US embassy cable - 03ADANA210

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0210 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, TU, IZ, Press Summaries, ADANA 
SUBJECT:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, 
          AUGUST 05, 2003 
 
 
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary 
for August 05, 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 / Cuma Elkatmis, hairdresser at 
Bingol Teachers' Guesthouse after arguing - 
when drunk- with a group of people went to 
Police Guesthouse for help. It is said that 
police didn't help him and he was beaten by 
the group in front of some policemen at the 
guesthouse. 
 
 
3. Evrensel / Vedat Yamac, Secretary of DEHAP 
(Democratic People's Party) in Bitlis 
announced that they had started a Kurdish 
Speaking Campaign in Bitlis. 
 
 
4. Milli Gazete / People in Malatya started a 
sitting protest against the limestone 
quarry in Yesilyurt/Malatya.  They claim 
that the quarry pollutes the environment. 
 
 
5. Turkiye / Three people are under police 
custody in Hakkari for helping PKK/KADEK. 
 
 
6. Turkiye / A village headman in Malatya is 
under questioning for not reporting an 
incident which happened in the village to 
the Gendarme. 
 
 
7. Turkiye / Gendarme Forces in Bismil found 
about 5000 root hemp and 11 kg of chemicals 
which are used in making marijuana. 
 
 
8. Cumhuriyet / In Mardin/Derik, Pirincli 
Village Head and about 18 village heads 
converted to AKP on the condition of 
receiving water in their villages.  They 
were known to vote for ANAP (Motherland 
Party) and Former Saadet Party in the 
previous elections. 
 
 
ECONOMICAL 
 
 
9.  Evrensel / Feridun Irak, Head of Van 
Chamber of Commerce announced that Iraq has 
started quotas in border trade. Irak stated 
that they had applied the Government for 
free trading at the border. 
 
 
EDITORIAL 
 
 
Ozdemir Ince from Hurriyet reported about the 
difficulties at Habur Border Gate.  Ince 
complained about the office hours (9.00-18.00) 
and stated that it took them about two and half 
hours to get approval to cross the border.  He 
also pointed out the problems in the security 
system. "They don't use X-rays, hand detectors 
and metal door detectors", he wrote. Ince wrote 
about the sign which says, "Welcome to Turkey" 
and said Habur Border Gate is "You are not 
Welcomed in Turkey Border Gate". 
HART