Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary for September 15, 2006

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER 15, 2006

This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for September 15,
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

ZAMAN / HURRIYET / RADIKAL / CUMHURIYET: Nearly 2000 people
attempted to march from the site of the bomb incident in
Diyarbakir towards a highway, upon a reported call from a DTP
assembly member. The group blockaded the highway despite calls
from Diyarbakir police not to do so. Children, who marched in
front ranks of the crowd, were also chanting slogans against PM
Erdogan and in support of the PKK. Demonstrators later
dispersed as they finished their protests. Meanwhile, tradesmen
in Baglar, Dortyol and Kurucesme quarters of Diyarbakir closed
their businesses yesterday following the bombing incident.
Zaman daily pointed out that not all the Diyarbakir tradesmen
acted in accordance with this practice of shutting the doors of
their businesses. However, Radikal daily reported that the
practice soon became widespread in the province after Baglar
quarter tradesmen initiated it. Democracy Platform declared
three-day mourning in the city. Meanwhile, Minister of Interior,
who conducted studies in Diyarbakir, allegedly said that the
bombing had no connection with the Turkish Revenge Brigade, a
group which claimed responsibility for the bombing on its
internet site. PM Erdogan expressed his deepest grief since
mostly children had become victims of the tragic event.

ZAMAN / HURRIYET / SABAH: Diyarbakir Anti-Terror Branch
obtained a three-day search warrant from the court to conduct an
extensive search after the bombing event in Diyarbakir. Branch
members later conducted raids on eight houses in Baglar
district. Police is also searching the family backgrounds of
the people killed in the incident. Meanwhile, Diyarbakir Police
Labaratory said that the bomb was definitely made of plastic
explosives and a gas canister was placed under it to create a
more powerful blast impact. Police sources say that arrangement
of the bomb was similar to the type of the bombs PKK used in
previous incidents. The daily also reports that if the
authorities and police did not find the perpetrators of the
event, the PKK will abuse the situation and attempt to weaken
the ties of the people with the state.

EVRENSEL / OZGUR GUNDEM: As the investigation into the
bombing in Diyarbakir continues, the dailies drew attention to
the reported fact that the PKK condemned the bombing incident
and Turkish Revenge Brigade claimed responsibility for the
incident. According to the newspapers, the walkie-talkies found
at the site of the incident were of the same model with the ones
an illegal organization called "Atabeyler guerillas" were using.
The dailies remind that a pilot captain and two bomb
specialists from the Special Forces Command were arrested
following an operation against that organization. The dailies
also pointed out the allegations published a while ago in their
editions about former JITEM members who were called back for
duty in Diyarbakir.

EVRENSEL / OZGUR GUNDEM: Salih Karaaslan, DTP Provincial
Chairperson in Ankara, said that dark hidden forces behind the
1996 Susurluk scandal and 2005 Semdinli bombing were also the
actors behind the recent bombing in Diyarbakir. Ozgur Gundem
daily reported that white and black colored flags were hung in
the province, tradesmen shut the doors of their shops, and
thousands of people left carnations and erected candles at the
site of the incident and condemned the event. Meanwhile,
members of twenty-five organizations and political parties
gathered in front of the Human Rights Association in Istanbul
and made an announcement saying that the Diyarbakir bomb attack
was another plot of the "criminal networks" whose activities
were partly revealed in the Semdinli bombing incident on
November 9, 2005. Meanwhile, DTP's and KESK's (Confederation of
Public Workers' Unions) chapters in Adana protested the bomb
attack.

OZGUR GUNDEM: DTP Chairperson Ahmet Turk conducted studies in
Diayrbakir following the bomb attack. Turk also paid a visit to
the Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir to extend condolences. Turk
said during the visit that nothing would be able to hinder the
peace process and they would not yield to the provocations.

SABAH: Sabah daily reports allegations that the real target
of the Diyarbakir bombing was the Security Directorate which was
1.5 kilometers away from the site of the incident. Another

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transceiver's frequency could have triggered the fuse of the
bomb, which was kept in a mode ready to be detonated, before the
perpetrator was able to reach the actual target.

SABAH / YENI SAFAK: Diyarbakir Governor's Office announced that
three remotely controlled mines were found and safely detonated
on a road between Lice and Kulp districts of Diyarbakir.
Reportedly, devices which would enable detonation of the bombs
with transceivers and phones were also found at the site.

CUMHURIYET: Two separate explosions took place in Van's
Baskale and and Sirnak's Gormec districts yesterday around 9.30
p.m. No casualties were reported after the bombings. The
bombing in Van was close to the residences of army officers.
Security personnel initiated military operations in the areas.

SABAH (GUNEY): Gordon Dakota, Croatia's Ambassador to Ankara,
paid a visit to Gaziantep's Chamber of Commerce. Dakota said
that the economic cooperation between Gaziantep and Croatia will
be further consolidated.

CUMHURIYET / YENI SAFAK: Municipality teams allegedly culled
street dogs with poison syringes ahead of an International
Caucasian Cultures' Festival in the province. Some local
televisions alleged that the team members killed the dogs that
were still alive after being poisoned at the garbage pressing
machinery.

SABAH (GUNEY): Ihsan Erogul, Adana Chief Prosecutor, paid a
visit to the Veterans' Association in Adana to mark the Veterans
week.

CUMHURIYET / EKSPRES: Restoration project at the Old Roman
Bridge in Adana has been halted due to a funding shortage.
Seventy percent of the project has been completed to date.
GREEN

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