US embassy cable - 03ADANA187

UNCLAS ADANA 0187 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, TU, IZ, ADANA, Press Summaries 
SUBJECT:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, 
          JULY 15, 2003 
 
 
1.  This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary 
for July 15, 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 / Chief Sergeant Ibrahim Alici in 
Siirt, claimed that he had been tortured 
during the time he was under custody in 
Dagdosu Gendarme Station.  He was taken to 
the station for disturbing his neighbors on 
June 13.  The doctors have also reported 
and substantiated his torture claims. 
Human Rights Organization in Siirt had 
blamed the same Gendarme Station for 
torture a year ago. 
 
 
3. Evrensel / TEKEL (State Tobacco Company) 
workers in Antep continue their strike 
against privatization of the company. 
Driver's Association in Antep and EMEP (A 
political Party) announced their support 
for the workers. 
 
 
4. Milli Gazete, Bolge, Milliyet,  / A former 
PKK/KADEK member escaped from the group and 
surrendered in Susehri/Sivas.  During the 
trial he admitted that he had some training 
in Northern Iraq and came to Tunceli with 
some other members of the group.  After the 
legal trial he was arrested. 
 
 
5. Hurriyet / Cemil Kuyu, the new Chief 
Prosecutor of Mersin started his position 
and announced that he'll work for peace and 
justice. Kuyu has a publication "Judicial 
Psychiatry". 
 
 
ECONOMICAL 
 
 
6. Hurriyet / In Mezitli/Mersin some statues 
believed to be from the third century were 
found. Ministry of Culture, Mersin 
University and Mezitli Municipality 
organized a project to continue the 
digging.  Archeologists believe that there 
are more hidden statutes under the ground. 
 
 
7. Bolge, Gunaydin / Governor of Adana 
announced that the good results of the 
business trip to Greece which was arranged 
by the Chamber of Industry in Adana in 
April 2003 can be seen now. "It is good 
news that a factory from the region (Guney 
Celik Hasir Sanayi) is exporting steel 
building construction material to Greece," 
he said. 
HART