Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ADANA11
2010-02-11 11:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Adana
Cable title:
SE TURKEY SECURITY INCIDENTS: FEBRUARY 1 - 9, 2010
how-toVZCZCXRO1181 RR RUEHDA DE RUEHDA #0011/01 0421103 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 111103Z FEB 10 FM AMCONSUL ADANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4855 INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1398 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1161 RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 1465
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ADANA 000011
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: FEBRUARY 1 - 9, 2010
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ADANA 000011
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: FEBRUARY 1 - 9, 2010
1. (U) The security assistant at Consulate Adana compiled the
following security incidents for the period of February 1 - 9,
2010, 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 (TGS):
-------------- --------------
--------------
A. Weapons, ammunition, and equipment seized:
-------------- --------------
--------------
Mardin - 02.08.10: Security forces found and destroyed 700 grams
of dynamite.
Sirnak - 02.08.10: Security forces found and destroyed an IED.
Siirt - 02.03.10: One Kalashnikov rifle, five magazines, 223
rounds of ammunition and logistical materials.
Mardin - 02.02.10: Five pressure-sensitive IED mechanisms,
organizational documents, and four pressure-sensitive IEDs made
of six kilograms of ammonium nitrate.
Sirnak - 02.02.10: One anti-personnel landmine.
Bitlis - 02.02.10: One IED, one battery, organizational
documents, and logistical materials.
Sirnak - 02.01.10: One anti-personnel landmine.
-------------- --------------
B. PKK members captured or surrendered:
-------------- --------------
Sirnak - 02.04.10: Four PKK members surrendered.
Sirnak - 02.01.10: Two PKK members surrendered.
01.31.10 through 02.06.10: Security forces captured nine people,
six of whom 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 Siirt, Mardin, Sirnak, Bitlis and Hakkari.
N. Iraq - 02.08.10 and 02.09.10: TAF artillery teams bombed the
Zap region; no injuries reported.
Hakkari - 02.07.10: Pro-Kurdish Dicle News (DN) reported some 10
Turkish war jets flew from Cukurca District in the direction of
N. Iraq.
Hakkari - 02.02.10: DN reported Turkish war jets made
low-altitude flights over the Aktutun district and flew in the
direction of N. Iraq.
N.Iraq - 02.05.10: TAF artillery teams bombed the ZAP region; no
injuries reported.
Hakkari - 02.04.10: DN reported two Turkish war jets made
low-altitude flights over Semdinli District and flew in the
direction of N. Iraq.
--------------
B. Arrests:
--------------
Adana - 02.09.10: Security forces arrested six people on the
charges of "joining in illegal actions on behalf of the PKK,"
"and "making propaganda for the PKK."
Mardin - 02.09.10: Nine people were sentenced for a cumulative
nine years in prison on the charge of "making propaganda for the
PKK."
Hakkari - 02.09.10: Security forces arrested one minor for
"joining in illegal actions on behalf of the PKK."
Sanliurfa - 02.08.10: Security forces detained three members of
the pro-Kurdish University student union (HODER).
Mus - 02.08.10: Eleven people who joined in Nevruz activities in
2006 are under investigation on the charge of "joining in
ADANA 00000011 002 OF 003
illegal street actions in favor of the PKK and Ocalan."
Hakkari - 02.08.10: Security forces detained two people on the
suspicion of terrorism.
Sanliurfa - 02.08.10: Security forces arrested one person on the
charge of "making propaganda for the PKK."
Adiyaman - 02.08.10: Thirty-three people are under investigation
on the charge of "chanting illegal slogans in favor of the PKK
and Ocalan."
Batman - 02.07.10: Fifty-seven people are on trial on charges of
"chanting slogans against the PM Erdogan" and "insulting the
Prime Minister Erdogan."
Mardin - 02.07.10: Twenty minors are on trial for a cumulative
120 years in prison on the charge of "joining in illegal actions
on behalf of the PKK."
Sirnak - 02.06.10: Security forces arrested three minors on the
charge of "making propaganda for the PKK."
Adana - 02.05.10: Security forces detained two members of the
Hizb-ut-Tahrir terror organization on the charge of "collecting
money from the public on behalf of the terror organization."
Organizational documents and computer records were seized in the
operations. (Note: Hizb ut-Tahrir (Party of Liberation) is an
international, Sunni pan-Islamist political party whose goal is
to combine all Muslim countries in a unitary Islamic state or
caliphate ruled by Islamic law.)
Sirnak - 02.05.10: Three people were sentenced for a cumulative
30 years in prison on the charge of "making propaganda for the
PKK."
Adana - 02.04.10: Three people, including an employee of the
pro-Kurdish Radio Dunya, were sentenced for a cumulative 30
months in prison on the charge of "making propaganda for the
PKK."
Adana - 02.04.10: A Syrian lawyer, who was detained almost 4
months ago on the charge of "membership in an outlawed terror
organization," was released by the court decision.
Van - 02.03.10: A former member of the pro-Kurdish KURDI-DER was
sentenced for 10 months in prison on the charge of "making
propaganda for the PKK."
Batman - 02.03.10: Security forces detained one person on the
charge of "assisting and harboring the PKK."
Sanliurfa - 02.03.10: Two people were sentenced for a cumulative
21 years in prison on the charge of "making propaganda for the
PKK."
Gaziantep - 02.03.10: Sixteen former members of the now-banned
Democratic Society Party (DTP) were taken into custody in an
anti-PKK operation.
Sirnak - 02.02.10: One person was sentenced for two years in
prison on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK."
Mardin - 02.02.10: Security forces arrested one person on the
charge of "making propaganda for the PKK."
Sirnak - 02.01.10: An employee of the pro-Kurdish Gundem
Newspaper was sentenced for six years in prison on the charge of
"making propaganda for the PKK."
-------------- --------------
C. Other media stories about the PKK:
-------------- --------------
Turkey wide - 02.07.10: PKK plans provocative actions in the
lead up to the February 15 anniversary of Ocalan's capture.
PKK's urban cell will allegedly start provocative action in
major cities, using the "Freedom for Ocalan" slogan for
demonstrations. The PKK's youth wing "Komalen Ciwan" called all
Kurdish people to join in.
In the southeast, PKK members have allegedly begun publicizing
names of individuals, companies and institutions associated with
the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the
Gulen movement as a warning not to interfere in its operations
or development.
Tunceli - 02.09.10: PKK sympathizers set on fire three vehicles
belonging to military personnel.
Bingol - 01.09.10: Security forces clashed with PKK supporters.
Adana - 02.09.10: Security forces clashed with PKK sympathizers
on the one-year anniversary of death of Veysi Kaya, who
self-immolated to protest the prison conditions of PKK leader
Abdullah Ocalan.
Adana - 02.09.10: PKK supporters have increased arson and
ADANA 00000011 003 OF 003
Molotov cocktail attacks in the lead up to the February 15
anniversary of Ocalan's capture. PKK supporters set on fire
three civilian vehicles in the popular Ziyapasa neighborhood.
Adana - 02.07.10: PKK sympathizers gathered in Barbaros and
Hurriyet parishes to carryout illegal pro-PKK demonstrations.
Security forces intervened with pressurized water, batons, tear
gas and plastic bullets. Demonstrators responded with Molotov
cocktails and stones.
02.07.10: KCK's Chief (Kurdish Democratic Confederation/Turkey
Council) Cemil Bayik threatened the ruling AKP government,
saying it would be a "tough year."
Siirt - 02.06.10: A father of a PKK member killed in Eruh has
claimed that GOT would not relinquish his son's body because
chemical weapons were used in the fatal clash with the TAF in
May 2009.
Diyarbakir - 02.05.10: A PKK-affiliated group called "Ocalan's
Youth" attacked a police vehicle with a Molotov cocktail.
Police have heightened the city's security posture in sensitive
areas such as the ruling AK Party headquarters.
Diyarbakir - 02.05.10: Hundreds of people visited a condolence
tent pitched to commemorate PKK members killed between 1992 and
1999.
4. (U) Media reports on significant crime or security
incidents:
Sanliurfa - 02.09.10: Unidentified assailants attacked a bank
with three Molotov cocktails.
02.09.10: According to the Turkish Monitoring Center for Drugs
and Drug Addiction, the number of drug-related deaths in Turkey
increased by 14 percent in 2008, rising from 139 deaths in 2007
to 159 in 2008.
Sirnak - 02.08.10: Security forces opened fire on a passenger
bus when the driver did not heed a halt order. Fifty-one
bullets hit the bus and one passenger was killed.
Hakkari - 02.07.10: Two bomb blasts struck the GOT-operated
Ziraat Bank in Yuksekova, damaging two vehicles and bank
property.
Sanliurfa - 02.06.10: Unidentified assailants bombed a branch of
Ziraat bank, causing damage to the facility.juries reported.
Diyarbakir - 02.06.10: Unidentified assailants detonated a sound
bomb inside a supermarket.
Hakkari - 02.06.10: Unidentified assailants attacked a TEDAS
(Turkish State Electric) building with a Molotov cocktail.
02.04.10: A counterterrorism operation in Istanbul netted nine
alleged members of an illegal leftist organization, the Maoist
Communist Party, believed to be planning acts of terror to
incite chaos in Turkey.
Gaziantep - 02.03.10: A four-year-old girl who went missing
after leaving home to buy candy was found dead.
Hatay - 02.01.10: Hatay Security Director Ragip Kilic said
regular crime increased 24 percent in 2009 in Antakya, with
3,618 incidents reported.
5. (U) Illegal immigrant arrests:
Security forces captured and deported 132 illegal immigrants
from Mersin, Canakkale, Aydin, Edirne, Agri, Izmir and the
borders of Greece, Iraq, Iran, and Georgia.
6. (U) Counter-narcotic operations:
Van - 02.09.10: Security forces seized 236 kilograms of hashish
in the past two months.
Siirt - 02.09.10: Security forces seized 92 units of ecstasy
pills.
Hatay - 02.09.10: Security forces seized 4 kilograms of hashish.
Adana - 02.09.10: Security forces seized 10 kilograms of hashish
and arrested one person.
Osmaniye - 02.03.10: Security forces seized 145 kilograms of
hashish and detained 11 people.
Diyarbakir - 02.08.10: Security forces seized 92 kilograms of
hashish and arrested four people.
Konya-Adana-Mersin-Usak-Kirklareli - 02.09.10: Security forces
seized 15 kilograms of hashish in simultaneous operations and
detained 22 people.
Batman - 02.02.10: Security forces seized four kilograms of
hashish and arrested seven people.
DARNELL
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: FEBRUARY 1 - 9, 2010
1. (U) The security assistant at Consulate Adana compiled the
following security incidents for the period of February 1 - 9,
2010, 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 (TGS):
-------------- --------------
--------------
A. Weapons, ammunition, and equipment seized:
-------------- --------------
--------------
Mardin - 02.08.10: Security forces found and destroyed 700 grams
of dynamite.
Sirnak - 02.08.10: Security forces found and destroyed an IED.
Siirt - 02.03.10: One Kalashnikov rifle, five magazines, 223
rounds of ammunition and logistical materials.
Mardin - 02.02.10: Five pressure-sensitive IED mechanisms,
organizational documents, and four pressure-sensitive IEDs made
of six kilograms of ammonium nitrate.
Sirnak - 02.02.10: One anti-personnel landmine.
Bitlis - 02.02.10: One IED, one battery, organizational
documents, and logistical materials.
Sirnak - 02.01.10: One anti-personnel landmine.
-------------- --------------
B. PKK members captured or surrendered:
-------------- --------------
Sirnak - 02.04.10: Four PKK members surrendered.
Sirnak - 02.01.10: Two PKK members surrendered.
01.31.10 through 02.06.10: Security forces captured nine people,
six of whom 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 Siirt, Mardin, Sirnak, Bitlis and Hakkari.
N. Iraq - 02.08.10 and 02.09.10: TAF artillery teams bombed the
Zap region; no injuries reported.
Hakkari - 02.07.10: Pro-Kurdish Dicle News (DN) reported some 10
Turkish war jets flew from Cukurca District in the direction of
N. Iraq.
Hakkari - 02.02.10: DN reported Turkish war jets made
low-altitude flights over the Aktutun district and flew in the
direction of N. Iraq.
N.Iraq - 02.05.10: TAF artillery teams bombed the ZAP region; no
injuries reported.
Hakkari - 02.04.10: DN reported two Turkish war jets made
low-altitude flights over Semdinli District and flew in the
direction of N. Iraq.
--------------
B. Arrests:
--------------
Adana - 02.09.10: Security forces arrested six people on the
charges of "joining in illegal actions on behalf of the PKK,"
"and "making propaganda for the PKK."
Mardin - 02.09.10: Nine people were sentenced for a cumulative
nine years in prison on the charge of "making propaganda for the
PKK."
Hakkari - 02.09.10: Security forces arrested one minor for
"joining in illegal actions on behalf of the PKK."
Sanliurfa - 02.08.10: Security forces detained three members of
the pro-Kurdish University student union (HODER).
Mus - 02.08.10: Eleven people who joined in Nevruz activities in
2006 are under investigation on the charge of "joining in
ADANA 00000011 002 OF 003
illegal street actions in favor of the PKK and Ocalan."
Hakkari - 02.08.10: Security forces detained two people on the
suspicion of terrorism.
Sanliurfa - 02.08.10: Security forces arrested one person on the
charge of "making propaganda for the PKK."
Adiyaman - 02.08.10: Thirty-three people are under investigation
on the charge of "chanting illegal slogans in favor of the PKK
and Ocalan."
Batman - 02.07.10: Fifty-seven people are on trial on charges of
"chanting slogans against the PM Erdogan" and "insulting the
Prime Minister Erdogan."
Mardin - 02.07.10: Twenty minors are on trial for a cumulative
120 years in prison on the charge of "joining in illegal actions
on behalf of the PKK."
Sirnak - 02.06.10: Security forces arrested three minors on the
charge of "making propaganda for the PKK."
Adana - 02.05.10: Security forces detained two members of the
Hizb-ut-Tahrir terror organization on the charge of "collecting
money from the public on behalf of the terror organization."
Organizational documents and computer records were seized in the
operations. (Note: Hizb ut-Tahrir (Party of Liberation) is an
international, Sunni pan-Islamist political party whose goal is
to combine all Muslim countries in a unitary Islamic state or
caliphate ruled by Islamic law.)
Sirnak - 02.05.10: Three people were sentenced for a cumulative
30 years in prison on the charge of "making propaganda for the
PKK."
Adana - 02.04.10: Three people, including an employee of the
pro-Kurdish Radio Dunya, were sentenced for a cumulative 30
months in prison on the charge of "making propaganda for the
PKK."
Adana - 02.04.10: A Syrian lawyer, who was detained almost 4
months ago on the charge of "membership in an outlawed terror
organization," was released by the court decision.
Van - 02.03.10: A former member of the pro-Kurdish KURDI-DER was
sentenced for 10 months in prison on the charge of "making
propaganda for the PKK."
Batman - 02.03.10: Security forces detained one person on the
charge of "assisting and harboring the PKK."
Sanliurfa - 02.03.10: Two people were sentenced for a cumulative
21 years in prison on the charge of "making propaganda for the
PKK."
Gaziantep - 02.03.10: Sixteen former members of the now-banned
Democratic Society Party (DTP) were taken into custody in an
anti-PKK operation.
Sirnak - 02.02.10: One person was sentenced for two years in
prison on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK."
Mardin - 02.02.10: Security forces arrested one person on the
charge of "making propaganda for the PKK."
Sirnak - 02.01.10: An employee of the pro-Kurdish Gundem
Newspaper was sentenced for six years in prison on the charge of
"making propaganda for the PKK."
-------------- --------------
C. Other media stories about the PKK:
-------------- --------------
Turkey wide - 02.07.10: PKK plans provocative actions in the
lead up to the February 15 anniversary of Ocalan's capture.
PKK's urban cell will allegedly start provocative action in
major cities, using the "Freedom for Ocalan" slogan for
demonstrations. The PKK's youth wing "Komalen Ciwan" called all
Kurdish people to join in.
In the southeast, PKK members have allegedly begun publicizing
names of individuals, companies and institutions associated with
the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the
Gulen movement as a warning not to interfere in its operations
or development.
Tunceli - 02.09.10: PKK sympathizers set on fire three vehicles
belonging to military personnel.
Bingol - 01.09.10: Security forces clashed with PKK supporters.
Adana - 02.09.10: Security forces clashed with PKK sympathizers
on the one-year anniversary of death of Veysi Kaya, who
self-immolated to protest the prison conditions of PKK leader
Abdullah Ocalan.
Adana - 02.09.10: PKK supporters have increased arson and
ADANA 00000011 003 OF 003
Molotov cocktail attacks in the lead up to the February 15
anniversary of Ocalan's capture. PKK supporters set on fire
three civilian vehicles in the popular Ziyapasa neighborhood.
Adana - 02.07.10: PKK sympathizers gathered in Barbaros and
Hurriyet parishes to carryout illegal pro-PKK demonstrations.
Security forces intervened with pressurized water, batons, tear
gas and plastic bullets. Demonstrators responded with Molotov
cocktails and stones.
02.07.10: KCK's Chief (Kurdish Democratic Confederation/Turkey
Council) Cemil Bayik threatened the ruling AKP government,
saying it would be a "tough year."
Siirt - 02.06.10: A father of a PKK member killed in Eruh has
claimed that GOT would not relinquish his son's body because
chemical weapons were used in the fatal clash with the TAF in
May 2009.
Diyarbakir - 02.05.10: A PKK-affiliated group called "Ocalan's
Youth" attacked a police vehicle with a Molotov cocktail.
Police have heightened the city's security posture in sensitive
areas such as the ruling AK Party headquarters.
Diyarbakir - 02.05.10: Hundreds of people visited a condolence
tent pitched to commemorate PKK members killed between 1992 and
1999.
4. (U) Media reports on significant crime or security
incidents:
Sanliurfa - 02.09.10: Unidentified assailants attacked a bank
with three Molotov cocktails.
02.09.10: According to the Turkish Monitoring Center for Drugs
and Drug Addiction, the number of drug-related deaths in Turkey
increased by 14 percent in 2008, rising from 139 deaths in 2007
to 159 in 2008.
Sirnak - 02.08.10: Security forces opened fire on a passenger
bus when the driver did not heed a halt order. Fifty-one
bullets hit the bus and one passenger was killed.
Hakkari - 02.07.10: Two bomb blasts struck the GOT-operated
Ziraat Bank in Yuksekova, damaging two vehicles and bank
property.
Sanliurfa - 02.06.10: Unidentified assailants bombed a branch of
Ziraat bank, causing damage to the facility.juries reported.
Diyarbakir - 02.06.10: Unidentified assailants detonated a sound
bomb inside a supermarket.
Hakkari - 02.06.10: Unidentified assailants attacked a TEDAS
(Turkish State Electric) building with a Molotov cocktail.
02.04.10: A counterterrorism operation in Istanbul netted nine
alleged members of an illegal leftist organization, the Maoist
Communist Party, believed to be planning acts of terror to
incite chaos in Turkey.
Gaziantep - 02.03.10: A four-year-old girl who went missing
after leaving home to buy candy was found dead.
Hatay - 02.01.10: Hatay Security Director Ragip Kilic said
regular crime increased 24 percent in 2009 in Antakya, with
3,618 incidents reported.
5. (U) Illegal immigrant arrests:
Security forces captured and deported 132 illegal immigrants
from Mersin, Canakkale, Aydin, Edirne, Agri, Izmir and the
borders of Greece, Iraq, Iran, and Georgia.
6. (U) Counter-narcotic operations:
Van - 02.09.10: Security forces seized 236 kilograms of hashish
in the past two months.
Siirt - 02.09.10: Security forces seized 92 units of ecstasy
pills.
Hatay - 02.09.10: Security forces seized 4 kilograms of hashish.
Adana - 02.09.10: Security forces seized 10 kilograms of hashish
and arrested one person.
Osmaniye - 02.03.10: Security forces seized 145 kilograms of
hashish and detained 11 people.
Diyarbakir - 02.08.10: Security forces seized 92 kilograms of
hashish and arrested four people.
Konya-Adana-Mersin-Usak-Kirklareli - 02.09.10: Security forces
seized 15 kilograms of hashish in simultaneous operations and
detained 22 people.
Batman - 02.02.10: Security forces seized four kilograms of
hashish and arrested seven people.
DARNELL