Update on PKK Violence (January 16-23, 2009)

UNCLAS ANKARA 000124 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV TU IZ SUBJECT: Update on PKK Violence (January 16-23, 2009) REF: ANKARA 93 and previous (U) Sensitive but unclassified - please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) This is another in a series of weekly reports on PKK violence in Turkey. Our primary source is the Turkish General Staff (TGS) website, which documents contacts and clashes with the PKK, as well as casualties incurred. ¶2. (U) During the January 16-23, 2009, reporting period, no security official was killed or injured. The total number of security force casualties for the year through January 15, 2009, was zero killed and zero injured. ¶3. (U) During the same period, no PKK terrorist was killed in clashes. Five PKKers surrendered, including four in Silopi, Sirnak Province on January 16 and 21 and one in Hakkari Province on January ¶22. According to official TGS website figures, through the third week of January, the number of PKK militants killed this year was zero, the number of those captured was four, and the number of those who surrendered was five. ¶4. (U) During the reporting period no civilian was killed in PKK-related violence. The total number of civilian casualties for the year through the end of the third week of January was zero killed and zero wounded. JEFFREY