UPDATE ON PKK VIOLENCE (DECEMBER 8-15, 2009)

UNCLAS ANKARA 001804 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV TU IZ SUBJECT: UPDATE ON PKK VIOLENCE (DECEMBER 8-15, 2009) REF: ANKARA 1752 ¶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 December 8-15, no security official was killed but three were injured in clashes with the PKK in Hakkari province on December 11. The total number of security force casualties for the year through December 15, is 61 killed and 100 injured. ¶3. (U) During the same period, one PKKer was captured in Sanliurfa province on December 8, and 11 surrendered in Sirnak, Tinceli and Hakkari provinces from December 9 to 14. According to official TGS website figures, through the second week of December, the number of PKK militants killed this year is 48, the number of those captured is 74. The number of those who surrendered reached 132. ¶4. (U) During the reporting period no civilian was killed or injured. The total number of civilian casualties for the year through the end of the second week of December is 15 killed and 27 wounded. SILLIMAN