SE TURKEY SECURITY INCIDENTS: DECEMBER 28, 2009 - JANUARY 3,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 ADANA 000001 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/EUR, DS/IP/ITA, INR AND EUR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PTER PINR CASC TU SUBJECT: SE TURKEY SECURITY INCIDENTS: DECEMBER 28, 2009 - JANUARY 3, 2010 ¶1. (U) The following security incidents for the period of December 28, 2009 - January 3, 2010 were compiled by the security assistant at Consulate Adana from RSO sources, to include Turkish security contacts, government officials and media. The RSO uses the information to determine the security situation and trends of violence and crime throughout Turkey. The RSO shares the information with the country team and visas viper coordinator. ¶2. (U) Military operations against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) as reported by the Turkish General Staff: -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶A. Weapons, ammunition, and equipment seized: -------------- -------------- -------------- 12.31.09 through 01.01.10: 180 kilograms of TNT; 92 kilograms of plastic explosive material; 2,408 kilograms of ammonium/potassium nitrate; 54 kilograms of unknown plastic explosives; 48 landmines; and 98 other types of explosives. 74 IED attacks were carried out by PKK members in the same period. Van - 01.01.10: 2 Kalashnikov rifles, 10 magazines, and 5 pistols. Sirnak - 12.31.09: 14 kilograms of TNT, 25 grams of A-4 plastic explosive, 9 meters of explosion fuse, and 1 cell phone. Batman - 12.30.09: Food and logistical equipment. Batman - 12.29.09: 300 kilograms of food and an IED made of 1 kilogram of C-4 plastic explosive. Van - 12.29.09: 4 rounds of RPG-7 ammunition. Hakkari - 12.27.09: Security forces found and destroyed 3 anti-tank mines. -------------- -------------- ¶B. PKK members captured or surrendered: -------------- -------------- December 2009: Security forces captured 32 PKK members: 2 dead, 5 alive and 25 surrendered. 12.28.09 through 01.03.10: Security forces captured 9 PKK members: 2 alive and 7 surrendered. ¶3. (U) Media reports related to PKK and pro-Kurdish organizations: -------------- ¶A. Anti-PKK operations: -------------- Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) anti-PKK operations in SE Turkey continued in Hakkari, Sirnak. Siirt, Mardin, Van, Batman, Diyarbakir, Batman and Gaziantep. Tunceli - 01.03.10: Operation launched against PKK groups that have reportedly not yet retreated to winter shelters. ¶N. Iraq - 12.31.09: TAF artillery teams bombed Zap region; no injuries reported. Hakkari - 12.28.09: Pro-PKK web site ANF reported Turkish war helicopters had been spotted near the Iranian border. -------------- ¶B. Arrests: -------------- Adana - 01.03.10: Security forces arrested 12 minors in December on the charge of "joining in illegal demonstration on behalf of the PKK," and the Adana governor criticized the children's parents for allowing such behavior. Van - 01.01.10 and 01.03.10: Security forces detained 10 people on the suspicion of terrorism. Van - 01.01.10: Security forces arrested 2 people on the charges of "assisting and harboring the PKK." Sirnak - 01.03.10: Security forces detained 18 people in an anti-PKK operation and seized 2 rifles, 4 pistols, recording devices, Molotov cocktails, fireworks, explosive materials, and 500 grams of hashish. ADANA 00000001 002 OF 005 Hakkari - 12.31.09: Security forces arrested 9 people, including 1 wanted terrorist, on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK." Sirnak - 12.31.09: Security forces detained 30 people on the suspicion of terrorism. Van - 12.31.09: Security forces arrested 7 people on the charges of "making propaganda for the PKK," and "damaging public property." Hakkari - 12.31.09: Security forces arrested 9 people on the charges of "membership in the PKK," and "making propaganda for the PKK." Diyarbakir - 12.30.09: The trial of 31 members of the Turkish Hezbollah (TH) organization concluded with 16 sentenced to life in prison. Seven were released and the remaining received lesser sentences. The TH members were accused of 198 violent crimes 1990 and 1999 that resulted in 165 dead and 84 wounded. The offenders were apprehended in 2000. Mardin - 12.30.09: Security forces arrested 2 people on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK." Mus and Bitlis - 12.30.09: Security forces detained 4 people on the suspicion of terrorism. Sanliurfa - 12.30.09: Security forces arrested 5 people on the charges of "membership in the PKK," and "making propaganda for the PKK." Sirnak - 12.30.09: 11 people, including incumbent mayors, were sentenced for a cumulative 11 years in prison on the charges of "instigating hatred and animosity" and "making propaganda for the PKK." Batman - 12.30.09: Security forces detained 1 person on the suspicion of terrorism. Sanliurfa - 12.30.09: 53 people, who joined in an illegal march to protest Abdullah Ocalan's prison conditions, are under investigation on the charge of "violating restrictions on marches and demonstrations." Sanliurfa - 12.30.09: Former DTP Chairman Ahmet Turk's niece was sentenced to 10 years in prison on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK." Hakkari - 12.20.09: Security forces detained a total number of 17 demonstrators during illegal street clashes in Yuksekova and Hakkari. Mersin - 12.30.09: Security forces arrested 8 people on the charge of "membership in the PKK." Diyarbakir - 12.30.09: Security forces arrested 5 people on the charge of "joining in illegal actions on behalf of the PKK." Bingol - 12.30.09: Security forces detained 1 person on the suspicion of terrorism. Diyarbakir - 12.30.09: Security forces detained 4 employees of the pro-Kurdish Free People Magazine and confiscated copies of the publication. Diyarbakir - 12.30.09: An employee of the pro-Kurdish Dicle News Agency was sentenced to 10 months in prison on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK." Hakkari - 12.30.09: Security forces detained 6 people on the suspicion of terrorism. Sanliurfa - 12.30.09: Security forces arrested DTP Chairman of Viransehir on the charge of "being member of a terror organization." Batman - 12.28.09: Security forces arrested 12 people on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK." Mersin, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir and Van - 12.28.09: Police captured 11 people who were preparing to carry out assassinations on behalf of the PKK. It was reported that the PKK's team, including 2 members in the Adana region, were targeting top-level GOT administrators in the region. Van - 12.28.09: Security forces arrested 12 people on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK." ADANA 00000001 003 OF 005 Diyarbakir - 12.28.09: Security forces detained 5 people on the suspicion of terrorism. Sanliurfa - 12.28.09: Security forces arrested 1 person on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK." Diyarbakir - 12.28.09: Security forces detained 7 people, including BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) members, on the suspicion of terrorism. -------------- -------------- ¶C. Other media stories about the PKK: -------------- -------------- Turkish media reported that in 2009, security forces captured 105 PKK members of whom 61 were killed and 156 surrendered. In 2008, 670 were killed, 273 were captured and 174 surrendered. In 2007, 315 were killed, 229 were captured and 109 surrendered. Pro-PKK web site ANF reported that in 2009, TAF carried out 273 operations, including 49 air-strikes and 168 howitzer and mortar attacks. 128 Turkish troops and 94 PKK members were killed in 24 clashes and 7 guerilla actions. Diyarbakir - 01.03.10: The pro-PKK "Aydin Erdem Revenge Brigade" attacked two banks with Molotov cocktails. N.Iraq - 01.02.10: 41 new recruits joined the PKK. Sanliurfa - 01.02.10: Opening ceremony of the BDP turned into a pro-PKK demonstration. Approximately 500 people joined in the ceremony and chanted slogans in favor of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. Diyarbakir - 01.02.10: Approximately 400 people gathered to protest recent anti-KCK operations. Demonstrators chanted pro-PKK and Ocalan slogans and made a press statement. Sirnak - 12.31.09 - 01.03.10: PKK supporters blocked the Cizre-Sirnak highway to traffic and clashed with security forces; no injuries reported. Mersin - 12.31.09: Security forces arrested 2 people in an anti-organized-crime operation. Diyarbakir - 12.30.09: Many members of pro-Kurdish "Free Citizen Union" gathered to protest anti-KCK operations. Police intervened with tear gas, pressurized water and batons, and demonstrators responded with Molotov cocktails, stones and firecrackers. Approximately 20 people blocked Diyarbakir-Hakkari highway and ignited trash barrels. Demonstrators stoned an Iranian passenger bus, wounding 2 people. Malatya - 12.30.09: Security forces found 1,870 Kalashnikov rounds and 200 G-3 infantry rifle rounds. Mardin - 12.30.09: Police intervened in a pro-PKK demonstration with tear gas, batons and pressurized water. Demonstrators responded with Molotov cocktails and stones. Hakkari - 12.30.09 - 01.02.10: PKK sympathizers blocked the Yuksekova-Van Highway to traffic. Police intervened with tear gas and pressurized water while PKK supporters responded with stones and Molotov cocktails. Mardin - 12.30.09: Shopkeepers shuttered their establishments to protest the recent anti-KCK operation. Adana - 12.30.09: Pro-PKK web site ANF said the Governorship of Adana has cancelled social service medical privileges for 17,000 on the suspicion of terrorism. Van - 12.30.09: Many people gathered to protest anti-KCK operations. Demonstrators chanted pro-PKK and Ocalan slogans. Protestors blocked the NATO road in Ova Parish. Security forces intervened with tear gas and pressurized water. PKK supporters responded with stones. The clash continued for almost 1 hour. Hakkari - 12.30.09: Approximately 3000 people joined in the opening ceremony of BDP. Demonstrators chanted pro-PKK and Ocalan slogans. 2 Turkish war jets made low altitude fly-bys during the opening ceremony, an action that was protested by the crowd. Batman, Sanliurfa, Mardin, Hakkari, Mersin, Van and Diyarbakir - 12.30.09: Thousands of people gathered to protest recent anti-KCK operations. Demonstrators chanted pro-PKK and Ocalan ADANA 00000001 004 OF 005 slogans. . No clashes or arrests occurred. Hakkari - 12.28.09: Approximately 3000 people gathered for the opening ceremony of the BDP. Clashes erupted between PKK supporters and security forces after the opening ceremony. Approximately 1000 demonstrators who wanted to hold an illegal march threw stones and Molotov cocktails and police intervened with tear gas, pressurized water and batons. Demonstrators stoned banks and official buildings. Security forces detained at least 8 people. Malatya - 12.28.09: PKK supporters set fire to some 15 vehicles to protest the recent anti-KCK operations. Batman - 12.28.09 - 01.03.10: Thousands of people, including the Batman mayor, gathered in mass meetings organized by the BDP to protest the recent anti-KCK operations across Turkey. Demonstrators chanted pro-PKK and Ocalan slogans. No clashes or arrests were reported. Van - 12.28.09: Approximately 10,000 people gathered in front of the BDP building to protest anti-KCK operations. Sirnak - 12.28.09: Security forces clashed with PKK supporters. Police intervened with tear gas and pressurized water; at least 3 people were detained. Hakkari - 12.28.09 and 01.02.10: Security forces clashed with PKK sympathizers and detained 22 people. Fifteen people, including 4 police officers, were wounded. ¶4. (U) Media reports on significant crime or security incidents: Kahramanmaras - 01.02.10: The Marxist Leninist Communist Party claimed responsibility for the concussion bomb placed near the BBP (Great Unity Party) headquarters on December 18, 2009. Adiyaman - 01.02.10: Security forces detained 10 people in an anti-organized-crime operation. On the same day, unidentified people attacked an ATM with stones. Batman - 01.02.10: Security forces detained 2 people in an anti-smuggling operation. Hakkari - 01.02.10: Security forces seized 3 historical artifacts and detained 1 person. Van - 01.02.10: Iranian troops shot an Iranian smuggler who was trying to enter into Turkey illegally. Diyarbakir - 01.01.10: Unidentified people in snow masks attempted to attack AK Party's Provincial Building with Molotov cocktails. Diyarbakir - 2009: Security forces detained 59 people and arrested 42 of them in anti-weapons-trafficking operations. 73 pistols, 3 Kalashnikovs, 109 magazines, and 1,277 rounds of ammunition were seized. In separate operations against other types of crime, security forces detained 208 people and arrested 18 of them. Security forces detained approximately 1,500 people in over 500 anti-organized crime operations and arrested 449 of them. Hakkari - 12.31.09: Iranian security forces detained 10 Turkish citizens on charges of smuggling oil across the border. Kilis and Mardin - 12.31.09: Security forces detained 2 people in anti-organized-crime operations. Sanliurfa - 12.30.09: 9 people, including 7 police officers, were wounded in a fire fight which broke out among people standing in line. Malatya - 12.30.09: As part of the Ergenekon investigation, Special. Sgt. Veysel Sahin's testimony claims the retired colonel who is suspected of links to the killings of three Christians in Malatya in 2007 was also implicated in the Semdinli affair of 2005 (when two noncommissioned officers and a PKK informant were caught planting a bomb at the Umut Bookstore in the southeastern town of Semdinli). Malatya - 12.30.09: 2 students were injured in a clash at Inonu University. Security forces detained many students. The incident is under investigation. Adana - 12.28.09: 2 simultaneous concussion bombs exploded. The first bomb was placed by the MHP headquarters close to military residences, and exploded at 20:55. The second bomb was placed near the GOT-operated Ziraat Bank. No causalities reported. ADANA 00000001 005 OF 005 According to Adana's police chief, nobody has claimed responsibility and there are no suspects. ¶5. (U) Illegal immigrant arrests: 12.27.09 through 01.02.10: Security forces captured and deported 853 illegal immigrants from: Kirklareli, Erzurum, Nigde, Tekirdag, Van, Aydin, Hatay, Aksaray, Hakkari, Sirnak, Bitlis, Edirne, the Aegean Coast and the borders of Iran, Iraq, Syria and Greece. 8 Turks assisting them were also detained in the operations. ¶6. (U) Counter-narcotic operations: The Turkish National Police report the following anti-narcotics operations: 13 tons of drugs confiscated in 1,100 operations in ¶2007. In 2008, 15 tons of drugs were seized in 1407 operations. Police confiscated 8.5 tons of drugs in the first 6 months of ¶2009. Diyarbakir - 2009: Security forces seized 7 tons of hashish in 249 separate operations and detained 462 people; of those, 331 were later arrested and 131 people are still under investigation. Gaziantep - 01.03.10: Security forces confiscated 53 kilograms of hashish and detained 4 people. Siirt - 01.02.10: Security forces seized 15 kilograms of hashish and arrested 2 people. Diyarbakir - 12.31.09: Security forces seized 112 kilograms of hashish and arrested 4 people. Hatay - 12.30.09: Security forces seized 2 kilograms of hashish and detained 2 people. Gaziantep - 12.30.09: Security forces detained 13 people. Diyarbakir - 12.30.09: Security forces seized 385 kilograms of hashish belonging to the PKK and arrested 1 person on the charge of "assisting and harboring the PKK." Istanbul - 12.30.09: Security forces detained 6 people from SE Turkey. Izmir - 12.28.09: Security forces confiscated 118 kilograms of hashish and detained 1 person. Reportedly, the hashish was brought from Diyarbakir. Kahramanmaras - 12.28.09: Security forces seized 48 kilograms of hashish and detained 7 people. DARNELL