US embassy cable - 04ADANA131

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000131 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, IZ, TU, ADANA, Press Summaries 
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 
 
1.      This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for 
September 30, 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 
 
2.      ZAMAN/MILLIYET: Human rights activists frequently 
interrupted the speech of US Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman 
at the "Symposium on New Tactics in Human Rights" in Ankara. 
Approximately 500 human rights activists from 100 countries 
attended the symposium. 
 
3.      ZAMAN: In Iraq, PKK/Kongra Gel founded an organization 
called the "Democratic Front."  Thirty-eight Kurdish/Arab 
political parties and non-governmental organizations attended a 
meeting of the organization held in Muntansiriye, Iraq.  Aiming 
to bring together Kurdish organizations in Northern Iraq, the 
Democratic Front will hold its first congress on October 14. 
 
4.      EKSPRES: In Adana, members of the Yuregir Jandarma Command 
along with Security Directorate teams arrested Hasan Sucu and 
Nazim Gokmen with 7.165 kilos of material used in making hash. 
Recep A. is also wanted by security teams for assisting drug 
sellers. 
 
5.      EKSPRES: A bomb placed at HSBC Bank on Ataturk Street, 
Adana, exploded at 9:00 p.m. on September 29 causing material 
damage and breaking windows in the surrounding buildings. No 
casualties were reported. Adana Security Director Mehmet Cebe 
visited the scene of the explosion and said that the 
investigation was continuing. Security measures around the 
American Consulate and other banks have been increased. 
 
6.      ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM: Twenty-five Human Shield Initiative 
(HSI) members from Istanbul set off for the Cirav Mountain in 
Siirt, along with 14 Siirt HSI members. HSI aims to bring the 
military operations and clashes in the region to an end. An HSI 
spokesman, Yakup Kadri Karaboga, said the group's demands were 
clear: a bilateral truce, a general political amnesty, removal 
of impediments to freedom of expression, compensation of war 
victims, returns to evacuated villages, an end to military 
operations and an end to solitary confinement for Abdullah 
Ocalan. 
 
7.      ULKEDE OZGUR GUNDEM: Soldiers evacuated Kocanis village, 
previously the only village in the Bercalan Pasture of Hakkari 
province that had not been evacuated. GOT forces dropped 
chemical material from helicopters and evacuated many villagers 
on September 22 on the grounds that Heze Paratstina Gel (HPG - 
Public Protection Forces) members had found shelter there.  Many 
soldiers and village guards were dispatched to the region for 
the ongoing operation. 
 
8.      CUMHURIYET/TURKIYE/MILLIYET: A mine planted by 
PKK/Kongra-Gel militants on the road between Bukardi and Aricak, 
Elazig province, exploded right after a minibus carrying 
students passed by. No casualties were reported. 
 
9.      TURKIYE/RADIKAL/MILLIYET: Sergeant Seref Dede was killed 
by gunfire from the Iranian border on September 22.  Two 
sergeants and one private were killed in the clashes between GOT 
forces and PKK/Kongra Gel militants in Pervari, Siirt province, 
on September 9. 
 
10.     CUMHURIYET: Residents of the Karaduvar quarter of Mersin 
filed petitions asking the Mersin Municipality to close down the 
installations for operating without a license (including TUTA, 
OPET, ATAS, Petrol Ofisi, GS Petroleum, and Shell Gaz 
companies), and for "being detrimental to environment and 
society." The residents are getting ready to press charges 
against those companies at the European Human Rights Court for 
"violating the right to life." 
 
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS 
 
11.     MILLIYET: Thirteen sheep and four calves died from 
foot-and-mouth disease in Ulubatli and Mutlu quarters of Adana. 
No animal transportation was allowed in the area, which was put 
under quarantine right after the incident. The area was 
disinfected, and sheep and cattle in those quarters were given 
shots against foot-and-mouth disease. The Adana Governors Office 
announced that no animals had become sick or died since the 
measures were taken. 
 
12.     CUKUROVA HURRIYET: GAPFOOD 2004 Fair was held in Gaziantep 
from September 23-26. Gaziantep will also host the MOTEKS 2004 
5th Fashion and the GATEMAK 2004 Textile Machinery Fairs from 
September 29 through October 3. One hundred forty companies will 
open stands at the fairs.