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DE RUEHDA #0032/01 0671043
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RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 1059

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000032 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MARCH 7, 2007 
 
 
¶1.      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 
 
¶2.      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. 
 
¶3.      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. 
 
¶4.      ZAMAN / GUNDEM: The dailies report that hair and skin 
samples taken from Ocalan were sent to Istanbul Forensic 
Authority for further examination. 
 
¶5.      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. 
 
¶6.      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. 
 
¶7.      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 
 
¶8.      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. 
 
¶9.      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. 
 
¶10.     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. 
 
¶11.     SABAH (GUNEY):  As a result of the efforts of the 
 
ADANA 00000032  002 OF 002 
 
 
Kahramanmaras police, three alcohol and historical artifact 
smugglers were caught in operations conducted simultaneously at 
separate districts. 
 
¶12.     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 
 
¶13.     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." 
 
¶14.     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 
 
¶15.     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. 
¶16.     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. 
 
¶17.     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. 
 
¶18.     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