US embassy cable - 03ADANA250

UNCLAS ADANA 0250 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, TU, IZ, Press Summaries, ADANA 
SUBJECT:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, 
          SEPTEMBER 24, 2003 
 
 
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary 
for September 24, 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, Zaman / Adana Social Security Hospital 
pediatrician S. C. Tuysuz is accused of 
accepting 70,000,000 TL (Editor's Note: 
approximately 50 USD) from his patient.  Police 
detained the pediatrician. (Editor's Note: This 
is another separate case involving a different 
doctor and hospital than the one recently 
reported). 
 
 
3. Bolge, Zaman / Adana Democratic People's Party 
(DEHAP) members organized a sit down protest in 
front of their party building. DEHAP Party 
spokesman stated that they do not approve of 
the detention of DEHAP head Tuncer Bakirhan for 
attending a concert in Germany. 
 
 
4. Evrensel / Salih Alan, a Catak village guard 
who lives in Van, committed suicide in his 
house a day before the start of military 
operations in which he was to participate. 
 
 
5. Evrensel / Human Rights Organization (HRO) 
investigated the death of six people in the 
recent flooding in Mus.   Attorney Mensur Isik 
stated that the six had returned to their 
villages under the protection of the "Home 
Return" law, but were left alone and forced to 
live in plastic tents. Isik accused the 
government of being responsible for these 
deaths. 
 
 
6. Ekspres / In his statement to police, Oktay 
Uzun claims Umit Ozgumus, head of Adana Chamber 
of Industry, recruited and hired him to assault 
Kemal Kucuk, a newspaper reporter.  Kucuk's 
nose was broken during the assault that took 
place about a week ago. 
 
 
ECONOMIC 
 
 
7. Tercuman, Cumhuriyet / Ismet Ciris, an Izmir 
investor, opened a textile factory and shopping 
center in Van employing 450 people.  Ciris's 
attempt is expected to encourage other 
businessmen to invest in the Southeast. 
REID