VZCZCXRO0723
RR RUEHDA
DE RUEHDA #0106/01 1310547
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 110547Z MAY 06
FM AMCONSUL ADANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4135
INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 0684
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0593
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 0732
RUEUITH/AFOSI DET 521 ANKARA TU

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000106 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MAY 10, 2006 
 
This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for May 10, 2006. 
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 
 
EVRENSEL / OZGUR GUNDEM / CUMHURIYET:   Investigation has been 
started against DTP Co-Chairmen, Diyarbakir Mayor, SDP 
(Socialist Democracy Party) National Chairperson, a senior EMEP 
(Party of Labor) member, and a number of other people, who lit a 
torch to celebrate symbolically the coming of Newruz in 
Hakkari's Semdinli district on March 18.  The subgovernor then 
did not grant authorization for celebrations in Semdinli 
district.  Meanwhile, investigation has been started against 
five people, including deputy mayor of Sanliurfa's Viransehir 
district, because of the unrest that developed during an April 3 
march in Viransehir that was conducted to protest the turbulent 
demonstrations that took place in Diyarbakir late in March. 
 
RADIKAL / OZGUR GUNDEM / CUMHURIYET:    The courts have 
initiated trials of children accused of getting involved in the 
violent demonstrations in Diyarbakir late in March. Diyarbakir 
Children's Heavy Penalty Court, which held a trial for 23 
children yesterday, started the trial of a group of 13 children 
today.  Seven of the children, who were under arrest, have been 
released to stand trial with the rest of the children later. 
The daily reported that currently 30 children are still under 
arrest. 
 
ZAMAN:  The Daily Ulkede Ozgur Gundem's May 9 editions, 
which reportedly published an announcement making a call for 
terrorist activities, were withdrawn from shelves yesterday.  An 
Istanbul prosecutor's office initiated an investigation against 
the newspaper and the owner of the announcement. 
 
EVRENSEL:       Mersin's 2nd Court of First Instance continued to 
hear the case of 6 children who were accused of burning Turkish 
flag in last year's Newruz celebrations. 
 
EVRENSEL:       When state minister announced that the Turkish 
companies awaiting payment from Iraq for three months for the 
transportation services rendered would receive their money, 
truck drivers resumed transportation activities which currently 
caused congestion at the Habur Border Gate in Sirnak. 
 
ZAMAN / BOLGE / EKSPRES:        Mustafa Attaroglu, newly elected 
chairperson of AKP Adana provincial party organization, assumed 
office with a ceremony marking transfer of duties.  Former 
chairperson Abdullah Dogru was not present in the event because 
he was reportedly out of town. 
 
HURRIYET / BOLGE / ZAMAN:       Council of Ministers' decision to 
found a faculty of communication at Adana's Cukurova University 
has been published on the Turkish Republic's Official Gazette. 
Cukurova Journalists' Association Chairperson expressed his 
gratification on the news. 
 
BOLGE / CUMHURIYET:     AKP central executive board referred 
Fuat Gecen, AKP deputy from Hatay, who voiced allegations about 
irregularities in public tenders in Hatay some time ago, to the 
central disciplinary board with a demand to dismiss him from the 
party. 
 
SABAH (GUNEY):  In four separate police operations of Mersin, 
Adana, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep and Van Security Directorates (see 
press summary 05/09), 2-million-new-Turkish-lira-worth of 
smuggled goods, including drugs, fake stamps, electronic devices 
and cigarettes, have been seized in Mersin.  Separately, Mardin 
Security Directorate seized 14 packets of heroin, each of which 
was 500 grams, found in a private car at the Nusaybin border 
gate in Mardin. 
 
SABAH (GUNEY) / OZGUR GUNDEM / HURRIYET (CUKUROVA):     Heavy 
rains and hail caused flooding in Bitlis and its Tatvan 
district.  Material damage on roads, city water network, sewage 
system, on houses and businesses has been reported.  Meanwhile, 
flooding in Diyarbakir's Dicle district killed a child.  Serious 
damage to agricultural fields has been reported.  Meanwhile, a 
3.2 magnitude earthquake hit Malatya's Arguvan district.  No 
casualties or damage was reported. 
 
OZGUR GUNDEM:   Masked special team members conducted a raid 
to the house of a person whom they detained the previous day in 
Diyarbakir.  Meanwhile, police, who have reportedly been 
conducting raids at Sanliurfa's Suruc district, detained five 
people one of whom was a DTP member. 
 
OZGUR GUNDEM:   Iran launched an operation against PKK 
 
ADANA 00000106  002 OF 002 
 
 
guerillas at the border area with Turkey on May 7. 
 
OZGUR GUNDEM:   The daily claimed that PKK terrorists attacked 
a Jandarma station in Mardin's Nusaybin district and allegedly 
killed five soldiers.  Meanwhile, the scope of the military 
operation going on in Siirt has reportedly been extended. 
 
BOLGE:  European Union Coordination Center at Adana 
Governor's Office held a seminar called "Agricultural Policies 
of EU" to mark the May 9 EU Day. 
REID