Update on PKK Violence (May 24-31, 2008)

UNCLAS ANKARA 001024 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV TU IZ SUBJECT: Update on PKK Violence (May 24-31, 2008) REF: ANKARA 1002 and previous (U) Sensitive but unclassified - please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) This is another in a series of weekly reports on PKK violence in Turkey. Our primary source is the Turkish General Staff (TGS) website, which documents contacts and clashes with the PKK, as well as casualties incurred. ¶2. (U) During the May 24-31, 2008 reporting period, one security official was killed when he stepped on a landmine. Seven security forces were injured, including one in clashes and the rest in explosions of either landmines or IEDs. The total number of security force casualties for the year through May 31, 2008 was 49 killed and 59 injured. ¶3. (U) During the same period, three PKK terrorists were killed in clashes. Two more PKKers were captured and three surrendered. According to official TGS website figures, through the fourth week of May, the number of PKK militants killed this year was 492, the number of those captured was 96, and the number of those who surrendered was 66. ¶4. (U) One civilian died near Baskale, Van Province, on May 26. TGS reported the incident on its website, noting that the "PKK killed the district administrator (muhtar) of Bilgec village." Three additional civilians were injured in Yuksekova, Hakkari Province, in the explosion of an IED. The total number of civilian casualties for the year through the end of the fourth week of May was 17 killed, with another 61 wounded. WILSON