Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary for September 17, 2006

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER 17, 2006

This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for September 17,
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 / EVRENSEL: The dailies reported that more
than 10,000 people held a silent demonstration in Diyarbakir
yesterday (09/16) against the bombing that killed ten people
last week. During the demonstration, however, some people
spontaneously broke the silence by shouting slogans such as "The
murder state will pay for what it has done," "Erdogan is a
murderer," and "May the hands that disturb peace be broken."
DTP officials intermittently warned the crowd to remain silent
during the demonstration.

HURRIYET / ZAMAN / OZGUR GUNDEM / EVRENSEL / CUMHURIYET /
RADIKAL: Hurriyet and Zaman dailies reported that 4,000 or
5,000 people attended the silent demonstration in Diyarbakir.
In addition to the public, thirty-two political parties and NGOs
were represented at the Kosuyolu Park where the bombing took
place. Another group, comprised of the mayors and chairmen of
political parties, gathered at the municipal guesthouse and
walked hand-in-hand towards the Kosuyolu Park. People wore
black and white ribbons, with black symbolizing mourning and
white symbolizing peace. Sezgin Tanrikulu, chairperson of the
Diyarbakir Bar Association, spoke on behalf of the NGOs and
called for a cease-fire in the region. Tanrikulu, who condemned
the bomb attack during his speech, announced the end of the
province-wide three day mourning period and made a further call
for local tradesmen to reopen their businesses (see press
summary for September 15). Tanrikulu demanded that the
bombing's perpetrators be found quickly. A 20-car convoy of the
special operation teams of the Diyarbakir police made "a show of
force" ahead of the demonstration by touring the Ofis quarter of
the province. Meanwhile, Ozgur Gundem daily reported that
tradesmen in some districts of Diyarbakir, such as Bismil,
Silvan, Dicle and Ergani, kept their shops closed as a sign of
protest against the bombing.

BOLGE / MILLIYET / RADIKAL: Nearly 150 DTP members held a
silent demonstration in Mersin to protest the September 12
Diyarbakir bombing. DTP members set off from the party building
and marched towards Mersin Municipality, carrying a large black
cloth symbolizing public mourning. Nearly 150 people in
Sanliurfa and 25 people in Adana held silent demonstrations as
well.

CUMHURIYET / HURRIYET / MILLIYET: A commissioned officer and a
village guard working on a temporary basis were killed in a
military operation carried out in Van's Ercis district on Friday
(09/15). Six terrorists were killed during the operation. Four
kilograms of C-4 explosives, nine hand grenades and four
Kalashnikov guns were found with the terrorists. The terrorists
were preparing for an unspecified hostile operation. Land
Forces Commander General Ilker Basbug, who attended the ceremony
at Van Jandarma Army Corps Command held for the two security
members killed in Van, made a strongly worded speech, extended
condolences to the families of the soldiers, and stated that the
fight against terrorism would endure in the cities and in the
countryside until the last terrorist had been killed. Basbug
said that the operation in Van had become a milestone in the
history of homeland security.

HURRIYET / RADIKAL / MILLIYET: Four terrorists were
detained in Mugla's Milas district. Thirteen kilograms of A-4
and C-4 explosives were found with the detainees. Meanwhile, a
hazardous device of ten kilograms of A-4 explosives and ammonium
nitrate was safely deactivated in Mardin's Nusaybin district.
The device's construction was reportedly similar to that of the
bomb used in the Diyarbakir bombing.

RADIKAL / MILLIYET: An article by Lenore G. Martin that
appeared in the Washington Post stated that the PKK constituted
a threat against preservation of stability in the Middle East.

HURRIYET: Joost Lagendijk, EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary
Commission's Co-Chairman, said that the Diyarbakir bombing cast
a shadow over the DTP's call for cease-fire. Lagendijk said
that whether the perpetrators were radical nationalists or PKK
members, the goal was definitely to negate the recent moderation
efforts initiated by the Kurdish people. Lagendijk extended
support for the unilateral cease-fire call issued by the DTP on

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September 11th.

OZGUR GUNDEM: The daily claimed that seven soldiers died in PKK
attacks in Sirnak's Gabar Mountain and in the region of Gundike
Mele. The daily cited PKK sources as stating that the recent
attacks were in retaliation for the bomb attack carried out in
Diyarbakir.

HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): Nearly 1,000 people convened at the CHP
party building in Adana yesterday (09/16) under leadership of
Bulent Ozulku, former CHP candidate who ran for mayor in March
28, 2004 local elections. (Note: The Adana CHP party's
leadership had previously attempted to dismiss Ozulku from the
party on grounds that Ozulku was taking a separate direction
away from the party mainstream, in a way incongruous with the
party discipline. CHP Ankara headquarters recently overturned
Ozulku's dismissal.) Ozulku made a press announcement at the
terrace of the building. Rather than encouraging the crowd to
call for the CHP administration's resignation, Ozulku asked them
to chant "(Deniz) Baykal for premiership, CHP for power."
Ozulku criticized the party chairman and his administration, and
blamed them for not keeping pace with the national party leader.

BOLGE: A crop duster crashed in Adana, causing no
casualties except for the pilot, who was injured in the crash.
The plane crashed reportedly due to an engine failure. The
57-year old pilot was taken to Numune Hospital for treatment.
(This summary is from September 16 edition.)
GREEN

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