US embassy cable - 03ADANA285

UNCLAS ADANA 0285 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, TU, IZ, Press Summaries 
SUBJECT:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY 
NOVEMBER 18, 2003 
 
 
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary 
for November 18, 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. Milliyet, Bolge / On November 17, a suspicious 
bag was found in Adana Kucuksaat District 
around the time of iftar (sunset). After the 
explosion of the bag by the bomb specialists, 
it was announced that the bag was empty. 
 
 
3. Ozgur Gundem / Democratic People's Party 
(DEHAP) head Tuncay Bakirhan, announced at a 
DEHAP iftar dinner held in Adana, that DEHAP is 
starting dialogues with other political parties 
and NGOs. 
 
 
4. Ozgur Gundem / In Sirnak, DEHAP members have 
been questioned five times by Turkish court 
officials in the last 6 weeks.  In Van, three 
DEHAP members were sent to court for attending 
a meeting to protest against the September 23 
detention of DEHAP Head Tuncay Bakirhan. 
Attorney Murat Timur stated that those three 
members were out of Van during that protest. 
 
 
5. Bolge / Hatay Governor Abdullah Sari announced 
that both the Syrian and the Turkish 
governments approved the joint celebration 
during the first two days of Ramadan Bayram at 
Hatay Cilvegozu Border Gate. 
 
 
6. Ekspres / Approximately 15 people gathered in 
front of Adana Imar Bank and organized a mock 
funeral for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip 
Erdogan.  The people asked for immediate 
payment of their money at Imar Bank. 
REID