US embassy cable - 03ADANA165

UNCLAS ADANA 0165 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, TU, IZ, ADANA, Press Summaries 
SUBJECT:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, 
          JUNE 25, 2003 
 
1.  This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary 
for June 25, 2003.  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 
 
 
2. Evrensel, / In Adiyaman, the government 
charged a man for giving his children 
Kurdish names.  He protested the charge. 
Giving children Kurdish names still 
continues to be a problem in the area. 
 
 
3. Evrensel, / In an in depth article, 
Evrensel discussed the plight of Sirnak 
villagers currently living in Istanbul. 
The government refuses to let the villagers 
return to Sirnak. The article notes the 
lack of drinking water and sewage. 
 
 
4. Evrensel, / A student was expelled from the 
Military school for no specific reason. 
The family claims the reason was their 
Kurdish origin. The family lives in 
Iskenderun but they are from Tunceli. The 
authorities said they are conducting 
detailed security investigations for 
military students and their families and it 
is under their authority to make such 
decisions. 
 
 
5. Cumhuriyet, / Mardin Young Businessmen 
Association asked for the removal of the 
landmines in the area.  In their letter to 
the government they said these areas could 
be used for agriculture and help the 
economy in the region. 
 
 
6. Cumhuriyet, / In Diyarbakir, 15 village 
guards attacked 3 DEHAP members who were 
campaigning for a general amnesty. 
 
 
7. Sirnak Felony Court sentenced 3 soldiers, 
A.C Yildiz, A.Metin, K.Yasar, for 5 years 
and 4 months imprisonment.  The soldiers 
had tortured a Sirnak man, S.Karaaslan, to 
death during his questioning. The incident 
occurred in 1999. 
 
 
ECONOMICAL 
 
 
8.  The chief of Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce 
announced a symposium  on June 26-27 "The 
Turkish Agriculture Policies During the Process 
of Globalization and Harmonization with 
Europe." 
HOLTZ