Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA5125
2006-09-05 15:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY: PKK VIOLENCE REPORT, NINE TURKISH FORCES
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 005125
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY: PKK VIOLENCE REPORT, NINE TURKISH FORCES
DEAD
REF: A. ANKARA 4999 AND PREVIOUS
B. ANKARA 5010
C. ANKARA 5097
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 005125
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY: PKK VIOLENCE REPORT, NINE TURKISH FORCES
DEAD
REF: A. ANKARA 4999 AND PREVIOUS
B. ANKARA 5010
C. ANKARA 5097
1. (SBU) This is another in a series of periodic reports on
PKK violence in Turkey (ref a). Our primary sources for
tese reports are mainstream Turkish press services, such as
the Anatolian News Agency, and nternational wire services.
While these sources are more reliable than most Turkish press
sources, they are not necessarily unimpeachable. Press
services sympathetic to the PKK, such as Neu-Isenburg
People's Defense Forces and Firat News Agency, tend to report
higher numbers of Turkish Security Forces casualties.
2. (U) Summary. Two bombings and a string of probable
PKK-linked attacks occurred over the August 29 - September 3
period, killing nine Turkish security personnel and wounding
seven. During that same period, one civilian was killed and
fifteen were wounded; and two alleged PKK members were killed
and thirty-two were arrested. A woodcutter kidnapped in the
eastern province of Bingol on August 25 was released by the
PKK on August 29 (ref a). In addition, Turkish forces seized
2.5 kg of plastic explosives, additional weapons, and cash.
During the past week, press reports of Turkish cross-border
artillery fire could not be confirmed. End Summary.
3. (U) One person was injured after an explosion occurred in
a dumpster in the Mediterranean port city of Mersin on August
30, the Victory Day holiday celebrating the end of Turkey's
war of independence in 1922 (ref b). No organization claimed
responsibility for the attack; however, one person, dressed
as a sanitation worker, was arrested in connection with the
blast. On September 3, a remotely-detonated blast,
originating from a garbage container, occurred in Van
province at an open teahouse frequented by civil service
employees, killing two (one police officer and one civilian)
and injuring fourteen civilians (ref c).
4. (U) A string of separate attacks on Turkish forces
occurred in Sirnak, Hakkari, Van, and Diyarbakir from
September 1 - 3, killing eight soldiers and wounding six
others. On September 2, a private who allegedly informed the
PKK on the position of Turkish Forces to facilitate the
Hakkari attack became absent without leave and was arrested.
One soldier among these eight fatalities was killed by fire
reportedly opened from the Iranian side of the Turkey-Iran
border on September 2; although Turkish authorities believe
the PKK was responsible, they also held talks with Iranian
officials regarding the incident. Additionally, one soldier
was wounded during an attack by the PKK on police and
military lodgings in Van on August 30.
5. (U) Among thirty-two suspects arrested during the period
were three people alleged to have aided an individual
planning a bombing in Izmir in parallel with the recent
attacks on Adana, Istanbul, Marmaris, and Antalya (ref a).
Police reportedly seized 2.5 kg of plastic explosives, 2
detonator caps, and other bomb-making equipment in
conjunction with this arrest. Equipment police seized during
other arrests included 2 Kalashnikov assault rifles, 4 hand
grenades, 5,650 Kalashnikov rounds, hundreds of kilos of food
supplies, organizational documents, two fake IDs, and cash
totaling over 1000 USD.
6. (U) Continued press reports of alleged Turkish cross
border operations, including artillery fire, could not be
confirmed.
7. (U) We estimate that so far in 2006, approximately
twenty-nine civilians and up to 205 members of the Turkish
Security Forces have perished as a result of PKK violence.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
ANKARA 00005125 002 OF 002
WILSON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY: PKK VIOLENCE REPORT, NINE TURKISH FORCES
DEAD
REF: A. ANKARA 4999 AND PREVIOUS
B. ANKARA 5010
C. ANKARA 5097
1. (SBU) This is another in a series of periodic reports on
PKK violence in Turkey (ref a). Our primary sources for
tese reports are mainstream Turkish press services, such as
the Anatolian News Agency, and nternational wire services.
While these sources are more reliable than most Turkish press
sources, they are not necessarily unimpeachable. Press
services sympathetic to the PKK, such as Neu-Isenburg
People's Defense Forces and Firat News Agency, tend to report
higher numbers of Turkish Security Forces casualties.
2. (U) Summary. Two bombings and a string of probable
PKK-linked attacks occurred over the August 29 - September 3
period, killing nine Turkish security personnel and wounding
seven. During that same period, one civilian was killed and
fifteen were wounded; and two alleged PKK members were killed
and thirty-two were arrested. A woodcutter kidnapped in the
eastern province of Bingol on August 25 was released by the
PKK on August 29 (ref a). In addition, Turkish forces seized
2.5 kg of plastic explosives, additional weapons, and cash.
During the past week, press reports of Turkish cross-border
artillery fire could not be confirmed. End Summary.
3. (U) One person was injured after an explosion occurred in
a dumpster in the Mediterranean port city of Mersin on August
30, the Victory Day holiday celebrating the end of Turkey's
war of independence in 1922 (ref b). No organization claimed
responsibility for the attack; however, one person, dressed
as a sanitation worker, was arrested in connection with the
blast. On September 3, a remotely-detonated blast,
originating from a garbage container, occurred in Van
province at an open teahouse frequented by civil service
employees, killing two (one police officer and one civilian)
and injuring fourteen civilians (ref c).
4. (U) A string of separate attacks on Turkish forces
occurred in Sirnak, Hakkari, Van, and Diyarbakir from
September 1 - 3, killing eight soldiers and wounding six
others. On September 2, a private who allegedly informed the
PKK on the position of Turkish Forces to facilitate the
Hakkari attack became absent without leave and was arrested.
One soldier among these eight fatalities was killed by fire
reportedly opened from the Iranian side of the Turkey-Iran
border on September 2; although Turkish authorities believe
the PKK was responsible, they also held talks with Iranian
officials regarding the incident. Additionally, one soldier
was wounded during an attack by the PKK on police and
military lodgings in Van on August 30.
5. (U) Among thirty-two suspects arrested during the period
were three people alleged to have aided an individual
planning a bombing in Izmir in parallel with the recent
attacks on Adana, Istanbul, Marmaris, and Antalya (ref a).
Police reportedly seized 2.5 kg of plastic explosives, 2
detonator caps, and other bomb-making equipment in
conjunction with this arrest. Equipment police seized during
other arrests included 2 Kalashnikov assault rifles, 4 hand
grenades, 5,650 Kalashnikov rounds, hundreds of kilos of food
supplies, organizational documents, two fake IDs, and cash
totaling over 1000 USD.
6. (U) Continued press reports of alleged Turkish cross
border operations, including artillery fire, could not be
confirmed.
7. (U) We estimate that so far in 2006, approximately
twenty-nine civilians and up to 205 members of the Turkish
Security Forces have perished as a result of PKK violence.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
ANKARA 00005125 002 OF 002
WILSON