US embassy cable - 05ADANA5

UNCLAS ADANA 000005 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, TU, ADANA, Press Summaries 
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR FOR JANUARY 3, 2005 
 
This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for January 3, 
2005.  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 
 
EVRENSEL / RADIKAL / CUMHURIYET / GUNDEM:       Hundreds of people in 
Kiziltepe held a demonstration, demanding that security forces 
be tried in the courts of law. A thousand people formed a human 
chain for Ugur and Ahmet Kaymaz and shouted slogans saying 
"Prosecute the murderers" and "Governor, Resign!" 
 
EVRENSEL:       Allegations about corruption and allegations that 
the cadres are being taken over by employees loyal to the AKP 
(Justice and Development Party) are on the agenda of the 
Diyarbakir Provincial Directorate of Education. Within one year, 
three directors have been removed from office at the 
Directorate. According to Egitim-Sen (Education Union), a 
hundred AKP supporters have been assigned to Principal or 
Assistant Principal positions in forty schools. 
 
EVRENSEL:       The Tunceli Prosecutor started an investigation 
against Huseyin Tunc, the Provincial Chairperson of the EMEP 
(The Party of Labor), on the grounds that he delivered a speech 
in an activity that young people had organized in order to 
protest guards who had instigated provocation during the 
celebration of Turkish Republic's Foundation on October 29. 
 
OZGUR GUNDEM:   The Viransehir Court of Peace convicted a 
member of DEHAP (Democratic People's Party) Provincial Youth 
Branch at Urfa on charges of showing resistance to police 
yesterday. 
 
OZGUR GUNDEM:   "Assembly Initiative of Free Citizens 
Movement" in Mersin declared that it is supporting the 
Democratic Society Movement. 
 
MILLI GAZETE:   A group of terrorists (allegedly) were trying 
to cross the (Turkish-Iraqi) border at Sirnak in order to carry 
out terrorist activities in Turkey. During the armed conflict 
between the security forces and terrorists, two terrorists, who 
are (allegedly) members of the illegal terrorist organization 
PKK, have been killed. 
 
HURRIYET (CUKUROVA):    Hulusi Kilic, the Consul of Turkey in 
Syria says that he is very pleased with the establishment of the 
recent amicable relationships between Syria and Turkey. Kilic 
says that he is full of hope about the latest developments 
between the two countries and points out that the presence of 
the Turkish consulate in Halep (Aleppo) is very significant with 
regard to the future of the relationships both countries. 
 
 
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS 
 
1.      EVRENSEL:       Cotton prices have sharply fallen since last 
year. The farmers could not harvest the cotton on the fields due 
to the high costs of fuel oil they need for trucking. Although 
the cotton produced in Diyarbakir is the highest quality cotton 
in world markets, the Assembly President of the Diyarbakir 
Chamber of Agriculture, Sabahattin Karahan, says, "due to the 
ineffective agricultural policies, Turkey cannot benefit much 
from this product". 
 
 
 
 
REID