TURKEY: SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN NUMBER OF SOUTHEAST VIOLENT

UNCLAS ADANA 000051 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PTER TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN NUMBER OF SOUTHEAST VIOLENT CLASHES ON THIS YEAR'S PKK ANNIVERSARY ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: When compared with previous years, the 2009 anniversary of the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) saw significantly lower levels of violence in Turkey's southeast, with only two notable incidents. The night of August 15, one police officer died in clashes between PKK sympathizers and Adana law enforcement personnel. In Gaziantep, pro-PKK demonstrators attacked two police vehicles with Molotov cocktails and stones; police opened fire in the air, wounding one civilian. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) ADANA: Adana law enforcement contacts confirmed the death of Ferdi Ozkan, a 24-year-old police officer, who died of stab wounds after the August 15 skirmish. While the local press report approximately 500 illegal demonstrators convened to shout pro-PKK slogans, the chief of Adana's security branch clarified that the crowd was already gathered to attend a series of summer music concerts. Given the sensitive date, the chief of police dispatched extra forces to the predominantly Kurdish borough. According to the press, Ozkan was dressed in civilian attire that evening and was serving as the official driver of the anti-riot police chief. Press report protesters hurled Molotov cocktails and stones at police, and set fire to tires and trash. Anti-riot forces responded with tear gas and water cannons. During the mayhem, local media report eyewitnesses saw Ozkan break the line and run into the crowd of demonstrators, where he was stabbed. (COMMENT: The national press has portrayed Ozkan as a victim of "traitors" who killed him, but it may have been Ozkan's boldness that cost him his life rather than a PKK supporter bent on killing a police officer. END COMMENT.) ¶3. (U) Local mainstream media coverage of the fallen officer in Adana has been fraught with emotion and messages of patriotism. High-level provincial officials have publicly expressed condolences, in addition to PM Erdogan. Local papers featured photos of Adana Governor Ilhan Atis kissing the flag-draped coffin. In remarks at the funeral service, Atis said, "We promise you that we will protect the values you died for until eternity within the framework of rule of law and keeping our country in a unitary structure." Ozkan's father was quoted as saying he would gladly spare the life of another son, if he had one, to save the country. The local pro-Kurdish daily gave thin coverage to the event. ¶4. (SBU) GAZIANTEP: The Gaziantep anti-terror police chief confirmed on the evening of August 15, PKK supporters threw stones and Molotov cocktails and burned trash barrels to block the path of routine law enforcement patrols. The attack damaged two police vehicles. Police responded with warning shots fired into the air, and press report a stray bullet from this exchange seriously wounded a civilian in the area. ¶5. (SBU) COMMENT: Despite these skirmishes, August 15 passed relatively quietly this year. Consulate Adana's LES security assistant, with over ten years of experience in the region, estimates incidents are down at least 75% compared to years past. This relative calm is most certainly linked to number of factors: the significant decrease in the number of cross-border operations launched by the Turkish military as compared with summer 2008; the PKK's cease-fire, declared until September 1; and, perhaps the most important, the latest steps by the AK Party government to include the opinions of all political and civic actors in the country in their much discussed "Kurdish Opening." In the past, the PKK's characteristic tactic of using disorderly street scenes to motivate DTP supporters kept the Kurdish issue on the agenda. With this new democratic momentum, the main message may finally be resonating: violence is not an acceptable means to achieve an end. END COMMENT. DARNELL