 and
28. Reportedly, five people were detained on charges that they
aided and abetted a terrorist organization.
OZGUR GUNDEM: Unidentified people opened fire at a house in
a village of Tunceli's Mazgirt district on September 30.
HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): A hand grenade was found in a cemetery
in Kilis. The police detonated the grenade safely.
HURRIYET / CUMHURIYE: A woman in Sanliurfa's Siverek district
applied to the Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation and
claimed that her husband cut off her nose from her face in 2002.
The woman reportedly sought financial assistance from the
foundation in order to have her nose treated.
ZAMAN / EKSPRES: Antakya Orthodox Church administration hung a
banner over a street to celebrate the coming of Ramadan.
CUMHURIYET: TCDD (Turkish State Railways Authority) filed an
investigation with the Iskenderun Prosecutor in Hatay against
allegations that vessels in Iskenderun were transporting
explosives to Iraq. Some officials in Ankara allegedly gave
instructions to cover these vessels by registering them as empty
in the port registry records.
BOLGE: Umit Ozgumus, chairperson of Adana Chamber of
Industry, said that Turkey should stand firm and its sole
purpose should not be to enter the EU. On the other hand, Saban
Bas, chairperson of Adana Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the
recent developments in Turkey's EU bid. According to Bas, the
doors of the EU will now be open to Turkish businessmen.
REID