US embassy cable - 02ADANA406

UNCLAS ADANA 0406 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, TU, IZ, Press Summaries, ADANA 
SUBJECT:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, DECEMBER 2, 2002 
 
 
1.  This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for 
December 2, 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.  ANTI-WAR PROTESTS 
(Cumhuriyet/Bolge/Evrensel)  Anti-war protests called 
"No to War in Iraq" and "Peace and Brotherhood 
Meeting" were held in Istanbul, Izmir, Adana, Antalya, 
Mersin, Adiyaman, Tunceli, Elazig, Samsun and 
Eskisehir upon a call by the Ankara Human Rights 
Association (HRA).  Protestors shouted various anti- 
war and pro-peace slogans.  In Adana, a group of 1,000 
protestors carried such banners as "Close Incirlik Air 
Base," "No to war" and "War means hunger, poverty and 
death" and shouted "Down with American Imperialism," 
"Budget to laborers, not war," "We will not become 
U.S. soldiers," and "Murderer U.S. get out of the 
Middle East" slogans.  On behalf of the Adana Anti-War 
Platform formed by 57 political parties, labor unions, 
associations and professional organizations, Adana 
Civil Engineers Chamber (IMO) President Sadi Surenkok, 
announced a similar anti-war protest would be 
organized in Adana's Ugur Mumcu Square on December 22. 
Turkiye cited State Employees' Union Confederation 
(KESK) Malatya Term Spokesman Hasan Kaldik as saying 
the U.S.' real purpose was not to destroy weapons in 
Iraq, but to seize petroleum in that country.  Kaldik 
called on Turkey not to give support to the U.S.' 
proposed operation against Iraq. 
 
 
3.  DISMISSED TEACHERS INDICTED FOR SUPPORT TO PKK 
(Radikal/Sabah)  The Diyarbakir Prosecutor's Office 
has indicted five teachers, dismissed by the National 
Education Ministry for singing Kurdish-language songs 
at the general congress of the Diyarbakir chapter of 
the Teachers Union Egitim-Sen, for assisting and 
abetting the PKK.  The teachers face a possible prison 
term of four to seven years each. 
 
 
4.  TKP-ML FUGITIVE CAPTURED 
(Cumhuriyet/Evrensel)  Jandarma arrested Tunceli 
resident Kenan Aloglu, who escaped after conviction by 
the Malatya State Security Court for "membership in 
and organizational activities for the Turkish 
Communist Party/Marxist-Leninist (TKP/ML) - the 
Turkish Workers and Peasants' Communist Army (TIKKO)". 
Aloglu was sentenced to 12 years and six months 
imprisonment. 
 
 
ECONOMIC AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS 
-------------------------------------- 
 
 
5.  TROUT FISHERY IN MIDYAT (MARDIN) 
(Turkiye)  The Southeast's largest trout fishery has 
been established in Midyat (Mardin).  TL 17 billion 
(approx. USD 11,000) was spent for the fishery, which 
has the capacity to produce 80,000 trout (per year). 
The fishery, into which 40,000 trout have initially 
been placed, expects to do well financially. 
HOLTZ