Update on PKK Violence (July 8-15, 2008)

UNCLAS ANKARA 001291 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV TU IZ SUBJECT: Update on PKK Violence (July 8-15, 2008) REF: ANKARA 1290 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 July 8-15, 2008 reporting period, three security officials were killed, including one in clashes and two in an IED explosion. Eleven security officials were injured, including seven by IEDs and four in clashes. The total number of security force casualties for the year through July 15, 2008, was 56 killed and 93 injured. ¶3. (U) During the same period, 34 PKK terrorists were killed in clashes, including one who was found dead (and presumed killed by the PKK) in Kulp, Diyarbakir Province on July 15. Three PKKers were captured, another three surrendered. According to official TGS website figures, through the second week of July, the number of PKK militants killed this year was 545, the number of those captured was 110, and the number of those who surrendered was 89. ¶4. (U) One civilian was killed when he stepped on a landmine in Genc, Bingol Province on July 11. Three German tourists were kidnapped on Mount Ararat by the PKK on July 8. The total number of civilian casualties for the year through the end of the second week of July was 18 killed, with another 67 wounded. WILSON