SE TURKEY SECURITY INCIDENTS: OCTOBER 12 - 18, 2009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ADANA 000065 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, INR AND NEA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PTER PINR CASC TU SUBJECT: SE TURKEY SECURITY INCIDENTS: OCTOBER 12 - 18, 2009 ¶1. The following security incidents for the period of October 19-25, 2009, were compiled by the Security Assistant at Consulate Adana from RSO sources, to include Turkish security contacts, government officials and media. Similar reports have been previously 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 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: Hakkari - 10.24.09: 1 hand grenade, 1 Kalashnikov infantry rifle, 4 magazines and 120 rounds of ammunition. Hakkari - 10.24.09: A pressure sensitive IED. Hakkari - 10.24.09: 1 RPG-7 rocket launcher, 1 Kannas brand sniper weapon, 1 Bixi brand machine gun, 4 Kalashnikov rifles, 1 Docka anti-aircraft missile, 15 hand grenades, 8 rounds of mortar (60 mm),and 5 magazines. Hakkari - 10.22.09: 6 hand grenades, 1 wireless radio, 1 digital camera, 1 Kannas rifle binoculars, 20 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, bomb-making materials, various logistical and food materials. Siirt - 10.19.09: 160 kilograms of food materials. ¶B. PKK members captured or surrendered: Hakkari - 10.24.09: 1 PKK member captured. 10.19.09 through 10.25.09: Security forces neutralized 1 PKK member, AND 1 PKK member surrendered to security officials. ¶C. PKK attacks: Hakkari - 10.21.09: PKK members attacked a military patrol team, no injuries reported. Siirt - 10.20.09: Troops were deployed in the mountains based on intelligence in search of PKK members. A firefight ensued when terrorists opened fire. No injuries were reported. Hakkari - 10.19.09: A hand-made IED exploded as a military convoy was passing by the area; no injuries reported. ¶3. Media reports related to PKK and pro-Kurdish organizations ¶A. Anti - PKK operations: Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) anti-PKK operations in SE Turkey continue. Many armored vehicles, military personnel and ammunition were sent to the operation areas in Hakkari (Cukurca),Sirnak (Mount Cudi, Mount Kato, Beytussebap, Uludere and Guclukonak) and Siirt. Sirnak - 10.22.09: Forest fire at the Mount Cudi continues after the area was bombed by Turkish artillery teams. ¶N. Iraq - 10.21.09 though 10.23.09: TAF bombed the Zap region. ¶N. Iraq - 10.20.09: Turkish war jets made low altitude flight over the suspected PKK positions at the Mount Kandil, but did not attack the targets. PKK members responded with Docka missiles. According to KYB's (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) website, PKK positions on Mount Kandil were in fact bombed by war jets belonging to an unknown country. Another Kurdish language web site has claimed that Turkish war jets bombed PKK targets. The web site reported that 4 separate targets were bombed but did not give any information about casualties. Sirnak - 10.19.09: 1 PKK member was killed by Turkish Artillery team's fire, pro-Kurdish ANF reported. ¶B. Arrests: Bitlis - 10.25.09: Security forces detained 1 person suspected of terrorism. Hakkari - 10.25.09: 1 person (age 71),who joined in the funeral ceremony of a killed PKK member, was sentenced to a year in prison on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK." Sanliurfa - 10.24.09: DTP Mayor of Viransehir was sentenced to 1 ADANA 00000065 002 OF 004 year in prison on charges of "praising crime and the criminal." Sanliurfa - 10.24.09: Abdullah Ocalan's lawyer Muzeffer Demir was sentenced to 3 years in prison on charges of "praising crime and the criminal." Diyarbakir - 10.23.09: Security forces detained 12 people on the charges of "assisting and harboring the PKK." Many organizational documents and logistical equipment were seized. Adana - 10.23.09: 2 minors (ages 16 and 17) who joined in illegal street demonstrations on behalf of the PKK, were sentenced to 4 year in prison on the charge of "making propaganda for PKK." In total 103 minors have been sentenced to a cumulative total of 457 years for the same crime. Adana - 10.22.09: 2 people who threw Molotov cocktails at a BIM supermarket in Sakirpasa Parish were arrested on the charge of "carrying out illegal action on behalf of the PKK." Adana - 10.22.09: A representative of the pro-Kurdish Azadiya Welat (The Free Country) newspaper was sentenced to 2 years in prison on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK." Siirt - 10.22.09: An employee of the pro-Kurdish Azadiya Welat newspaper was sentenced to 10 months in prison on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK." Sanliurfa - 10.20.09: 2 people were arrested on the charge of "chanting illegal slogan in favor of the PKK." Hakkari - 10.20.09: Security forces detained 3 people suspected of terrorism. Sanliurfa - 10.20.09: Security forces detained 1 person suspected of terrorism. Van - 10.19.09: Security forces detained 2 people trying to recruit members for the PKK. 1 of 2 people later was arrested on charges of "assisting and harboring the PKK." Sirnak - 10.20.09: 36 PKK members, who surrendered to security officials at the Habur Border Gate, were released by a court decision. ¶C. Other media stories about PKK: Adana - 10.25.09: A pro-Kurdish group calling themselves "Voices of Mountains" attacked a house with Molotov cocktails in Sakirpasa Parish. Adana and Osmaniye - 10.25.09: Families of soldiers killed by the PKK protested the recent celebrations following the surrender of PKK members from Kandil Mountain and Mahmur refugee camp. 10.24.09: Despite negative reaction from the military and Turkey's judiciary, the Democratic Society Party (DTP) insisted on welcoming the return of members of the PKK from European countries next week with a massive reception, which was later cancelled due to increasing tension. Elazig - 10.24.09: Nationalists attacked a DTP group who were holding a press statement to protest the assaults against Kurdish students at Firat University. The nationalist group later held a protest march in the city center with the participation of hundreds of people. 10.24.09: MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) plans to gather at meeting places (squares/streets) across Turkey to protest the Democratic Initiative period (Kurdish Initiative). 10.21.09: Security forces are on high alert against possible provocative actions during the Kurdish initiative period. Some groups may carryout action to sabotage the ongoing opening period. The tension between nationalist (MHP, BBP, Alperen Ocaklari, etc) and Kurdish people (DTP and other pro-Kurdish organizations) has increased in the past week in Turkey. Many fights have been reported across Turkey. 10.21.09: PKK terrorists launched 10 mortar rounds onto the Dagbasi military base in Gukurca, near the Iraqi border. Firing back, the soldiers were able to repel the terrorist group. One soldier was wounded in the crossfire. Hatay and Mersin - 10.20.09: Hatay and Mersin Democracy Platform members held press statements and marches in order to support the latest developments in the Kurdish initiative. ADANA 00000065 003 OF 004 ¶4. Media reports on significant crime or security incidents: Hatay - 10.24.09: Security forces seized 5 pistols and 205 rounds of ammunition and detained 3 people. Sirnak - 10.23.09: 1 person wanted in connection with the murder of 2 DTP members in July was detained by security forces. It was reported that the person is a member of the Dagger Team. Sirnak - 10.23.09: Security forces stopped a vehicle and detained a person, resulting in a street brawl. Many people attacked security forces with stones and Molotov cocktails and police intervened with tear gas and sticks. 3 police officers were wounded. Gaziantep - 10.22.09: Security forces seized 1,175 rounds of ammunition, 1 pistol and 1 magazine and detained one person. Sanliurfa - 10.22.09: Birecik District's Mayor's vehicle was attacked by unidentified people with long-range rifles, wounding the driver. Turkey-wide - 10.22.09: More than 200 people have been arrested as part of an illegal fuel trade that extends to 30 provinces. Operation "Bypass" took place in 30 provinces simultaneously and resulted in the arrest of 200 people in connection with the procurement and sale of illegal fuel. The gendarmerie operation included raids in Ankara, Izmir, Samsun, Kirikkale, Van, Mugla, Adana, Mersin, Manisa and Balikesir and other surrounding provinces and resulted in the arrest of gas station owners, managers and employees. Mardin - 10.22.09: Security forces found a hand grenade by the roadside in Nusaybin and destroyed it on site. Mersin - 10.21.09: A park in the Tarsus District of Mersin was set on fire by unidentified people. Mersin - 10.21.09: A group of ultranationalist sympathizers allegedly attempted to lynch Kurdish residents in the Anamur District. The incident was prevented after the intervention of government officials. Elazig - 10.21.09: It was reported that a group of Kurdish students from the Firat University was attacked by a group of ultranationalists. 2 students were seriously wounded. Hatay - 10.20.09: Security forces confiscated 1 assassination-type pen pistol, 2 bullets, 1 blank pistol and 7 round of ammunition belonging to the blank pistol, 95 rounds of blank pistol ammunition, and 250 grams of hashish. 3 people were detained in the operation. Hakkari - 10.19.09: A group of PKK supporters attacked police vehicles with stones during a demonstration to celebrate the release of detained PKK members. Police intervened with sticks and tear gas while PKK supporters responded with stones and Molotov cocktails. Sirnak - 10.19.09: A 3-year old child who was wounded during illegal street demonstrations on October 9 died at the hospital. Van - 10.19.09: Iranian forces killed a smuggler who was trying to enter Iran from Van. ¶5. Illegal immigrant arrests: 10.15.09 through 10.22.09: Security forces captured and deported 991 illegal immigrants from Sirnak, Antalya, Izmir, Aegean Coast, Siirt, Agri, Kilis, Hatay, Canakkale, Erzurum, Kayseri, Edirne, Yalova, Kirklareli, Canakkale, Adana, Van, Artvin, Aydin, Ardahan, Aksaray, Mugla, and Bitlis, and the borders of Iran, Iraq, Syria and Greece. ¶6. Counter-narcotic operations: Gaziantep - 10.25.09: Security forces seized 22 kilograms of hashish and detained 2 people. Sanliurfa - 10.25.09: Security forces confiscated 25 kilograms of hashish and detained a person. Van - 10.25.09: Security forces confiscated 68 kilograms of hashish and detained 1 person. Gaziantep and Agri - 10.22.09: Security forces seized 24 kilograms of hashish in a joint operation and detained 2 people. Hatay - 10.22.09: Security forces seized 6 kilograms of hashish ADANA 00000065 004 OF 004 and detained 3 people. Van - 10.21.09: Security forces seized 295 kilograms of hashish and detained 1 person. Van - 10.21.09: Security forces seized 63 kilograms of hashish and detained 1 person. Adana - 10.20.09: Security forces confiscated 23 kilograms of hashish and arrested 3 people. Adana - 10.13.09 through 10.19.09: In separate operations carried out by the Department and Smuggling and Organized Crime, 60 cartons of smuggled cigarettes, 2, 500 liters of smuggled gas, and 6 kilograms of hashish was seized. 1 of 5 people was arrested. Batman - 10.19.09: Security forces seized 3 kilograms of hashish and arrested 1 person. Sanliurfa - 10.19.09: Security forces seized 36 kilograms of hashish and arrested 1 person. DARNELL