US embassy cable - 02ADANA420

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0420 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, IZ, TU, Press Summaries, ADANA 
SUBJECT:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY 
DECEMBER 18, 2002 
 
1.  This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary 
for December 18, 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.  TWELVE SIRNAK PKK SUSPECTS HELD 
(Bolge)  According to the Sirnak Security 
Directorate, a local court ordered twelve people 
arrested during a recent anti-PKK/KADEK operation 
to remain in custody.  The suspects are accused 
of providing support and shelter to the terror 
organization, recruitment, logistical support, 
and communication between KADEK members in rural 
areas and those in provincial capitals. 
 
 
3.  TEN SUSPECTS ORDERED HELD IN ELAZIG DRUG CASE 
(Turkiye)  The Malatya State Security Court 
arrested ten of the 14 suspects connected with 
the seizure of 3.5 tons of asitanhidrite in 
Elazig.  The operation was jointly carried out by 
U.S., Russian and Turkish police.  Security 
forces determined the seized drugs belonged to 
the PKK/KADEK. 
 
 
4.  NO PERMISSION FOR RETURNS TO DIYARBAKIR 
VILLAGES 
(Milli Gazete)  Diyarbakir Governor A. Cemil 
Serhadli said village returns continue in the 
region.  Serhadli added that his office had 
refused to grant permission for returns to 12 
villages in Diyarbakir's Lice, Kulp and Dicle 
townships due to security reasons.  He said there 
had not been as many returns as anticipated. 
 
 
5.  HUNGER STRIKE IN SUPPORT FOR OCALAN 
(Evrensel)  A group of Centennial University 
(Van) students started a one-day hunger strike in 
support of the "Freedom to (PKK/KADEK leader 
Abdullah) Ocalan" petition drive launched by 
Dicle (Diyarbakir) University students.  Students 
pledged they would continue similar 
demonstrations until February 15.  Also, a group 
of Bingol youths gathered at the base of a local 
mountain to protest the isolation of Ocalan by 
lighting fires and shouting pro-Ocalan slogans. 
Another group staged a protest demonstration on 
the Bingol-Karliove (Bingol) highway, closing the 
highway to traffic for a while. 
 
 
6.  HADEP MEMBERS ARRESTED 
(Evrensel)  Diyarbakir police arrested a total of 
five People's Democracy Party (HADEP) Youth 
Commission officials on December 16, allegedly 
without explanation.  The arrestees were taken to 
the Diyarbakir Security Directorate's Anti-terror 
Department. 
 
 
7.  CUKUROVA U. SUPPORTS DICLE U. STUDENTS' 
PETITON DRIVE 
(Evrensel)  Cukurova University (C.U.) students 
expressed support for the "I Want My University 
Student Initiative" campaign launched by Dicle 
(Diyarbakir) University students.  A group of 50 
C.U. students staged a march on the campus, 
carrying pro-mother tongue and Kurdish-language 
education banners and shouting slogans in favor 
of democratic and free universities. 
HOLTZ