Update on PKK Violence (October 24-31, 2008)

UNCLAS ANKARA 001899 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV TU IZ SUBJECT: Update on PKK Violence (October 24-31, 2008) REF: ANKARA 1878 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 October 24-31, 2008 reporting period, no security official died, though one was injured when he stepped on a landmine in Tatvan, Bitlis Province on October 24. The total number of security force casualties for the year through October 31, 2008, was 137 killed and 231 injured. ¶3. (U) During the same period, no PKK terrorist was killed, however one was captured in Nilufer, Bursa Province in western Turkey on October 30. Three additional PKKers surrendered, two in Silopi, Sirnak Province and one in Semdinli, Hakkari Province. According to official TGS website figures, through the fourth week of October, the number of PKK militants killed this year was 640, the number of those captured was 144, and the number of those who surrendered was ¶138. ¶4. (U) During the reporting period no civilian was killed or injured in PKK-related incidents but the PKK kidnapped two private citizens in Ceylanli, Hakkari Province on October 26. The total number of civilian casualties for the year through the end of the fourth week of October, was 45 killed, with another 245 wounded. WILSON