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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000196 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER 06, 2006 
 
 
This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for September 6, 
¶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 
 
HURRIYET / ZAMAN:       According to dailies, two PKK terrorists who 
hitched a ride with a family on a road in Batman's Kozluk 
district, opened fire from that car at Jandarma officials doing 
road checks for their search for the terrorists.  The exchange 
of fire between the two terrorists and security officials killed 
the two terrorists in the back seat and a ten year old girl 
sitting in the front seat (see press summary 09/06).  The mother 
of the girl was wounded and the girl's brother, who was driving 
the car, incurred a minor wound.  Batman Security Director 
expressed his sorrow and said that the girl was shot dead in 
error by police during the crossfire.   Reportedly, explosives 
and automatic guns were found with the bodies of the terrorists. 
 
RADIKAL / OZGUR GUNDEM: The dailies report statements by the 
Batman chapter of Human Rights Association (HRA) about the 
killing of a 10 year old girl, Mizgin Ozbek, in Batman's Kozluk 
district allegedly by the security officials.  According to HRA 
officials, who spoke with the mother of the girl at the 
hospital, the girl was sitting at the back seat with two young 
persons who asked for a ride from the family.  As the car was 
traveling, security officials allegedly suddenly opened fire at 
the car without shouting a demand to halt or without any attempt 
to stop the car.  HRA officials pointed out that the back seat 
of the car was allegedly targeted during the incident and all of 
the people who died were in the back seats.  HRA also said that 
there were no guns in the car. 
 
OZGUR GUNDEM:   HPG (People's Protection Forces) reportedly 
dismissed any involvement of the PKK with the explosion that 
took place in Van's Catak district (see press summary 09/05). 
 
 
 
ZAMAN:  A PKK member reportedly surrendered to security 
officials at Agri's Provincial Jandarma Command. 
 
EVRENSEL / ZAMAN / OZGUR GUNDEM:        European Court heard 
statements of two parties concerning the controversial case of 
national election threshold in Turkey, which, according to 
former DEHAP politicians, has been hindering the representatives 
of the electorate base to win seats in the Turkish parliament 
(see press summary 09/05).  According to Turkey's stance, the 
election threshold is necessary for political stability in 
Turkey. 
 
SABAH (GUNEY):  Second Army Corps Commander Lieutenant General 
Dursun Bak, who retired from his post recently, paid a farewell 
visit to the Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce. Democratic 
organizations in Mersin also protested the government for its 
considerations about sending troops to Lebanon. 
 
SABAH (GUNEY):  Non-governmental organizations and political 
parties in Adana protested the AKP government for its recent 
attempt to contribute troops to the UN force in Lebanon.  The 
protesting group laid a black wreath in front of the AKP 
provincial party building. 
 
SABAH (GUNEY):  Under sponsorship of Gaziantep Governor's 
Office, some organizations in Gaziantep have undertaken efforts 
to organize a festival called "International Golden Pistachio 
Festival" between September 14 and 17. 
 
BOLGE:  The queue of trucks waiting to be processed at the 
Oncupinar Border Gate in Kilis province formed an 8 kilometer 
line because of the workload at the border gate and slowness of 
operations on the Syrian side.  A team from the Ministry of 
Transportation met with the Syrian authorities about the issue 
last week, but there was only a slight change in the pace of the 
operations afterwards.  Meanwhile, Zaman daily pointed out that 
issues at the Oncupinar Border Gate and Cilvegozu border gate in 
Hatay have adverse affects on vegetable and fruit exports from 
Turkey. 
 
BOLGE:  Chairperson of Adana's Chamber of Industry will take 
part in a symposium called 'Regional Development and 
Administration' in Ankara which is an event organized by Middle 
East Technical University and Foundation for Research on 
 
ADANA 00000196  002 OF 002 
 
 
Turkey's Economic Policies. 
 
BOLGE / EKSPRES:        Registrations for the 2006-2007 academic 
semester in Adana's Cukurova University will end on September 8. 
 Registrar's Office required the students, who came to register 
themselves, to comply with the university regulations about not 
wearing religious headscarves at the university.  Some of the 
students who refused to uncover their head reportedly were not 
able to register. 
 
BOLGE:  The daily reports rumors surfacing in the political 
arena of Adana.  A distinguished businessman of Adana has 
reportedly been making preparations for his future candidacy 
(from AKP) for the mayorship of Adana two years ahead of the 
local elections.  The daily did not provide the name of the 
businessman in its report. 
GREEN