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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000031 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR 7 MARCH 2007 
 
 
This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for March 7, 2007. 
 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 
 
EKSPRES / SABAH (GUNEY) / BOLGE / EVRENSEL / ZAMAN / RADIKAL: 
Kahramanmaras Governor Ilhan Atis, who has been assigned to the 
governor's position in Adana through a decree that reshuffled 
governors, said, 'if my new position in Adana is being seen as a 
promotion, that I should have earned through working with the 
courage that Kahramanmaras people instituted me with. My 
happiness is only because I am not going to a far away place.' 
Adana Governor Cahit Kirac has been assigned as the new Izmir 
Governor.  Former Izmir Governor has been assigned as the 
National Security Director. 
 
GUNDEM: Sezgin Tanrikulu, Chairperson of Diyarbakir Bar 
Association, said that authorities must open the doors of the 
Imrali Prison, where Abdullah Ocalan is being kept, to an 
independent commission of doctors.  DTP welcomed the decision of 
the government to send three doctors to Imrali to take samples 
from Ocalan, but regarded Justice Minister's remarks that 
allegations about the poisoning of Ocalan would be soon refuted 
as unfortunate since those remarks were exerting pressure on the 
three-doctor delegation. 300 people, including members of 
several civil society associations, unions and DTP members 
gathered in Tunceli to hold a press announcement upon remarks 
made by Justice Minister about the health condition of Abdullah 
Ocalan (see press summary for March 6).  Thousands of women are 
reportedly continuing their March 8 Women's Day activities in 
Sirnak and the women are reportedly pointing out the health 
condition of Ocalan.  The daily reports some people as hurling 
Molotov cocktails at non-passenger train cars in Mersin and 
Istanbul and causing small fires and material damage, to protest 
the alleged poisoning of Ocalan. 
 
ZAMAN / GUNDEM: The dailies report that hair and skin samples 
taken from Ocalan were sent to Istanbul Forensic Authority for 
further examination. 
 
RADIKAL / ZAMAN / GUNDEM:       A Diyarbakir court sentenced Ahmet 
Turk, National Chirperson of DTP, to six months in prison for 
using a courtesy title before the name of Ocalan during a speech 
he delivered at a meeting with mayors from DTP on January 18, 
¶2006. 
 
GUNDEM: Subgovernor's Office in Sanliurfa's Halfeti district 
overturned the application of the local newroz committee 
requesting authorization to conduct local celebrations on 
grounds that the application document included a non-Turkish 
alphabetical character, which is 'w'.  DTP distict chairperson 
of Halfeti said that they changed the text of the document and 
reapplied to hold celebrations in the district. 
 
GUNDEM: DTP Siirt provincial party organization will send an 
invitation to PM Erdogan for the Newroz celebrations in Siirt. 
The Newroz committee will reportedly soon apply to governor's 
office to get permission for celebratory activities. 
 
CRIME / LAW ENFORCEMENT 
 
GUNDEM: Four of the six people, who were detained on March 4 
for allegedly holding a protest over news about Abdullah 
Ocalan's health in Diyarbakir's Ergani district, were arrested 
after being arraigned on charges that they violated the Law on 
Holding Demonstrations and Gatherings.  Meanwhile, two persons, 
deputy district chairperson of DTP and members of DTP's youth 
branches in Hakkari's Yuksekova district, were detained on 
unspecified grounds. 
 
SABAH (GUNEY) / HURRIYET (CUKUROVA):    Hakkari police 
unveiled a drug network in Hakkari and seized 28 kilograms of 
heroin which the dealers intended to market in the European 
countries. 
 
SABAH (GUNEY):  Sirnak police seized 19,746 liters of smuggled 
fuel oil in the last one month in Sirnak's Cizre district. 
Along with fuel oil, police also seized large amounts of 
smuggled cigarettes, tea, cigars and tobacco. Five persons have 
been detained. 
 
SABAH (GUNEY):  As a result of the efforts of the 
 
ADANA 00000031  002 OF 002 
 
 
Kahramanmaras police, three alcohol and historical artifact 
smugglers were caught in operations conducted simultaneously at 
separate districts. 
 
HURRIYET (CUKUROVA) / ZAMAN:    Seyhan Municipality police in 
Adana cracked down on counterfeiters and seized 1 tons of 
detergents that copied brand-names and are ready to be offered 
for sale. 
 
ECONOMY 
 
SABAH (GUNEY):  Hatay's Antakya and Iskenderun districts will 
also extend support to Mersin's "2nd Animal Breeding Fair," and, 
"Food, Food Technologies and Packaging Fair." 
 
SABAH (GUNEY):  TOBB (Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity 
Exchange) is going to build an international transit customs 
gate at the border area with Syria in Mardin's Nusaybin 
district.  The gate will be an alternative to the Habur Border 
Gate in Sirnak.  2500 vehicles will be processed at the gate on 
a daily basis.  TOBB will invest 20-25 million dollars to 
de-mine the area where the border gate will be constructed. 
 
CULTURE / SOCIETY / ENVIRONMENT 
 
HURRIYET (CUKUROVA):    Cukurova University rector said that a 
helicopter landing platform will be built south of university's 
Balcali Hospital in Adana.  The platform will be useful in 
making the hospital more effective during a possible disaster in 
the area. 
HURRIYET (CUKUROVA):    ANAP (Motherland Party) Adana provincial 
chairperson Necati Erdem pointed out that the overall crime rate 
in Turkey soared in 2006 and the streets of big cities have 
become unsafe places for people.  Erdem pointed out that the 
crime rate should in fact be higher because most of the people 
are not reporting crimes because of their distrust of the 
police. 
 
GUNDEM: Istanbul Kurdish Association Institute awarded 
Abdullah Demirbas, Mayor of Sur Municipality in Diyarbakir, with 
a prize for his efforts in developing the Kurdish language. 
Meanwhile, the daily reports that senior officials of DTP 
Diyarbakir party organization paid visits to Mayor Demirbas to 
extend support to him following the Ministry of Interior's file 
lodged with the Council of State to dismiss Demirbas and 
municipality assembly members from their positions reportedly on 
grounds that they undertook efforts to promote a multi-language 
environment. 
 
ZAMAN:  Following Batman province, which has increasing 
suicide rates, the daily reports that the suicide rate in 
Diyarbakir's Bismil district has also increased. 
GREEN