Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary for November 1, 2005
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ADANA 000201
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR NOVEMBER 1, 2005
This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for November 01,
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: A bomb, probably a sound bomb, which was placed in a
police station 300 kilometers away from the Van Security
Directorate, exploded at 4.40 p.m. yesterday. Since police
officers were having their iftaar dinners, the bomb caused no
casualties.
ZAMAN: BBP (Grand Unity Party) reacted to the press's
recent reporting on the new party logo of the newly formed DTP
(Democratic Society Party), which used a rose image. Deputy
national chairperson of BBP said that the rose was a symbol
identified with their own party logo and it was unacceptable for
them to share that identity with "supporters of separatism."
ZAMAN / BOLGE: Aytac Durak, Mayor of Adana, will go to China
to make a presentation at the Summmit of International Union of
Municipalities and Local Administration Boards about relevant
activities in Adana.
RADIKAL / CUMHURIYET / SABAH: It was found out that seven of the
girls aged between 13 and 18 staying at a student residence in
Sanliurfa fled from their residences, and two of them attempted
to commit suicide because of the alleged violence and sexual
harassment committed by the residence director (see press
summary 10/31). An investigation has been started against the
director.
CUMHURIYET: CHP (Republican People's Party) Provincial
Chairperson Serdar Seyhan criticized Azim Ozturk, Seyhan
District Mayor from AKP, for not attending the wreath laying
ceremony to pay respect to Ataturk in Adana's Inonu Park or the
official parade organized to celebrate the 82nd anniversary in
Adana on October 29 (see press summary 10/31).
OZGUR GUNDEM: Mother and Child Medical Education Center in
Diyarbakir announced that typhoid fever and hepatitis were very
common in the region.
OZGUR GUNDEM: A 12-year old shepherd was seriously wounded
when a mine he stepped on allegedly exploded in a military zone
in Hakkari's Yuksekova district.
OZGUR GUNDEM: Four people were wounded as a result of a
fight between children that led to a bigger fight with guns and
knives between members of two clans in Adana.
OZGUR GUNDEM: Police intervened with armored vehicles when a
group of people in Mersin attempted to stage a protest against
authorities not allowing attorneys and relatives of Abdullah
Ocalan to see him in his prison cell on the Imrali island.
OZGUR GUNDEM: DEHAP (Democratic People's Party), DTP
(Democratic Society Party), Democratic Free Women's Movement,
Goc-Der (Migrants' Social Assistance and Culture Association)
and THAYD-DER (Prisoners' Relatives Association) members
gathered at the headquarters of THAYD-DER in Adana and protested
the new Anti-Terror Law. The group faxed a letter to the
Ministry of Justice demanding that Abdullah Ocalan's attorneys
and relatives be allowed to meet with Ocalan.
OZGUR GUNDEM: The daily reported that a man locked his
daughter to a chicken coop in Hakkari's Yuksekova district.
Reportedly, the daughter's husband, a while after they were
married, "returned" the woman to her father's house alleging
that she was mentally ill. Since then, the father kept his
daughter locked in a chicken's coop. However, the neighbors and
witnesses are claiming that she was not mentally ill. Women's
rights activists have reacted strongly to the case.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
ZAMAN: Tradesmen in Hatay are looking forward to the
arrival of 30,000 Syrians to the city during the Ramadan
holiday. The Syrians coming to the city will boost the economy.
REID