SE TURKEY SECURITY INCIDENTS: SEPTEMBER 22 - OCTOBER 4,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ADANA 000059 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, INR AND NEA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PTER PINR CASC SUBJECT: SE TURKEY SECURITY INCIDENTS: SEPTEMBER 22 - OCTOBER 4, 2009 ¶1. The following security incidents for the period of September 22 - October 4, 2009 were compiled from RSO sources by the Security Assistant at Consulate Adana, 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: Diyarbakir - 09.23.09: 1 flamethrower was found and destroyed. Diyarbakir - 09.25.09: 1 pair of night-vision goggles, 40 rounds of Kalashnikov infantry rifle ammunition, 2 backpacks, various organizational documents, medical equipment and food supplies. Hakkari - 09.26.09: 2 MG-3 machine guns, 1 MG-3 machine gun barrel, 1 rocket launcher, 7 RPG-7s, 1 BKC machine gun magazine, 1 Kalashnikov infantry rifle, 1 M-16 machine gun, 1 Kanas sniper rifle, 4 G-3 infantry rifles, 12 G-3 infantry rifle magazines, 1 anti-personnel landmine (destroyed),935 rounds of MG-3 ammunition, 1 light mine and 1 rifle. Bitlis - 09.27.09: 1 IED was found and destroyed. 1 M-16 infantry rifle, 1 Kalashnikov rifle, 34 rounds of M-16 infantry rifle ammunition, 77 rounds of Kalashnikov infantry rifle ammunition, 2 M-16 magazines, 2 Kalashnikov magazines, 2 hand grenades, 1 wireless device, 6 cell phones, 4 cell phone memory cards, 1 radio, and 3 backpacks. Hakkari - 09.28.09: 5 anti-personnel landmines were found and destroyed. Mardin - 09.29.09: 2 hand grenades and binoculars. ¶B. PKK members captured or surrendered: SE Turkey - 09.26 - 10.02.09: Security forces captured 8 PKK members. 1 was recovered dead, 6 captured alive and 1 surrendered to security officials. Diyarbakir - 10.01.09: 1 PKK member was captured and later released by court decision. Hakkari - 09.22.09: 1 civilian was killed in a landmine blast. Bingol - 09.23.09: 1 PKK member surrendered to security forces. Mus - 09.25.09: 1 PKK member was captured. Igdir - 09.25.09: 1 PKK member was captured. Bitlis - 09.27.09: 1 PKK member was recovered dead and 1 PKK member was captured alive. Sanliurfa - 09.28.09: 1 PKK member was captured. Hakkari - 09.28.09: 1 PKK member was captured and released by court decision. Diyarbakir - 09.29.09: 2 PKK members were captured. Sirnak - 09.30.09: 1 PKK member surrendered to security forces. ¶3. Media reports on Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and pro-Kurdish organizations ¶A. PKK attacks: Van - 09.22.09: PKK members attacked a military patrol team. There was no loss of life or property in the incident. Hakkari - 09.22.09: PKK members attacked a military patrol team. There was no loss of life or property in the incident. Hakkari - 09.23.09: PKK members attacked security forces patrolling the Semdinli mountains. 1 security personnel was wounded. Sirnak - 09.27.09: 1 civilian was killed and 1 wounded in a landmine blast. Hakkari - 09.30.09: A landmine explosion near a military convoy ADANA 00000059 002 OF 004 did not result in loss of life or property damage. Sirnak - 10.01.09: 1 soldier was killed. Siirt - 10.04.09: PKK members temporarily blocked the 15th km of the Siirt-Sirvan highway when they fired over 150 rounds from long-range rifles, wounding 1 driver and setting 1 truck on fire. ¶B. Anti-PKK operations: Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) operations are continuing in almost all east and SE provinces. ¶C. Arrests: Sanliurfa - 09.24.09: 2 DTP members were sentenced to a year in prison on charges of "making propaganda for the terror organization PKK." Hakkari - 09.24.09: Security forces detained 2 people who joined in illegal street demonstrations. Adana - 09.24.09: Security forces detained 16 people who were preparing to join a pro-Kurdish meeting in Diyarbakir. The 16 people later were released. Hakkari - 09.24.09: Security forces detained 2 people on suspicion of terrorism. Adana - 09.29.09: A 16-year-old minor was detained by anti-terror teams. Van - 09.26.09: Security forces detained 3 people on the suspicion of terrorist activities. Sirnak - 09.28.09: 1 PKK member was arrested. Van - 09.29.09: Security forces captured five people who were taking various logistical, food and medical materials to the PKK members in the mountains. Three were later arrested on charges of "assisting and harboring the PKK terror organization voluntary and intentionally." Tunceli - 09.29.09: Security forces detained a person who was delivering pro-PKK/Ocalan leaflets. Clashes erupted when police and SWAT Teams wanted to search a room at DTP's Municipality Guest House where the detained person was staying. Almost 300 people clashed with police. According to information taken by the Consulate Security Assistant from a police chief in Tunceli, people misunderstood the operation. The Tunceli Security Director said, "Tension rose when anti-terror and SWAT teams took the guest house under siege. It was a normal procedure, but when DTPers saw many policemen around the building they thought that the operation was directed against them." Adana - 09.30.09: 5 minors (ages 14, 15, 16) were sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison on the charge of "carrying out illegal action on behalf of the terror organization PKK." Batman - 09.30.09: 1 person was arrested on the charge of "making propaganda for the terror organization PKK." Sanliurfa - 09.30.09: Security forces detained a person who attacked a police patrol vehicle with a Molotov cocktail. Police seized 18 unexploded Molotov cocktails in the operation. The person later was arrested. Sanliurfa - 09.30.09: Security forces detained 6 people on the suspicion of terrorism. Adana - 09.30.09: 5 minors were arrested on charges of "being member of a terror organization" and "making propaganda for the terror organization PKK." Diyarbakir - 09.30.09: 5 people, including DTP Hani District Chairman Husnu Bulbul, were sentenced to 9 years in prison on charges of "assisting and harboring the PKK terror organization voluntary and intentionally." Diyarbakir - 09.30.09: Security forces detained an employee of the pro-Kurdish "Koz Magazine." Diyarbakir - 10.01.09: Security forces detained 15 members of the Devrimci Karargah (Revolutionary Headquarters) in operations held in Diyarbakir, Istanbul, Aydin Denizli and Ankara. It was reported that the suspects were in preparations to carryout actions including plane hijackings, assassinations, and arson attacks. 8 of 15 people were later arrested on the charge of "being member of a terror organization." Diyarbakir - 10.01.09: 2 PKK members, who were captured in Lice ADANA 00000059 003 OF 004 District, were arrested on charges of "being member of a terror organization." Mersin - 10.01.09: Security forces detained 3 people on the suspicion of terrorism. Sirnak - 10.01.09: Security forces detained 2 people on the suspicion of terrorism. ¶D. Other: Security Alert: October 9 is the anniversary of Abdullah Ocalan's deportation from Syria. There is the possibility of increased activities by the PKK or pro-PKK groups and individuals. 09.24.09: The PKK declared it will evaluate whether to extend or end the ceasefire, saying it depends on the TAF's operations. 09.24.09: National Intelligence Agency (MIT) warned all security units in the east and southeast about a possible increase in provocative acts by the PKK. 09.29.09 - DTP Mus Parliamentarian Sirri Sakik says there are almost 5000-6000 armed PKK members in the mountain areas. 09.28.09 - Al-Qaeda has threatened Turkey, which is poised to take over the commandership duty in Kabul, Afghanistan. 10.01.09: Elazig TNP's Deputy Director believes the PKK is losing power, especially in the mountainous terrain of east and southeast Turkey. However, he expects an increase in minor disruptive actions throughout the country, such as slashing tires, illegal street demonstrations, or Molotov cocktail and stone attacks. 10.02.09 - Tunceli's TNP director expects an increase in PKK actions. Tunceli TNP's Deputy Director told the Consulate's Security Assistant, "PKK's actions may increase if the government's Kurdish opening stalls and the developments do not satisfy the DTP or other groups." 10.02.09: According to information taken from security chiefs in southeast Turkey, almost all gendarme and police check points have been removed due to a new focus on intelligence. One of the chiefs said, "Instead of stopping hundreds of vehicles for hours, the police are going to focus on intelligence reports and stop only specific vehicles" Hakkari - 09.23.09: A bomb exploded in a shopping mall, wounding 4 civilians. According to police sources, the target of the bomb was a police shuttle bus, whose route passes near the explosion point. The bus was 10 minutes late that day, so no police were wounded in this explosion. Hakkari - 09.23-24.09: Security forces clashed with PKK supporters demanding the release of the bodies of PKK members killed in security operations. Police intervened in with tear gas and water cannons and demonstrators responded with stones. Van - 09.25.09: Security forces seized and destroyed 15 Molotov cocktails near a high school. Diyarbakir - 09.25.09: AK Party's Provincial Building was attacked by PKK supporters with stones. Security forces intervened with tear gas and sticks. Demonstrators threw Molotov cocktails. Sanliurfa - 09.27.09: Police opened fire in the air as they intervened in a PKK demonstration. Protesters burned tires, chanted illegal slogans in favor of PKK and Ocalan, and threw stones and Molotov cocktails. Diyarbakir - 09.27.09: 3 bank branches were attacked by Molotov cocktails. Sanliurfa - 09.27.09: Police intervened in a demonstration in favor of PKK and Ocalan with sticks, pressurized water and tear gas. Demonstrators responded with Molotov cocktails and stones. Adana - 09.27.09: A house was attacked with a Molotov cocktail. 09.28.09: The investigation into the murder of 3 Christian missionaries in Malatya on April, 18, 2007 uncovered the gendarme was still paying informants about alleged missionary activities after the massacre. Adana - 09.28.09: 2 parked vehicles in Sehit Duran Parish were set on fire by unidentified people. ADANA 00000059 004 OF 004 Van - 09.29.09: DTP led protests against police pressure and anti-DTP operations in Van, Hakkari, Igdir, Mus, Sirnak, Tunceli, Diyarbakir and Batman. Van - 09.29.09: A security guard at Van's Yuzunci Yil University was shot dead by unidentified people. Mus - 09.29.09: Security forces confiscated 20 village guards' weapons on the charge of "hiding a PKK member and not informing security forces." Hakkari - 10.01.09: DTP's Mayor is on trial on the charge of making propaganda for a terror organization. Hatay - 10.02.09: DTP's Iskenderun District building was attacked with stones. Tunceli - 10.03.09: A shepherd escaped unhurt from a mortar attack. 9 animals were killed in the blast. ¶4. Illegal migrant arrests: 09.22-10.01.09: Security forces captured and deported 945 illegal migrants from the following regions: Aegean Coast, Greek Border, Iraqi Border, Iranian Border, Igdir, Van, Edirne, Hatay, Hakkari, Adana, Syrian Border, Trabzon, Sirnak, Canakkale, Erzurum, Izmir, Agri, Yalova, Balikesir, Diyarbakir, Istanbul, Tekirdag. 19 Turks, who were assisting them, were also detained in the operations. ¶5. Anti-crime operations: Kars - 09.23.09: Security forces seized 4 smuggled pistols and arrested 4 people. Mardin - 09.23.09: Security forces seized 29 long-range rifles and 110 rounds of ammunition in a truck and detained 3 people. Van - 09.29.09: Security forces seized 29,000 boxes of smuggled cigarettes and detained 1 person. ¶6. Counter-narcotic operations: Van - 09.28.09: Security forces seized 65 kilograms of heroin and detained 1 person. Batman - 09.29.09: Security forces seized 40 kilograms of hashish and arrested 6 people. Van - 10.01.09: Iranian troops opened fire on 2 gas smugglers, wounding both of them. Bingol - 10.01.09: Security forces seized 50 kilograms of hashish and 135 units of Indian hemp seeds. 1 person was arrested. Hatay - 10.01.09: Security forces seized 6 kilograms of hashish and arrested 2 people. Sanliurfa - 10.05.09: Security forces seized 20 kilograms of hashish and detained 2 people. Diyarbakir: Security forces seized 11 kilograms of hashish and detained 3 people. DARNELL