US embassy cable - 02ADANA397

UNCLAS ADANA 0397 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, TU, IZ, Press Summaries, ADANA 
SUBJECT:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY 
NOVEMBER 20, 2002 
 
 
1.  This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for 
November 20, 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.  ARREST IN SILVAN (DIYARBAKIR) 
(Evrensel)  Security forces arrested a Hizbullah 
suspect following a shoot-out in Diyarbakir's Mescit 
quarter.  Turkiye also reported the arrest of a PKK 
suspect, together with his wife and child, following a 
clash between the arrestee and security forces in the 
same district.  During his testimony, the arrestee 
said his name was Ahmet Cakmak, while his wife 
identified him as Idris Simsek. 
 
 
3.  THREE ARRESTED FOR PARTICIPATING IN DEMONSTRATIONS 
(Evrensel)  The Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) 
Aydinlar (Siirt) district president Metin Beydogan was 
arrested in the DEHAP office on November 18 (no 
reason).  Beydogan had been blocked by the district 
governor and the security director from opening the 
DEHAP district office before the (November 3) 
elections.  In addition, two Batman residents were 
arrested for participation in protest demonstrations. 
 
 
4.  MERSIN PKK DEFENDANT CONVICTED 
(Bolge/Evrensel)  Adana State Security Court convicted 
Kemal Kaplaner, who had been arrested during an anti- 
PKK operation in Mersin, for "illegal organization 
membership and homicide."  Kaplaner was sentenced to 
24 years' imprisonment. 
 
 
ECONOMIC AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS 
-------------------------------------- 
 
 
5.  PRAISE AND OPTIMISM FOR NEW GOVERNMENT 
(Milli Gazete)   Gaziantep Chamber of Industry 
Assembly President Abdulkadir Konukoglu expressed 
satisfaction with the quick formation of the new 
government and praised the new Council of Ministers as 
"skillful."  Turkiye and Bolge reported Adana Chamber 
of Commerce president Saban Bas said he believed the 
new government was capable of finding solutions to 
Turkey's problems and pledged support for all positive 
decisions to be made by the government.  Bolge 
reported Adana Chamber of Industry (ACOI) president 
Umit Ozgumus had issued a statement saying hope that 
political stability had been restored had positively 
affected the markets.  The statement was released 
prior to the signing of a credit package agreement 
between ACOI and the Is Bank to provide (commercial) 
credits for ACOI members. 
HOLTZ