US embassy cable - 03ADANA293

UNCLAS ADANA 0293 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, TU, IZ, ADANA, Press Summaries 
SUBJECT:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY 
DECEMBER 19, 2003 
 
 
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary 
for December 19, 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. Ozgur Gundem / In Yukari Goklu, Halfeti, Urfa 
province, three DEHAP members, Abdullah Sonmez, 
Abdurrahman Polat, and Suleyman Buyukertas, 
were detained for fundraising.  Jandarma also 
 
 
seized all the printed documents in the DEHAP 
building. After their questioning, the 
detainees were released. 
 
 
3. Ozgur Gundem / At Van Centennial University, 
the scholarship application of Ahmet Karacelik 
was denied allegedly because the student and 
his family are supporters of DEHAP. 
 
 
4. Expres, Bolge / According to a press release 
from the U.S. Consulate Adana, the new 
Consulate building has started to function in 
Yuregir.  The new building is modern and more 
secure.  Consul W. Scott Reid stated that the 
Consulate staff look forward to a continued 
close relationship with the people of Adana. 
 
 
5. Tercuman / Metin Armutcu, an alleged PKK/KADEK 
terrorist who allegedly was involved in several 
attacks, was detained at DEHAP Hozat Head Vural 
Yildirim's house.  Police also detained 17 
other people following Armutcu's confession. 
 
 
6. Hurriyet / American soldiers are using Incirlik 
airbase as a transit point.  This doesn't 
require an approval from the Turkish 
authorities as it is done according to NATO 
regulations. 
 
 
HEALTH 
 
 
8. Hurriyet Cukurova / Dr. Asim Guzelbey, head 
physician of Gaziantep Konukoglu Hospital, 
announced that the hospital signed an agreement 
with Sudanese companies to treat Sudanese 
patients. 
REID