SE TURKEY SECURITY INCIDENTS: SEPTEMBER 18 - SEPTEMBER 22,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ADANA 000056 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PTER PINR CASC TU SUBJECT: SE TURKEY SECURITY INCIDENTS: SEPTEMBER 18 - SEPTEMBER 22, 2009 ¶1. The following security incidents for the period September 18-22, 2009, were compiled by the Security Assistant at the Consulate Adana from RSO sources, to include Turkish security contacts, government officials and media reports. Similar reports have previously been shared informally by e-mail. Post is now sending this information in cable format to ensure wider and more regular distribution. The RSO uses the information to determine the security situation and trends of violence and crime throughout Turkey. The RSO also tracks the information by location and shares the information with the country team and visas viper coordinator. ¶2. Military operations against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) as reported by the Turkish General Staff: ¶A. Weapons, ammunition, and equipment seized: Sirnak - 09.18.09: 20 kilograms of A-4 plastic explosive material and material used to make bombs were found and destroyed on site. Hakkari - 09.18.09: A hand-made landmine made of 20 kilograms of TNT and placed on a roadside was found and destroyed on site. Hakkari - 09.18.09: 1 Biksi machine gun, 137 rounds of Biksi machine gun ammunition, 1 Kalashnikov infantry rifle, and 4 magazines were seized. ¶B. PKK members captured or surrendered: 01.01. - 09.20.09: 75 PKKers left the PKK and surrendered to security forces. 224 PKK members were neutralized (alive, dead or surrendered) in the first 9 months of 2009. 09.16-22.09: Security forces captured 5 PKK members. 4 PKKers were captured alive and 1 surrendered to security forces. Batman - 09.16.09: 3 PKKers were captured alive. Sirnak - 09.19.09: Security forces captured 1 PKK member ¶3. Media reports on Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and pro-Kurdish organizations ¶A. PKK attacks: Hakkari - 09.22.09: The military outpost in the Durankaya district was attacked by a group of PKKers with long-range rifles. It was reported that there was no loss of life or property in the incident. Bingol - 09.17.09: A civilian working at a mine company was kidnapped. ¶B. Anti-PKK operations: 09.17-22.09: Turkey-wide - Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) Anti-PKK operations continue in Tunceli, Sirnak, Hakkari, Bingol, Mus and Batman. Hakkari - 09.22.09: It was reported that Turkish war helicopters have flown to the border line in the Daglica District of Semdinli. ¶C. Arrests: Hakkari - 09.22.09: Security forces detained 5 people. Ergani in Diyarbakir - 09.20.09: A member of the pro-Kurdish YDG-M (Patriotic Democratic Youth Movement) was arrested on a charge of "making propaganda of the terror organization PKK." 09.20.09 - Diyarbakir: Twelve people, who joined in Molotov cocktail-throwing and illegal street actions on behalf of the terror organization PKK, were detained in an anti-PKK operation and illegal publications, organizational documents and memory sticks were seized. ADANA 00000056 002 OF 003 Mardin - 09.20.09: A member of the pro-Kurdish Azadiya Welat newspaper was detained. Van - 09.18.09: Security forces detained 3 people. Sur in Diyarbakir - 09.19.09: Six of eight people who were detained after an illegal street demonstration were arrested on charges of "collection member for the terror organization PKK," and "making illegal action on behalf of the terror organization PKK." ¶D. Other: PKK's inactivity period, which was declared by the terror organization on April 13, 2009, has ended as of September 22, ¶2009. The terror organization PKK is expected to make a declaration about the ongoing situation. According to the pro-Kurdish Dicle News Agency, 140 people, including 70 PKKers, 45 troops, 9 village guards and 16 civilians were killed in 192 separate anti-PKK operations held by the TAF in the first 9 months of the 2009. Hakkari - 09.22.09: Many people gathered to attend funerals of 3 PKKers who were recently killed in a clash in Cukurca District. Clashes erupted when the state officials did not give the bodies to their families. Security forces intervened with sticks, tear gas and pressurized water, and demonstrators responded with stones and Molotov cocktails. The clashes continued into the night in 11 parishes of the city. 09.22.09: Postponed Kurdish conference likely to be held in March. During a recent visit by members of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) to northern Iraq, a decision was made to hold a Kurdish conference in March, DTP sources have indicated. The conference, which was supposed to have been held last spring to draw up a road map for a solution to the Kurdish question, was postponed due to disagreements among various Kurdish groups. 09.22.09: Government OKs military's cross-border proposal. The government has approved the military's request to extend parliamentary authorization to conduct cross-border incursions into northern Iraq and said the process would be complete next week. Silopi in Sirnak - 09.21.09: Thousands of people joined in a funeral ceremony of a killed PKK member. Demonstrators chanted slogans in favor of PKK and Ocalan. No clash or any arrest occurred. Van - 09.21.09: Thousands of people joined in a funeral ceremony of a killed PKK member. Demonstrators chanted slogans in favor of PKK and Ocalan. No clash or any arrest occurred. 09.20.09 - Turkish National Intelligence Agency (MIT) warns against possible PKK and pro-Kurdish organization's actions. MIT has sent a warning message to all TNP units in SE Turkey about the possibility of an increase raise in PKK and other pro-Kurdish groups' actions. Bingol - 09.20.09: A police patrol vehicle was attacked by Molotov cocktail. No injury reported. Mardin - 09.18.09: A University Preparation School was attacked by a Molotov cocktail by a group of PKK supporters. Mersin - 09.18.09: PKK supporters attacked journalists and security forces. Almost 300 people participated in an illegal demonstration to support Ocalan's road map. Security forces intervened with sticks, tear gas and pressurized water, and PKK sympathizers responded with stones and Molotov cocktails. Mardin: Security forces intervened with demonstrators holding an illegal street demonstration. Almost 500 people, who were chanting slogans in favor of PKK and Ocalan, participated in the illegal march. Adana - 09.18.09: Almost 50 DTPers gathered in front of the DTP Provincial building and held a protest march to the AK Party's building. DTP Adana Deputy Sahin Kilic said, "The name change from the Kurd opening to Democratic opening has disappointed us." Sanliurfa - 09.18.09: Hundreds of people marched and chanted slogans in favor of PKK and Ocalan to protest the latest anti-DTP operations and the Turkish government's attitude against Ocalan's road map. ADANA 00000056 003 OF 003 Agri, Igdir, Bitlis, Mus, Mardin, Istanbul, Adana, Sanliurfa and Konya - 09.18.09: Anti-DTP operations and Turkish Government's attitude against Ocalan's road map were protested by many people. Mersin - 09.18.09: A shop belonging to a Kurdish citizen was set on fire. It has been alleged the arson attack was carried out by Ulku Ocaklari (a fanatic nationalist group). -------------- Illegal Migrants -------------- ¶4. Illegal migrant arrests: 09.17-21.09: Security forces captured and deported 352 illegal migrants from the following regions: Syrian border, Greek border, Edirne, Van, Aydin, Bitlis, Istanbul, Balikesir, Canakkale, Kilis, Mugla, Aegean Coast. -------------- Counter-Narcotic and anti-crime operations -------------- ¶5. Anti-criminal operations: Mersin - 09.18.09: Security forces detained 33 people in an anti-theft operation. 14 of 33 people later were arrested. Van - 09.19.09: Turkish smugglers were hit by Iranian Security forces. 1 person was killed and 2 people were wounded. Syrian border: The visa requirement between Turkey and Syria has been lifted. Over the holiday weekend, about 15,000 vehicles entering Turkey from Syria were checked by law enforcement forces at five checkpoints. Eight tons of smuggled sugar, 3 tons of smuggled tea, 2,000 packs of smuggled cigarette, 200 liters of smuggled diesel, 350 liters of smuggled gasoline, and 500 packs of smuggled nargile tobacco were seized in Syrian citizens' vehicles. About 5 tons of smuggled tea, 30 tons of smuggled sugar and cigarettes were seized in Turkish citizens' vehicles. ¶6. Counter-narcotic operations: Diyarbakir - 09.20.09: Security forces detained 4 people in a counter-narcotics operation. DARNELL