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

UNCLAS ANKARA 001665 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV TU IZ SUBJECT: Update on PKK Violence (September 8-15, 2008) REF: ANKARA 1623 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 8-15, 2008 reporting period, two security officials died, including one in clashes and the other in a PKK-linked IED explosion. Another two were injured in an IED explosion. The total number of security force casualties for the year through September 15, 2008, was 104 killed and 157 injured. ¶3. (U) During the same period, five PKK terrorists were killed in clashes. Two PKKers were captured and another three surrendered. According to official TGS website figures, through the second week of September, the number of PKK militants killed this year was 594, the number of those captured was 131, and the number of those who surrendered was 111. ¶4. (U) During the reporting period one civilian was kidnapped by the PKK in Tunceli Province on September 14. Another civilian was injured when he stepped on a landmine. The total number of civilian casualties for the year through the end of the second week of September, was 42 killed, with another 243 wounded. The number of civilian deaths in the last report (reftel) was misreported as 44. The correct total is 42. WILSON