Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary for August 21, 2006

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR AUGUST 21, 2006

This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for August 21,
2006. 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

OZGUR GUNDEM: Although the Agri Governor's Office announced
that the explosion on the natural gas pipeline of BOTAS (Turkish
Pipeline Corporation) in Agri's Taslicay Township on Saturday
(08/19) was sabotage of the PKK, the daily reported that the PKK
had not claimed responsibility yet.

RADIKAL / ZAMAN: The PKK reportedly carried out the attack on
the BOTAS pipeline in Agri by placing C-4 and A-4 plastic
explosives on four points which are two meters away from each
other. The explosion blew up a 200-meter section of the
pipeline, and 8 million cubic meters of natural gas worth 3.5
million YTL was burned out. The repair work will be completed
and shipment of natural gas reportedly will resume tomorrow.
Zaman daily pointed out that six sabotage attempts targeting
pipelines had occured in seven months.

ZAMAN: A captain was seriously wounded during a conflict
that broke out between security forces and PKK terrorists in
Mardin's Nusaybin district.

HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): Ten thousand Syriacs, who went from
Turkey to Germany for different reasons and who sought asylum
there, are now facing the risk of being deported. A Syriac
clergyman reportedly said that Syriacs were given residence
permits in Germany on the condition that they would return when
peaceful conditions prevail in Turkey. For that reason, the
German government is now considering sending back the Syriacs to
their country.

EVRENSEL / OZGUR GUNDEM: Chief Prosecutor's Office in
Sanliurfa started an investigation against eight people who
denounced in a July 14 press announcement the alleged execution
of a PKK member by the Turkish security forces after catching
the militant in Batman's Besiri district (see press summary
). Those eight people are members of civil society
organizations such as local chapter of Human Rights Association,
Mazlum-Der (Solidarity Association for Oppressed People), DTP
(Democratic Society Party), and Egitim-Sen (Teacher's Union).
The Prosecutor reportedly started the investigation because of
the title of the press announcement, which said, 'Turkey's point
of view: Kurds deserve all kinds of violence.'

EVRENSEL: During a festival held in Tunceli's Pulumur
district, Sinan Yerlikaya, Tunceli deputy from CHP (Republican
People's Party), made a call to the PKK to lay down arms.
Yerlikaya said that unless the PKK laid down arms in the first
place, a general amnesty for the PKK militants would never be
declared.

EVRENSEL: German authorities arrested two Kurdish politicians
in Germany on grounds that those people were members of
Kongra-Gel. Federation of Kurdish Associations, in order to
protest that new development, decided to shut down 65 Kurdish
associations in Germany for one week starting from today.

RADIKAL: The allegations that the waste material of Incirlik
Airbase, such as jet fuel wastes, some chamical and solid
wastes, were being discharged to the Seyhan and Ceyhan rivers in
Adana have been dismissed by American officials. (This summary
is from 08/18 edition.)

REID

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