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

UNCLAS ANKARA 000956 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV TU IZ SUBJECT: Update on PKK Violence (May 8-15, 2008) REF: ANKARA 947 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 May 8-15, 2008 reporting period, seven security officials were killed, including six soldiers in clashes and one when he stepped on an IED. During the same period five security officials were injured, including four in clashes and one when he stepped on a landmine. The total number of security force casualties for the year through May 15, 2008 was 44 killed and 48 injured. ¶3. (U) During the same period, 19 PKK terrorists were reported killed. Four additional PKKers were captured and two surrendered. According to official TGS website figures, through the second week of May, the number of PKK militants killed this year was 487, the number of those captured was 92, and the number of those who surrendered was 61. ¶4. (U) Five civilians lost their lives, including four whose minibus hit a landmine on a road near Sason in Batman Province and one who stepped on an IED. Six civilians were injured, including four in the minibus attack and two when they stepped on an IED. The total number of civilian casualties for the year through the end of the second week of May was 16 killed, with another 58 wounded. WILSON