Update on PKK Violence (June 24-30, 2008)

UNCLAS ANKARA 001209 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV TU IZ SUBJECT: Update on PKK Violence (June 24-30, 2008) REF: ANKARA 1178 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 June 24-30, 2008 reporting period, no security official was killed but seven were injured, including one by an IED and the rest in clashes. The total number of security forces casualties for the year through June 30, 2008, was 52 killed and 82 injured. ¶3. (U) During the same period, seven PKK terrorists were killed, including three found dead in Sirnak on June 30. Three PKKers were captured and four surrendered. According to official TGS website figures, through the fourth week of June, the number of PKK militants killed this year was 507, the number of those captured was 107, and the number of those who surrendered was 84. ¶4. (U) One civilian was injured when he stepped on a PKK landmine on June 27 in Semdinli, Hakkari. The total number of civilian casualties for the year through the end of the fourth week of June was 17 killed, with another 67 wounded. WILSON