UPDATE ON PKK VIOLENCE (DECEMBER 16-23, 2009)

UNCLAS ANKARA 001844 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV TU IZ SUBJECT: UPDATE ON PKK VIOLENCE (DECEMBER 16-23, 2009) REF: ANKARA 1804 ¶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 16-23, no security official was killed or injured. The total number of security force casualties for the year through December 23, is 61 killed and 100 injured. ¶3. (U) During the same period, one PKKer was captured in Igdir province on December 22 and five surrendered in Sirnak and Van provinces between December 17 and 22. According to official TGS website figures, through the third week of December, the number of PKK militants killed this year is 48, the number of those captured is 75. The number of those who surrendered reached 137. ¶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 third week of December, is 15 killed and 27 wounded. JEFFREY