Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA4587
2006-08-09 16:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY: POSSIBLE ESCALATION OF PKK VIOLENCE IN
how-toVZCZCXRO5727 OO RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHAK #4587 2211617 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 091617Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7788 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL IMMEDIATE 1060 RUEKDAI/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA// IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// IMMEDIATE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RHMFIUU/425ABS IZMIR TU//CC// IMMEDIATE RHMFIUU/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU IMMEDIATE RUEPGAB/MNF-I C2X BAGHDAD IZ IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS ANKARA 004587
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: POSSIBLE ESCALATION OF PKK VIOLENCE IN
ADVANCE OF AUGUST 15 ANNIVERSARY
REF: ANKARA 4408 AND PREVIOUS
UNCLAS ANKARA 004587
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: POSSIBLE ESCALATION OF PKK VIOLENCE IN
ADVANCE OF AUGUST 15 ANNIVERSARY
REF: ANKARA 4408 AND PREVIOUS
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para. 4.
2. (SBU) On August 15, 1984, PKK militants killed two police
officers in Eruh and Semdinli, launching the armed phase of
the PKK's campaign for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey. The
anniversary of the PKK's first attack against Turkish
government installations has historically provided an excuse
for an escalation of violence. Increased PKK activity linked
to the anniversary compelled Turkish police to increase
security measures in August 2005 and we expect this year to
be no exception. Similar increases in PKK violence have been
observed around November 27, the anniversary of the PKK's
founding in 1978 by Abdullah Ocalan, who has been in a
Turkish prison since 1999.
3. (SBU) Since mid-July, PKK-related violence has continued
unabated. During this period, in addition to the deaths of
twenty-seven members of the Turkish security forces, the
killings of two civilians (including a child),five bomb
blasts, and the seizure of weapons caches (including 16.5 kg
of plastic explosives),the PKK appears to have become more
confrontational. It claimed responsibility for an August 7
raid in which two masked gunmen killed a Turkish army NCO and
seriously injured his eight-year-old son at their home in
southeastern Sirnak province. One journalist who closely
follows the issue has suggested that the home invasion may
indicate a change in PKK tactics from the use of landmines,
remotely-detonated IEDs, and hit-and-run attacks to more
daring and direct confrontation. It is also possible that an
August 6 attack on a Jandarma patrol in Gumushane portends
the extension of PKK violence to the previously quiet
northeastern region of Turkey.
4. (SBU) Action Request. Recognizing the significance of the
August 15 anniversary to the PKK, we recommend that the
Department issue a statement condemning PKK terrorist
violence and calling for an end to its armed activities
against Turkey. The following is a suggested draft statement:
Begin Text: The United States government wishes to mark the
August 15 anniversary of the beginning of terrorism by the
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) against our ally, the Republic
of Turkey, by calling upon the PKK to cease its violent
terrorist actions and lay down its arms. PKK violence has
led to the deaths of over 30,000 Turkish security forces and
civilians over the past 22 years. After a lull in violence
for several years following the capture of the terrorist
Abdullah Ocalan in 1999, PKK terrorism resumed in 2004-06 and
has claimed over 500 civilian and security services victims
so far this year. This violence has undermined Turkey,s
prospects and significantly set back the aspirations of
Turkey,s ethnic Kurdish population that the PKK purports to
represent. End Text.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: POSSIBLE ESCALATION OF PKK VIOLENCE IN
ADVANCE OF AUGUST 15 ANNIVERSARY
REF: ANKARA 4408 AND PREVIOUS
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para. 4.
2. (SBU) On August 15, 1984, PKK militants killed two police
officers in Eruh and Semdinli, launching the armed phase of
the PKK's campaign for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey. The
anniversary of the PKK's first attack against Turkish
government installations has historically provided an excuse
for an escalation of violence. Increased PKK activity linked
to the anniversary compelled Turkish police to increase
security measures in August 2005 and we expect this year to
be no exception. Similar increases in PKK violence have been
observed around November 27, the anniversary of the PKK's
founding in 1978 by Abdullah Ocalan, who has been in a
Turkish prison since 1999.
3. (SBU) Since mid-July, PKK-related violence has continued
unabated. During this period, in addition to the deaths of
twenty-seven members of the Turkish security forces, the
killings of two civilians (including a child),five bomb
blasts, and the seizure of weapons caches (including 16.5 kg
of plastic explosives),the PKK appears to have become more
confrontational. It claimed responsibility for an August 7
raid in which two masked gunmen killed a Turkish army NCO and
seriously injured his eight-year-old son at their home in
southeastern Sirnak province. One journalist who closely
follows the issue has suggested that the home invasion may
indicate a change in PKK tactics from the use of landmines,
remotely-detonated IEDs, and hit-and-run attacks to more
daring and direct confrontation. It is also possible that an
August 6 attack on a Jandarma patrol in Gumushane portends
the extension of PKK violence to the previously quiet
northeastern region of Turkey.
4. (SBU) Action Request. Recognizing the significance of the
August 15 anniversary to the PKK, we recommend that the
Department issue a statement condemning PKK terrorist
violence and calling for an end to its armed activities
against Turkey. The following is a suggested draft statement:
Begin Text: The United States government wishes to mark the
August 15 anniversary of the beginning of terrorism by the
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) against our ally, the Republic
of Turkey, by calling upon the PKK to cease its violent
terrorist actions and lay down its arms. PKK violence has
led to the deaths of over 30,000 Turkish security forces and
civilians over the past 22 years. After a lull in violence
for several years following the capture of the terrorist
Abdullah Ocalan in 1999, PKK terrorism resumed in 2004-06 and
has claimed over 500 civilian and security services victims
so far this year. This violence has undermined Turkey,s
prospects and significantly set back the aspirations of
Turkey,s ethnic Kurdish population that the PKK purports to
represent. End Text.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON