SE TURKEY SECURITY INCIDENTS: FEBRUARY 16 - 23, 2010

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ADANA 000015 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 16 - 23, 2010 ¶1. (U) The following security incidents for the period of February 16 - 23, 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 (TGS): -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶A. Weapons, ammunition, and equipment seized: -------------- -------------- -------------- 1.1.10 through 2.19.10: Security forces seized or detonated safely 15 kilograms of TNT, 17 kilograms of plastic explosive materials, 58 kilograms of ammonium/potassium nitrate, six landmines and four IEDs. Mardin - 2.17.10: Security forces seized one Kalashnikov rifle, seven magazines, and 11 rounds of ammunition. -------------- -------------- ¶B. PKK members captured or surrendered: -------------- -------------- 2.16.10 through 2.21.10: Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) captured two people. Hakkari - 2.18.10: Security forces caught one PKK member. ¶3. (U) Media reports related to PKK and pro-Kurdish organizations: -------------- ¶A. Anti-PKK operations: -------------- 2.23.10: TAF has increased military deployment to SE Turkey in advance of the spring thaw. Military personnel, armored vehicles, and ammunition have been deployed to the areas of operation in Hakkari, Sirnak, Mardin, Tunceli and Bingol. Tunceli - 2.23.10: TAF declared military security zones in several districts due to anti-PKK military operations; the public is banned from entering or exiting the area between February 25 and May 25, 2010. -------------- ¶B. Arrests: -------------- Van - 2.23.10: Two people were arrested on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK." Diyarbakir - 2.23.10: Mehmet Ali Aydin, the head of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) in Diyarbakir province, was arrested on charges of conducting propaganda for PKK. Aydin was arrested on charges of conducting propaganda for the PKK, membership in a terrorist organization and committing a crime on behalf of said organization. Sanliurfa - 2.22.10: One person is on trial on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK." ADANA 00000015 002 OF 004 Sanliurfa - 2.22.10: Security forces arrested four people on the charge of chanting illegal slogans in favor of the PKK." Diyarbakir - 2.22.10: Security forces arrested one person on the charge of "joining in illegal street action on behalf of the PKK," and detained another on the suspicion of terrorism. 2.21.10: Prosecutors in Diyarbakir demanded 480 years imprisonment for Vedat Kursun, former editor-in-chief of the Kurdish-language Azadiya Welat daily, claiming he had been disseminating pro-PKK propaganda by publishing stories on the statements and activities of the organization. Bitlis - 2.21.10: Security forces arrested a member of the pro-Kurdish BDP on the charge of "membership in the KCK." Hakkari - 2.21.10: Security forces detained 14 people in an anti-KCK (Kurdish Democratic Confederation/Turkey Council) operation. Note: KCK is considered by Turkish law enforcement to be the urban arm of the PKK. End note. Mus - 2.21.10: Security forces arrested one person on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK." Hakkari - 2.20.10: Security forces arrested two people on the charges of "making propaganda for the PKK," and "joining in illegal actions on behalf of the PKK." Van - 2.19.10: Security forces detained 25 people in anti-KCK operations, later arresting 12 on the charge of "PKK membership." Mersin - 2.19.10: Security forces arrested 26 people on the charges of "destroying public property," and "joining in illegal street actions on behalf of the PKK." Adana-Konya - 2.19.10: Security forces captured the Adana region's PKK leader in an operation in Konya. Police said the terrorist had been on the most-wanted list for 17 years. Sirnak and Batman - 2.18.10: Security forces arrested 16 people on charges of "PKK membership," "violating restrictions on marches and demonstrations," and "joining in illegal street actions on behalf of the PKK." Siirt - 2.17.10: Security forces arrested seven members of the pro-Kurdish MKM-DER (Mesopotamia Culture Center) and BDP on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK." Bingol - 2.17.10: Security forces detained several members of the pro-Kurdish YDG-M (PKK's youth wing) on the charge of "PKK membership." Gaziantep - 2.17.10: Security forces arrested eight people who detained in an anti-YDG-M operation, on the charge of "PKK membership." Van - 2.17.10: Security forces arrested eight people detained in an anti-KCK operation, on the charge of "PKK membership." Mus - 2.17.10: Security forces detained former Malazgirt chairman of the banned Democratic Society Party on the suspicion of terrorism. Suruc in Sanliurfa - 2.17.10: Security forces arrested two people on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK." Sanliurfa - 2.17.10: Security forces detained a person on the ADANA 00000015 003 OF 004 suspicion of terrorism. Cukurca in Hakkari - 2.17.10: Security forces arrested six people on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK." Siirt - 2.17.10: Security forces arrested seven MKM-DER members on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK." Adana - 2.17.10: Security forces arrested nine YDG-M members on the charge of "PKK membership." Mersin - 2.16.10: Security forces detained ten people in Tarsus on the suspicion of terrorism. Police arrested two people who on the wanted list. Mardin - 2.16.10: Security forces arrested 16 people, including local BDP politicians and municipality council members, on the charge of "membership in the KCK." Batman - 2.16.10: Security forces detained 58 people on the suspicion of terrorism. Hakkari - 2.16.10: Security forces arrested six people on the charges of "joining in illegal actions on behalf of the PKK," and "making propaganda for the PKK." -------------- -------------- ¶C. Other media stories about the PKK: -------------- -------------- 2.23.10: PKK's feminist wing, KJB, is calling all Kurdish women to join in March 8 celebrations on International Women's Day. Sanliurfa - 2.21.10: Demonstrators chanted pro-PKK slogans, blocked roads, threw stones and set an ATM on fire with Molotov cocktails. Police intervened with pressurized water, batons and tear gas. Hakkari - 2.19- and 2.20.10: Security forces clashed with PKK supporters. Demonstrators chanted slogans in favor of PKK and Ocalan. Malatya - 2.18.10: The burial of a person who self-immolated to protest 11th anniversary of Abdullah Ocalan's capture was attended by many supporters. Hakkari - 2.17.10: PKK supporters clashed with security forces while protesting the anniversary of Ocalan's capture. Police intervened with batons, pressurized water and tear gas; demonstrators responded with Molotov cocktails, fireworks, and rock throwing. Hakkari - 2.16.10: An IED placed near a jewelry shop on Cumhuriyet Street in Semdinli detonated at around 2300, causing minor damage. Sanliurfa - 2.16.10: PKK sympathizers continued to carry out illegal protests related to the anniversary of Abdullah Ocalan's capture. In Viransehir, security forces intervened with pressurized water, ADANA 00000015 004 OF 004 batons and tear gas and PKK supporters responded with Molotov cocktails and stones. Sanliurfa - 2.16.10: PKK supporters attacked a police patrol vehicle with fireworks and Molotov cocktails. No injuries reported. ¶4. (U) Media reports on significant crime or security incidents: 2.23.10: Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda's second-in-command, strongly criticized the Turkish government for committing crimes against Islam by allowing Turkish soldiers to serve in Afghanistan. 2.17.10: Twenty-six people, including a high-level police officer, were arrested in trafficking-in-persons operations in Istanbul, Ankara and Malatya. ¶5. (U) Illegal immigrant arrests: 2.14.10 through 2.22.10: Security forces captured and deported 321 illegal immigrants from: Canakkale, Edirne, Van, Aydin, Sirnak, Antalya, Hatay and the borders of Greece, Syria, Bulgaria and Iran. 2.23.10: Zaman Newspaper: Research conducted on migration patterns by a group of journalists has revealed that more than 34,000 illegal migrants drowned in the Aegean and Mediterranean seas between 1988 and 2009. In addition to the more than 34,000 illegal migrants who drowned in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas, 15,000 migrants were found dead inside Europe's borders. While 4,500 people perished in trying to reach Spain, approximately 140 people drowned while heading from Algeria to Sardinia. ¶6. (U) Counternarcotic operations: Diyarbakir - 2.23.10: Security forces seized 193 kilograms of hashish and one pistol, and detained four people. 2.23.10: Security forces detained 16 people in simultaneous counternarcotics operations in Adana, Hatay, Diyarbakir and Antalya. Adana - 2.23.10: Security forces seized five kilograms of hashish and detained one person. Siirt - 2.23.10: Security forces seized ten kilograms of hashish. Batman - 2.21.10: Security forces seized eight kilograms of hashish and detained four people. Sanliurfa - 2.20.10: Security forces seized 55 kilograms of hashish. Adiyaman - 2.19.10: Security forces seized four kilograms of hashish, two pistols, 50 grams of heroin and detained 20 people in an operation targeting street sellers. Sirnak - 2.19.10: Security forces seized 2,256 units of pills and detained one person. Diyarbakir - 2.19.10: Security forces seized 38 kilograms of hashish and arrested one person. Adana - 2.17.10: Security forces seized 10 kilograms of hashish and detained 5 people. Adiyaman - 2.17.10: Security forces detained 20 people. DARNELL