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DE RUEHDA #0041/01 0750927
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R 160927Z MAR 07
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RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0876
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC
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RHMFIUU/AFOSI DET 522 INCIRLIK AB TU
RUETIAA/DIRNSA FT MEADE MD
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 1075

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000041 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MARCH 15, 2007 
 
This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for March 15, 
¶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 
 
EVRENSEL:       The representatives of Gundem daily, whose 
publication was banned for one month last week, will hold a 
press announcement tomorrow.  The venue of the press 
announcement was not specified by the daily. 
 
RADIKAL / EVRENSEL:     The police conducted an unannounced raid 
at the Tunceli chapter of DTP yesterday.  Police also conducted 
raids on the houses of DTP members and detained ten people. 
According to Radikal, a total of five people were detained. 
Radikal further stated that police conducted the raid as a 
result of tip-offs about PKK members making contact with DTP 
officials ahead of Newroz celebrations.  DTP Tunceli chairperson 
condemned the raids, and the EMEP's (Party of Labor) party 
organization showed its reaction to the raids by paying a visit 
to DTP Tunceli chapter.  Meanwhile, actions were reportedly 
brought against chairmen of DTP chapters in three western 
provinces for "praising the criminal acts and criminals." 
 
 
EVRENSEL:       The daily reports that "as some circles are trying 
to escalate tension before the Newroz celebrations," 76 
applications have been lodged nationwide with authorities to get 
permission for this year's Newroz celebrations and preparations 
for Newroz were well under way.  The Diyarbakir Newroz committee 
stated that some problems were experienced with their 
application process because of the non-Turkish "w" letter in the 
word Newroz used in the application documents.  It is expected 
that Diyarbakir, Van and Batman will be able to celebrate Newroz 
on March 21.  Committees in Igdir and Agri provinces were 
granted permission for March 21.  The authorities overturned the 
application of the DTP in Tunceli because of the "w" letter in 
the documents and the committee had to reapply after revising 
the documents.  The Deputy Chairperson of the Diyarbakir DTP 
said that they hoped to attract one million people to this 
year's celebrations in Diyarbakir. 
 
HURRIYET (CUKUROVA):    Adana Mayor Aytac Durak, who has served 
19 years as Adana mayor, reportedly announced five months ago 
that he will not run again in the next elections.  However, 
Durak startled everybody in town by stating that he will not 
leave the seat before completing the controversial light rail 
metro project which was launched twenty years ago. (This summary 
is from March 14 edition.) 
 
CRIME / LAW ENFORCEMENT 
 
SABAH (GUNEY):  Jandarma teams conducted an anti-drug 
operation and searched a truck it stopped around Gaziantep's Nur 
Mountain area.  The truck set off from Hakkari's Yuksekova 
district and teams found nearly 107 kilograms of heroin 
substance in hidden sections. 
 
HURRIYET (CUKUROVA):    Jandarma teams stopped and searched a 
truck that was traveling from Hakkari's Yuksekova district to 
Van.  35 kilograms of heroin was found in the hidden sections. 
 
SABAH (GUNEY):  Two of the security personnel of Cukurova 
University were caught as they were stealing two computers and 
office materials from the health unit of the university. 
 
SABAH (GUNEY):  Police conducted an anti-smuggling operation 
in Adana and seized 35,000 boxes of smuggled cigarettes. 
Smuggling and Organized Crime Branch of the Turkish Police 
stated that 150,000 boxes of smuggled cigarettes were seized in 
the last three months and 25 persons were apprehended in 
connection with smuggling activities. 
 
SABAH (GUNEY):  Upon receiving a tip-off that thieves would 
steal oil from the Ceyhan-Kirikkale pipeline that crosses the 
area near the Cicekli village of Adana, the police conducted an 
operation and caught six people who attempted to flee away. 
CULTURE / SOCIETY / ENVIRONMENT 
 
CUMHURIYET:     When the family of a fifteen year old girl forced 
their daughter to marry a boy they selected in Diyarbakir, the 
girl objected and fought with her family.  Later, in a row the 
girl had with her fianci, her fianci shot her legs seven times. 
 
ADANA 00000041  002 OF 002 
 
 
The girl was hospitalized, her health is not life-threatening, 
and she is reportedly under police protection now. 
 
BOLGE / EVRENSEL:       Health service employees held demonstrations 
throughout Turkey against the policies of the government in the 
health sector.  In Adana, under alliance of the chamber of 
doctors and some unions, health workers went on a strike for two 
hours in public health institutions.  Only the personnel at 
emergency units continued working. 
 
ZAMAN:  The Turkish Foreign Ministry reportedly requested 
from Turkish Embassies throughout the world the names of members 
of Armenian Diaspora whom the Ministry could plan to invite to 
the March 29 opening of historical Armanian Akdhdamar Church 
located on the Island Akhdamar of Van which has been a 
restorated. 
 
ZAMAN / BOLGE / EKSPRES:        Mustafa Gulek, son of the deceased 
Secretary General of CHP in 1950s, was accredited as the 
 
SIPDIS 
Honorary Consul of the UK in Adana during a reception held at 
Hilton which the British Ambassador Nick Baird attended, as 
well.  The other invitees of the reception were Deputy Adana 
Governor Abdullah, Adana Deputy Mayor, the US Consul to Adana, 
bureaucrats and businessmen. 
GREEN