PJAK STATEMENT ACCUSES U.S. OF SUPPORTING

S E C R E T ANKARA 001843 NOFORN SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2018 TAGS: PTER PINR PINS PROP MOPS IR IZ TU SUBJECT: PJAK STATEMENT ACCUSES U.S. OF SUPPORTING TURKEY-IRAN JOINT MILITARY OPERATIONS REF: ANKARA 1057 Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (U) The Freedom Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK),the terrorist, anti-Iran affiliate of the PKK, released a statement threatening U.S. interests on October 18. It claims that U.S.-Turkey intelligence cooperation has prompted Turkey-Iran cooperation and coordinated joint attacks on "libertarian resistance in Eastern Kurdistan pioneered by PJAK." According to PJAK, such cooperation was evident during December 16, 2007 Turkish airstrikes on Qandil mountain and October 17, 2008 attacks on villages in the Qandil region that were allegedly coordinated with Iranian shelling of nearby areas and which resulted in PJAK and civilian casualties. In the statement, PJAK accuses Turkey of transferring U.S. intelligence to Iran, implying U.S.-Turkey-Iran cooperation against "the only active opposition party of the Islamic Republic of Iran." PJAK warns Turkey and Iran that it will "respond in time to these attacks." PJAK urges the U.S. to stop the flow of information to Turkey, which it claims supports Iranian interests. ¶2. (S/NF) COMMENT: On October 17, the Turkish Air Force carried out several strikes against PKK targets in Qandil, using intelligence developed through the U.S.- Turkey Combined Intelligence Fusion Center. There were no counterpart Iranian actions against Qandil of which we are aware. Turkish political and military leaders have stressed to us that Turkey does not/not share operational intelligence provided by the U.S. with Iran (reftel) and that its coordination with Iran on PKK matters is limited to the Turkish-Iranian border. We believe the PKK's operational capacity in northern Iraq -- including the capabilities of its acolyte, PJAK -- to have been seriously degraded since U.S.-Turkish cooperation on the PKK began last year. END COMMENT. ¶3. (U) TEXT OF PJAK STATEMENT (AS RELEASED): BEGIN TEXT: Free Life Party of Kurdistan - PJAK, 18 October 2008 To our People and Public Opinion: On 16 December 2007, a new phase against the will of our people has been started. At the same time the United States of America provides Turkey with intelligence and simultaneously the fascist state of Turkey passes on the intelligence information to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Turkey and Iran cooperated and coordinated joint attacks on the Kurdistan libertarian resistance in Eastern Kurdistan pioneered by PJAK. This cooperation resulted in death of six cadres of our party members during the Turkish air strike on our Media center in Qandil mountain. A new stage of direct and indirect cooperation of Turkey and Iran has begun against the only active opposition party of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Turkey transfer of the USA intelligence information to Iran is a clear indication of its alliance and support of the Iranian Islamic state against the Kurdish people. These coordinated attacks have been launched within different periods of times and up till now. The results are the death of 12 guerrillas of PJAK and many civilians. At the same time tens of villages, mosques and libraries were bombed and demolished, many Kurdish civilian resident of Mount Qandil's slope face fear, terror and psychological pressure. They are displaced, terrified and a great damage have been inflicted on the nature of this region. Once again on 17th October 2008, at 12.45 pm, the Turkish warplanes bombarded the villages of Palatokani, Razke and Zalkan. Four of our new recruited guerrillas lost their lives, many Kurdish civilian injured and a big damage to the villagers property of this region occurred in this attack. Simultaneously and in coordination with the Turkish air strike, the Iranian forces shelled the regions of Rezge, Marko, Dolekote and Sekh Ayish. These Iranian and Turkish attacks have been launched two days after the American planes surveyed the region for twenty four hours. These shelling and air strikes depended on the American intelligence cooperation with Turkey. This indicates that American aids to Turkey indirectly will help promotes the Islamic Republic of Iran's interests and aggression in the region. The attacks on PJAK are against the Iranian opposition and the main party leading the struggle for freedom and democracy in Iran. PJAK is against the fascist regime of Iran oppression and terrorist policies applied against the Kurdish and Iranian people. PJAK is for democracy, peace and freedom of the Iranian people. We warn Turkey and the Islamic Republic of Iran that we will respond in time to these attacks and will stop their aggressive oppressive against our people. The Kurdish nation will shield and protect itself and will obtain its democratic rights. Victory and freedom for the Kurdish and Iranian people. We strongly condemn the transfer of information and the unholy alliance between Turkey and Iran. We ask the USA to stop its flow of intelligence information to Turkey. This cooperation in the final end is in support of the retrospective and non-democratic regime of Iran and jeopardizes the democratic process in the Middle East. END TEXT. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey WILSON