US embassy cable - 03ADANA279

UNCLAS ADANA 0279 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, TU, IZ, Press Summaries, ADANA 
SUBJECT:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY 
OCTOBER 29-30, 2003 
 
 
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary 
for October 29-30, 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. Turkiye / Nevzat Abay, the man who reportedly 
planned the October 16 Kurkculer, Adana attack 
on the patrolling jandarma minibus, was 
arrested after his court hearing.  Abay stated 
in the court that his plan was also to attack a 
police patrol car after the attack on the 
jandarma minibus.  Abay is also allegedly known 
to help PKK/KADEK in the distribution of food 
and clothing.  Operations continue to find the 
two terrorists involved in the attack; the 
alleged terrorists are believed to be hiding in 
Hatay province. 
 
 
3. Turkiye, Ozgur Gundem / In Ovacik, Tunceli 
province, two soldiers were wounded after the 
explosion of a bomb placed in their guard 
booths. (Editor's Note: exact date of the 
incident is unclear from the article, but most 
likely it was October 28). 
 
 
4. Ozgur Gundem / DEHAP spokesman Resul Sadak 
announced that "Peace Meetings" will start 
throughout Turkey on November 1 to find a 
democratic solution for the Kurdish problem. 
 
 
5. Ozgur Gundem, Evrensel / In Patnos, Agri 
province, police detained 14 people, including 
the Patnos head of DEHAP, for organizing a 
press conference condemning the prison 
condition of Abdullah Ocalan. 
 
 
6. Turkiye / Dr. Ilhan Diken, head of the 
Diyarbakir Physicians' Association, announced 
that physicians all around Turkey will be on 
strike on November 5. 
 
 
CULTURE and TOURISM 
 
 
7. Yeni Safak / Diyarbakir Literary Days is 
starting on November 4. Approximately 50 
authors and poets from different parts of the 
world are coming to Diyarbakir to participate 
in the event. 
REID