US embassy cable - 03ADANA244

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0244 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, TU, IZ, Press Summaries, ADANA 
SUBJECT:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY 
          SEPTEMBER 13-14-15, 2003 
 
 
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary 
for September 13-14-15, 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. Cumhuriyet / In Iskenderun and Adana, the 
Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) "freedom" 
meetings turned into PKK/KADEK meetings. 
Police warned the group and there was a mild 
clash.  A police officer was wounded during the 
Adana event. 
 
 
3. Cumhuriyet / In SASA-DupontSA, 253 workers 
decided to be members of Petrol-Is Union.  The 
factory management did not welcome the workers' 
decision. 
 
 
4. Ekspres / Pandora Street people in Adana 
protested the Municipality's decision to cut 
the trees on their street in order to continue 
road repair work. 
 
 
5. Ekspres / Mujdat Akcinar, Head of Incirlik 
Merchants' Association, announced that 350 
merchants in Incirlik are in financial crisis 
due to the war in Iraq.  "Americans in Incirlik 
are not allowed to leave the base and 98% of 
our sales are with Americans.  There are days 
some merchants close their shops without any 
sales", Akcinar reported. 
 
 
6. Turkiye / In Iskenderun, Hatay province, 27 
Syrians were found in a boat on September 13, 
with no legal papers.  The Syrians were 
planning to go to Cyprus illegally. 
 
 
7. Evrensel / Diyarbakir Human Rights Organization 
(HRO) released its monthly report.  According 
to the report, 17 people lost their lives 
during the clashes in August.  HRO also 
stressed the possible danger of PKK/KADEK 
ending its cease-fire.   "Turkish military 
operations in the region do not solve the 
problem", S. Demirtas, the spokesman of HRO, 
stated. 
 
 
8. Evrensel / In Van and Mus provinces, the 
Turkish military deployed 30 specially trained 
military personnel together with some village 
guards.  These personnel will be helping the 
military personnel already serving in the area. 
 
 
9. Evrensel / In Gevas, Van province, three people 
were hospitalized for anthrax. Gevas has been 
under quarantine since September 8. 
 
 
10. Sabah Guney / About 50 people from the Human 
Rights Organization (HRO), the Democratic 
People's Party (DEHAP) and Labor Party (EMEP) 
gathered in Adana to protest the September 12, 
1980 military coup. 
 
 
CULTURE and TOURISM 
 
 
11. Milli Gazete / "Peace Ambassadors", who were 
in Iraq to protect Iraqi civilians, visited 
Mardin Monastery.  The Peace Ambassadors joined 
in  worshipping with Italian tourists in the 
monastery.  Gabriel Akkurt, vicar of the 
monastery, announced his wish for peace in the 
world. 
REID