US embassy cable - 03ADANA234

UNCLAS ADANA 0234 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, TU, IZ, ADANA, Press Summaries 
SUBJECT:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, 
          SEPTEMBER 05, 2003 
 
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary 
for September 05, 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. Bolge / A bag, found in Kucuksaat, a crowded 
shopping area in old Adana, caused panic in 
the city.  Bomb specialists arrived to check 
the bag.  The bag was empty. 
 
 
3. Bolge / Sahin Baltaci, who had investments in 
Imarbank, burned himself in front of Imarbank 
Resatbey Branch, Adana.  An ambulance took 
Baltaci to the hospital.  His treatment will 
continue. 
 
 
4. Bolge/ Members of Mersin State Employees' 
Union, Kamu-Sen, ended their three-day hunger 
strike. 
 
 
5. Bolge, Turkiye, Express / After the complaints 
about the pollution caused by Sugozu Thermo- 
electric power plant, Adana Government tested 
the water in Yumurtalik and declared that it 
was clean. 
 
 
6. Milli Gazete, Evrensel / State Hospital in 
Siverek, Sanliurfa province, does not have a 
working ambulance.  Siverek has a population 
of 250.000 people.  (Editor's Note: Two 
ambulances, which belong to the hospital, 
don't work). 
 
 
7. Evrensel / Due to PKK/KADEK's announcement 
that it was ending the ceasefire, security 
officials In Cemisgezek, Tunceli province 
called upon the people to evacuate the rural 
areas. 
 
 
8. Evrensel / It is claimed that about 832 people 
from the Southeast applied to benefit from the 
"reintegration law".  The article does not 
provide the source for the figure. 
 
 
CULTURE and TOURISM 
 
 
9. Cumhuriyet / In order to protect the 
historical and natural value of the island, the 
Culture and Tourism Center prohibited people to 
have picnics on Akdamar Island, Gevas, Van 
province. 
REID