Update on PKK Violence (February 8-15, 2009)

UNCLAS ANKARA 000267 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV TU IZ SUBJECT: Update on PKK Violence (February 8-15, 2009) REF: ANKARA 233 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 February 8-15, 2009, no security official was injured or killed. The total number of security force casualties for the year through February 15, 2009, was zero killed and zero injured. ¶3. (U) During the same period, no PKK terrorist was killed in clashes. Three PKKers surrendered in Silopi, Sirnak Province and one was captured in Ozalp, Van Province on February 11. According to official TGS website figures, through the second week of February, the number of PKK militants killed this year was zero, the number of those captured was five, and the number of those who surrendered was 14. ¶4. (U) During the reporting period no civilians died in connection with PKK-linked violence, but four were wounded, including two in Guclukonak, Sirnak Province on February 9, one in Nusaybin, Mardin Province on February 14, and one in Uludere, Sirnak Province on February 15. All four were injured when they stepped on PKK-planted landmines. The total number of civilian casualties for the year through the end of the second week of February, was zero killed and five wounded. JEFFREY