US embassy cable - 02ADANA388

UNCLAS ADANA 0388 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, TU, IZ, ADANA, Press Summaries 
SUBJECT:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY 
NOVEMBER 8, 2002 
 
 
1.  This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for 
November 8, 2002.  Please note that Turkish press reports 
often contain errors or exaggerations; AmConsulate Adana 
does not vouch for the accuracy of the reports summarized 
here. 
 
 
POLITICS, SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS 
-------------------------------- 
 
 
2.  38 ILLEGAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERS ARRESTED IN OCTOBER 
(Bolge)  According to the Mersin Security Directorate, 38 
suspected members of the illegal organization (i.e., the 
PKK) were arrested during 13 operations in October in 
Mersin.  The arrestees were arraigned in a local court 
which ordered 19 to remain in custody.  The remaining 19 
were released but ordered to appear for their upcoming 
trial. 
 
 
3.  JANDARMA ARREST 49 IRAQIS FLEEING POSSIBLE U.S. WAR 
(Turkiye)  Baykan (Siirt) Jandarma arrested 49 Iraqis who 
had illegally crossed into Turkey in order to flee a 
possible U.S. war in Iraq.  The arrestees were taken to the 
Baykan Prosecutor's Office following interrogation.  They 
will reportedly be deported following the completion of 
necessary procedures. 
 
 
4.  SIIRT MAN SOUGHT BY INTERPOL ELECTED PARLIAMENTARIAN 
(Sabah)  The November 3 elections were the most interesting 
of all the parliamentary elections since the foundation of 
the Republic of Turkey.  For the first time, a political 
party whose chairman was barred from entering the 
Parliament won elections.  And for the first time, a 
person, Fadil Akgunduz, sought by Interpol with a red 
bulletin for fraud has been elected a parliamentarian. 
What makes the November 3 elections interesting is that the 
birthplace of these two victories is the same province: 
Siirt.  Siirt was the province where AKP leader Recep 
Tayyip Erdogan had recited a poem by Ziya Gokalp which 
resulted in his conviction and a ban from active politics. 
It was Siirt people who elected Akgunduz despite many cases 
of fraud opened against him.  Akgunduz received 11,450 
votes, becoming the third in Siirt after the Democratic 
People's Party (DEHAP) and AKP.  If someone has made a 
mistake, the judiciary must punish him," public employee 
Yusuf Alcan reacted.  Alcan claimed Akgunduz had been 
prevented from establishing an automobile factory (Jet 
Motor, which had earned him the name "Jet Fadil") in Siirt. 
He had made investments (in Siirt) amounting to USD 100 
million and he had TL 30 trillion (18.2 million) in the 
bank.  There are people who do not want any investments 
made in this region, Algan argued.  Support for "Jet Fadil" 
resulted from his being seen as a victim, from hope for 
employment, as well as ethnic origin solidarity, and his 
participation in rallies via telephone which caused Siirt 
people to burst into tears.  Siirt Chamber of Commerce and 
Industry President Nedim Kuzu said poverty and hopelessness 
opened the way for "Jet Fadil" and gave statistics:  Income 
per capita has fallen below USD 900 in Siirt, there is only 
the Kurtalan (Siirt) Cement Factory, which currently 
employs 250 people only.  Other plants are either 
inoperative or closed. 
HOLTZ