Update on PKK Violence (September 1-7, 2008)

UNCLAS ANKARA 001623 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV TU IZ SUBJECT: Update on PKK Violence (September 1-7, 2008) REF: ANKARA 1546 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 September 1-7, 2008 reporting period, 13 security officials died, including ten in clashes and three in PKK IED explosions. Another four were injured in clashes. The total number of security force casualties for the year through September 7, 2008, was 102 killed and 155 injured. ¶3. (U) During the same period, seven PKK terrorists were killed in the clashes. Three PKKers were captured and another two surrendered. According to official TGS website figures, through the first week of September, the number of PKK militants killed this year was 589, the number of those captured was 129, and the number of those who surrendered was 108. ¶4. (U) During the reporting period one civilian was killed by PKKers who entered the village of Genc, Bingol Province on September 4. An additional four civilian were injured in two separate IED explosions. The total number of civilian casualties for the year through the end of the first week of September, was 44 killed, with another 242 wounded. WILSON