SE TURKEY SECURITY INCIDENTS: DECEMBER 21-27, 2009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ADANA 000081 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/EUR, DS/IP/ITA, INR AND EUR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PTER PINR CASC TU SUBJECT: SE TURKEY SECURITY INCIDENTS: DECEMBER 21-27, 2009 ¶1. The following security incidents for the period of December 21-27, 2009, were compiled by the security assistant at Consulate Adana from RSO sources, to include Turkish security contacts, government officials and media. 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. Note that this week's cable includes information from as early as November 23, due to the temporary lapse in our weekly reporting. ¶2. Military operations against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) as reported by the Turkish General Staff: ¶A. Weapons, ammunition, and equipment seized: Mardin - 12.24.09: 400 grams of C-4, and a hand grenade made of 5 kg of ammonium nitrate. Hakkari - 12.24.09: 1 anti-personnel landmine (VS-50). Mardin - 12.20.09: 600 grams of A-4 plastic explosive, 2 electric fuses, 15 meters of cable and logistical equipment. Van - 12.17.09: 5 rounds of mortar ammunition, 16 rounds of Biksi machine gun ammunition (7.62 mm). Diyarbakir - 12.16.09: An IED made of mortar ammunition. Van - 12.13.09: 1 Kalashnikov rifle, 1 magazine, 9 rounds of bullets and 7 kilograms of hashish. Siirt - 12.11.09: 1 RPG-7 rocket launcher and 2 rounds of RPG-7 ammunition. Bitlis - 12.11.09: 2 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, 110 kilograms of food. Mus - 12.10.09: 14 rounds of Kalashnikov rifle, 2 magazines, 15 meters of electric cable, 20 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, food and logistical equipment. Sirnak - 12.04.09: 1 pen designed to conceal an assassination rifle, 6 rounds of bullets, 2 hand grenades, 4 hunting bullets, 1 voice recorder, food and logistical material. In a separate operation on the same day, security forces recovered 1 M-16 infantry rifle, 1 sniper rifle (Kannas),1 wireless radio, and ammunition. Siirt - 12.01.09: A booby-trapped IED. Gaziantep - 12.04.09: A booby-trapped IED. Sirnak - 11.30.09: An IED and 1 rocket launcher. Sirnak - 11.30.09: 2 Kalashnikov rifles, 6 magazines, 154 rounds of ammunition, 2 hand grenades, food and logistical equipment. Sirnak - 11.26.09: 1 pistol, 4 magazines, 86 rounds of ammunition, 1 pair of binoculars, 2 cell phone memory cards, and logistical equipment. Batman - 11.26.09: 1 hand grenade, an IED made of 50 grams of C-4 and 4 electric fuses. ¶B. PKK members captured or surrendered: Siirt - 12.25.09: 1 PKK member surrendered. Van - 12.17.09: 1 PKK member surrendered. Sirnak - 12.17.09: 4 PKK members surrendered. Hakkari - 12.14.09: 1 PKK member surrendered. Tunceli - 12.11.09: 1 PKK member surrendered. Sirnak - 12.09.09: 9 PKK members surrendered. Sanliurfa - 12.08.09: 1 PKK member arrested. Hakkari - 12.06.09: 2 PKK members surrendered. Sirnak - 12.04.09: 2 PKK members killed. Sirnak - 11.30.09: 1 PKK member was killed. ¶C. PKK attacks: Hakkari - 12.14.09: Military patrol team attacked by a group of ADANA 00000081 002 OF 004 PKK member with long-range rifles; no injuries reported. Hakkari - 12.11.09: 3 security personnel wounded in a clash. Mardin - 12.09.09: PKK members attacked the Beyazsubasi Gendarme Station with long-range rifles; no injuries reported. Batman - 12.09.09: PKK members set construction equipment on fire. Tunceli - 12.09.09: PKK members stole 6 rifles from hunters in the region. Batman - 12.07.09: PKK members attacked the Besiri Gendarme Station with 3 hand grenades and Kalasnikov rifles; 2 soldiers injured. Van - 12.06.09: A booby-trapped explosive damaged a military vehicle. Hakkari - 12.06.09: PKK members attacked a military patrol team with long-range rifles; no injuries reported. Diyarbakir - 12.05.09: A shepherd was wounded in an IED blast. Mardin - 12.04.09: 1 soldier was killed and 1 wounded in a clash. Sirnak - 12.01.09: 1 soldier was wounded in an IED blast. Siirt - 11.30.09: A civilian was wounded in an IED blast. ¶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 in Hakkari, Sirnak, Siirt, Mardin, Van, Batman, Diyarbakir and Gaziantep. ¶N. Iraq - 12.27.09: TAF artillery teams bombed Zap region; no casualties reported. ¶B. Arrests: Mus - 12.27.09: Security forces arrested 4 people on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK." Sirnak - 12.27.09: Security forces arrested 17 people on the charges of "membership in an outlawed organization" and "making propaganda for the PKK." Van - 12.26.09: Security forces arrested 11 people on the charges of "making propaganda for the PKK" and "damaging public property." Over the last month, security forces detained 34 people in the same area on the suspicion of terrorism. Mardin - 12.25.09: Security forces arrested 14 people on the charge of "carrying out illegal action on behalf of the PKK." Separately, security forces arrested 18 people on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK". Van - 12.25.09: 8 university students were sentenced to a cumulative 50 years in prison on the charge of "membership in the PKK." Sanliurfa - 12.24.09: Security forces arrested 4 people on the charges of "making propaganda for the PKK" and "damaging public property." Bitlis - 12.24.09: Security forces arrested 3 on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK." Sirnak - 12.24.09: According to reports, 1,358 children have been investigated under the suspicion of terrorism between 2005 and 2009. Bitlis - 12.23.09: Security forces arrested 3 people on the charges of "assisting and harboring the PKK," and "chanting illegal slogan in favor of the PKK." Sanliurfa - 12.23.09: Security forces arrested a student on the charges of "carrying out illegal action on behalf of the PKK," and "instigating hatred and animosity." 15 DTP (Democratic Society Party) members were sentenced to 1-2 years in prison on the charge of "violating restrictions on marches and demonstrations." Diyarbakir - 12.22.09: Security forces arrested 5 people on the charge of "assisting and harboring the PKK." ADANA 00000081 003 OF 004 Diyarbakir and Batman - 12.22.09: Security forces detained 10 people on the suspicion of terrorism. 5 were later arrested on the charge of "extortion on behalf of the PKK." Mardin - 12.21.09: Security forces detained 7 people in an operation against the PKK's youth branch, YDG-M. Tunceli - 12.21.09: Security forces arrested 3 people who joined in Molotov cocktail attacks. Sanliurfa - 12.21.09: DTP Deputy Mayor of Ceylanpinar was sentenced to a year in prison on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK." Hakkari - 12.21.09: Security forces detained 3 people on the suspicion of terrorism. Sanliurfa - 12.20.09: Security forces arrested 9 people on the charges of "making propaganda for the PKK," and "membership in the PKK." Mardin - 12.19.09: Security forces arrested 2 PKK members who were in preparations to carry out a bomb attack. An explosive device made of 685 grams of A-4, 3 hand grenades, 2 more kg of A-4, 2 electric fuses and logistical equipment were seized in the operation. Mus - 12.15.09 through 12.27.09: Security forces detained 39 PKK sympathizers on the suspicion of terrorism and arrested 14 on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK" following a series of violent protests. 2 PKK supporters were killed during a protest on December 15. ¶C. Other media stories about PKK: N.Iraq - 12.26.09: According to KCK reports. 216 attacks, including 49 air-strikes have been launched by Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in the last 11 months. 94 PKK members and 128 soldiers were killed in clashes. 12.26.09 - Pro-PKK web site ANF reported that 49 Kurdish smugglers were killed by Iranian or Turkish troops since July ¶2009. Diyarbakir - 12.25.09: The Kurdish mayor of Diyarbakir could be prosecuted for expletive-laden statements he made in response to an operation targeting alleged Kurdish militants that resulted in the detention of 35 people, the head of Parliament's Constitution Commission said Friday. SE Turkey - 12.24.09 through 12.27.09: Security forces detained 36 people in simultaneous operations in several provinces against the Kurdish Democratic Confederation (KCK),an organization that allegedly functions as the urban arm of the PKK. Eight detainees were reportedly released on Friday night. The Diyarbakir Chief Prosecutor's Office initiated a series of operations on Wednesday in 11 provinces, including Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Diyarbakir, Siirt, Hakkari, Tunceli, Batman, Sanliurfa, Sirnak and Van. Police clashed with stone-throwing Kurdish demonstrators protesting the recent arrest of 23 Kurds on charges of links to the PKK. The 23 - charged late Friday - were among 36 people detained in a nationwide crackdown on people suspected of links to the PKK. Those charged include seven mayors. PKK supporters attacked with stones and Molotov Cocktails and security forces responded with tear gas, pressurized water and batons. Details of security related security incidents follows: Sirnak - Demonstrations reported in three districts, including the Cizre-Silopi highway which they blocked with burning trash barrels. At least 3 minors detained. Batman - PKK supporters stoned the Turkish Telecom building and threw Molotov cocktails. Bingol - A civilian vehicle was set on fire. Mus - Unidentified people attacked 2 municipal buses with stones, breaking all windows. Siirt - PKK supporters attacked an AK Party's District building with Molotov cocktails. Sanliurfa - Almost 60 PKK supporters clashed with security forces. Hakkari - 10 people, including 3 security officers were wounded. Police opened fire in the air. A civilian vehicle was stoned, and at least 10 demonstrators detained. A group of PKK ADANA 00000081 004 OF 004 supporters attacked the Security Directorate's building with Molotov cocktails. A police armored vehicle was attacked with a Molotov cocktail. Tension is still running high in the city. Diyarbakir - Almost 3000 Kurds staged a sit-in to denounce the arrests and anti-KCK operations. Protesters chanted slogans in favor of PKK and Ocalan. Police clashed with PKK supporters blocking roads in Baglar District. Sanliurfa - PKK supporters attacked a police station in Suruc District with a sound bomb; no injuries reported. Adana - A vehicle was set on fire by PKK supporters. Malatya - Unidentified people wrote "PKK" on some civilian vehicles. ¶4. Media reports on significant crime or security incidents: Mersin University - 12.25.09: A group of ultra-nationalist students attacked leftist and Kurdish students, injuring one. Diyarbakir - 12.24.09: Security forces stormed the Human Rights Association building and confiscated documents. Diyarbakir - 12.22.09: Security forces detained 3 people who threatened the Priest of Meryamana Church. Kahramanmaras - 12.18.09: A sound bomb exploded near the ultra-rightist Great Unity Party (BBP) headquarters; no injuries reported. ¶5. Illegal immigrant arrests: 12.01.09 through 12.26.09: Security forces captured and deported 593 illegal immigrants from: Edirne, Hatay, Sanliurfa, Mardin, Aegean Coast, Gaziantep, Hakkari, Manisa, Sakarya, Istanbul, Aydin, Balikesir, Kilis, Sirnak, Kayseri, Igdir, Adana, Canakkale, Erzurum, Konya, Kayseri, Van, Mugla and the borders of Syria, Iran, Iraq and Greece. 8 Turks assisting them were also detained in the operations. ¶6. Counter-narcotic/organized crime operations: Diyarbakir - 12.25.09: Security forces arrested 3 people and seized 285 grams of hashish and 42 units of ecstasy pills. Gaziantep - 12.25.09: Security forces confiscated 3 kilograms of heroin and 1 kilogram of hashish and detained 4 village guards. Elazig - 12.24.09: Security forces seized 62 kilograms of hashish. Gaziantep - 12.24.09: Security forces seized 11,000 pills and detained 4 people. Van - 12.23.09: Security forces arrested 5 people in anti-organized crime operation. Osmaniye - 12.23.09: Security forces detained 48 people in anti-narcotic and organized crime operations. 300 grams of hashish also seized. Diyarbakir - 12.21.09: Security forces arrested 14 people and seized 300 grams of hashish in 8 separate operations conducted in the last 8 days. Hatay - 12.17.09: Security forces seized 57 kilograms of hashish and detained 1 person. Sirnak - 12.23.09: Security forces detained 30 people in an anti-organized-crime operation. DARNELL