US embassy cable - 04ADANA102

UNCLAS ADANA 000102 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, IZ, TU, Press Summaries, ADANA 
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY AUGUST 16, 2004 
 
 
This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for August 16, 
2004. 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 
CUMHURIYET, ZAMAN, EVRENSEL, TURKIYE, BOLGE: A report by the 
Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crimes Department of National 
Police General Directorate revealed that arms smuggling, which 
had declined after 2000, has increased anew due to Coalition 
Forces' invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the vacuum of authority in 
Northern Iraq. According to the report, 2,993 persons involved 
in arms smuggling were arrested, and 2,795 pistols and 319 
long-barreled weapons were seized in the past five years. 
CUMHURIYET, YENI SAFAK, MILLI GAZETE: Labor Party Chairman Dogu 
Perincek claimed that the "Religions and Cultures Park Project" 
to be implemented in Sanliurfa aimed at the "Judaization" of the 
region. Perincek said Israel has agreed to pay $20 million to 
the project provided a synagogue was included in it. The Current 
Justice and Development Party Mayor of Sanliurfa is also 
supporting the project. Perincek added that the project would 
become the site of Jewish and Christian missionaries' 
activities. Perincek said "This project forms the cultural leg 
of the United States' Broader Middle East Initiative. The US 
wants to make the Kurdish populated-Urfa and Kurds its 
collaborators." 
ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM: 101 students, 62 male and 39 female, 
enrolled at the Diyarbakir Private Kurdish Language School in 
one day prior to its official opening on August 22. The courses 
will start on September 1, World Peace Day. 
ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM, EVRENSEL: In Cizre, Sirnak province, Ferhat 
Erincik (10), and Magdur Erincik (9) were killed when they 
played with what was allegedly a military rocket shell they 
found in the Konak Quarter of the town yesterday. 
ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM, EVRENSEL: PKK guerillas attacked the 
Basakci Jandarma Station in Tunceli on August 15, wounding one 
soldier. A sound bomb placed in the Business Center owned by the 
Tunceli Municipality caused material damages. No casualties have 
been reported. Police detonated a suspicious parcel placed at 
Mameki Bridge, right at the entrance of Tunceli. 
ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM: The Van Migrant Association, VMA, formed a 
"Legal Commission" to assist individuals who would apply for 
benefits from the recently passed "Compensation of Losses 
Stemming from Anti-terror Struggle" law. VMA demanded that the 
maximum amount of indemnity determined by law be raised from 12 
billion Turkish Liras (approximately $8,300) to 50 billion 
Turkish Liras (approximately $33,500) per case. 384 persons have 
applied to VMA's Legal Commission, and VMA officials attributed 
the high number of applicants to the fact that some lawyers were 
demanding up to 25 % of the indemnities for legal services they 
would provide. A similar commission has been set up at Mardin's 
Human Rights Association, as well. 
EVRENSEL: The Diyarbakir Human Rights Association's President, 
Attorney Selahattin Demirtas, announced that 30-40 houses in 
Germav village of Beytussebab, Sirnak province, were evacuated 
for security reasons on orders from the Regiment Commander. The 
Beytussebab Mayor Faik Dursun confirmed the eviction and added 
that the evacuees were living in tents and plastic shelters 
under very tough conditions. 
 
 
REID