US embassy cable - 03ADANA213

UNCLAS ADANA 0213 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, TU, IZ, ADANA, Press Summaries 
SUBJECT:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, 
          AUGUST 08, 2003 
 
 
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary 
for August 08, 2003.  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 
 
 
2. Evrensel / A group of DEHAP (Democratic 
People's Party) members who were arrested 
for attending Ismet Baycan's funeral were 
released.  Mr. Baycan died in Mus Prison. 
 
 
3. Evrensel / In Tatvan/Bitlis a group of 
villagers who wanted to raid the DEHAP 
Tatvan Office claimed that Turkish soldiers 
told them to raid the office or else they 
would be evacuated from their villages. 
Sabahattin Ozel, Head of DEHAP in Tatvan, 
convinced the villagers to return to their 
houses and prevented the raid. 
 
 
4. Turkiye, Milliyet / Gendarme Forces found 
about 120,000 root hemp in Diyarbakir and 
Bingol. 
 
 
5. Hurriyet / Mehmet Besir, AK Party MP for 
Mardin, announced that the attack against 
the policemen in Nusaybin/Mardin sabotages 
peace in the region. 
 
 
ECONOMIC 
 
 
6. Milli Gazete / In Nusaybin/Mardin a new 
multi-purpose social center has opened. 
The center will primarily teach reading, 
writing, and preserving of fruits and 
vegetables to the women in the area. 
 
 
7. Turkiye / Baki Turkoglu, AK Party MP for 
Elazig, stated that they need about 5.7 
million US dollars to restore Elazig 
Airport. 
 
 
8. Cumhuriyet / Turkish Mine Research Center 
found copper reservoirs in Elazig.  They 
had been searching for copper in the area 
for three years. 
HART