Update on PKK Violence (June 24-30, 2009)

UNCLAS ANKARA 000979 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV TU IZ SUBJECT: Update on PKK Violence (June 24-30, 2009) REF: ANKARA 938 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 June 24-30, 2009, seven security officials were injured, including two in clashes with the PKK in the Hakkari province on June 30, and five in an IED explosion in the Sirnak province the same day. The total number of security force casualties for the year through June 30, was 33 killed and 55 injured. ¶3. (U) During the same period, one PKKer was killed in clashes in the Sirnak province on June 28. One PKKer was captured in the Hakkari province on June 25. Four PKKers surrendered in the Mardin, Hakkari, Sirnak and Tunceli provinces on June 24, 26, 29 and 30. According to official TGS website figures, through the fourth week of June, the number of PKK militants killed this year was 28, the number of those captured was 29, and the number of those who surrendered was 62. ¶4. (U) During the reporting period no civilian died but one was kidnapped in the Hakkari province on June 24. The total number of civilian casualties for the year through the end of the fourth week of June, was five killed and 11 wounded. JEFFREY