SE TURKEY SECURITY INCIDENTS: JANUARY 04, 2010 - JANUARY 10,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ADANA 000003 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: JANUARY 04, 2010 - JANUARY 10, 2010 ¶1. (U) The following security incidents for the period of January 04, 2010 - January 10, 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: -------------- -------------- -------------- 01.01.10 through 01.08.10: Security forces confiscated 14 kilograms of TNT, 25 kilograms of plastic explosive material, and 6 kilograms of ammonium nitrate. Tunceli - 01.06.10: Security forces found and destroyed 2 IEDs made of 6 kilograms of ammonium nitrate. -------------- -------------- ¶B. PKK members captured or surrendered: -------------- -------------- 01.04.10 through 01.10.10: Security forces captured 5 people: 4 alive and 1 surrendered. Sirnak - 01.06.10: Security forces captured 1 PKK member. 1 PKK member surrendered. Sirnak - 01.04.10: Security forces captured 1 PKK member. ¶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 Sirnak, Tunceli and Van. ¶N. Iraq - 01.08.10: TAF artillery teams bombed the Zap region; no injuries reported. -------------- ¶B. Arrests: -------------- Diyarbakir - 01.10.10: Security forces detained an activist of the pro-Kurdish Kandil Peace Group on the suspicion of terrorism. Batman - 01.09.10: Security forces arrested 3 members of the Turkish Hezbollah on the charge of "membership in Turkish Hezbollah." Sanliurfa - 01.09.10: Security forces arrested 2 people on the charges of "membership in the PKK," and "making propaganda for the PKK." Security forces also arrested 1 person on the charge of "membership in Turkish Hezbollah." Mersin - 01.09.10: Security forces detained 8 people, including 6 children, on the suspicion of terrorism. Hakkari - 01.09.10: Security forces detained 8 people on the suspicion of terrorism. Three were later arrested. Gaziantep, Hatay, Mersin, and Adiyaman - 01.08.10: Security forces arrested 21 people who had been detained in the recent anti-KCK operations conducted in the region. Hakkari - 01.06.10 and 01.07.10: Security forces detained 12 people on the suspicion of terrorism. Adana - 01.06.10: Security forces detained 5 people on the suspicion of terrorism. Diyarbakir - 01.06.10: A member of the pro-Kurdish MKM-DER-Mesopotamian Culture Center was arrested on the charge of "membership in the PKK." Sanliurfa - 01.05.10: Security forces arrested 1 person on the charge of "membership in an armed terror organization." ADANA 00000003 002 OF 004 Adana - 01.05.10: A former mayoral candidate from DTP is under investigation for "making propaganda for the PKK in the Kurdish language." Sanliurfa - 01.04.10: 1 person was detained on the suspicion of terrorism. Sirnak - 01.04.10: Security forces arrested 8 people on the charge of "membership in the PKK" in an operation against the PKK's youth arm, YDG-M. Van - 01.04.10: Security forces detained 5 people on the suspicion of terrorism. -------------- -------------- ¶C. Other media stories about the PKK: -------------- -------------- 01.10.10 - The General Staff had recorded encrypted messages coming from the PKK four days prior to an attack in Tokat on December 7 that left seven soldiers dead, but was unable to decode the messages and prevent the assault. 01.10.10 - Iran hanged a member of the PKK this week, and several other members of the group are to be executed in the coming days in an attempt to deter attacks in Iranian territory. The PKK's Iranian offshoot, a group called the Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK),has carried out several attacks on Iranian security forces. Diyarbakir - 01.10.10: Almost 91 NGOs, including pro-Kurdish organizations, held a press statement to protest recent anti-KCK operations and to call upon GOT to find a democratic solution for the Kurdish issue. Adiyaman - 01.10.10: Pro-Kurdish NGOs held a press statement to protest anti-KCK operations. Demonstrators chanted slogans in favor of PKK and Ocalan. Sanliurfa - 01.10.10: PKK supporters attacked a Turkish Telecom Building with Molotov cocktails. Pro-PKK "Ayrin Erdem Youth Initiative" has claimed the responsibility. Adana - 01.09.10: PKK supporters set fire to 4 vehicles in Mahfesigmaz, Guzelyali and Turgut Ozal areas. A Pro-PKK group called themselves as "Ocalan's Youths" has claimed responsibility. NOTE: Three of Consulate Adana's four officers live in this area. END NOTE. Mersin - 01.09.10: The pro-Kurdish Democracy Platform protested alleged lynch attempts against Kurdish and other ethnic groups. Demonstrators chanted slogans in favor of PKK and Ocalan. Diyarbakir and Hakkari - 01.08.10: Pro- Kurdish NGOs and BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) officials and members held press statements to protest the recent anti-KCK operation. Demonstrators chanted slogans in favor of PKK and Ocalan. No clash or arrest occurred. Mersin - 01.07.10: Police stormed a house and detained 4 people who were making Molotov cocktails 01.07.10: Approximately 300 intellectuals have started a campaign in reaction to the denial of a rental house to Ahmet Turk, former leader of the DTP. The "My house is Yours" campaign is supported by artists, academics, professionals and writers. Hakkari - 01.06.10 through 01.10.10: PKK supporters blocked streets, burnt trash barrels and chanted slogans in favor of PKK and Ocalan to protest recent anti-KCK operations across Turkey. Police intervened with tear gas, pressurized water and batons; protesters responded with Molotov cocktails and stones. Two protesters were wounded on January 6 by rubber bullets. 01.06.10: The Security General Directorate received information from a PKK informant regarding a plan to target the families of police officers who work in eastern Turkey. Security precautions around police officers' homes and their children's schools have been heightened. Diyarbakir, Van, Bingol, Batman, & Sanliurfa - 01.06.10: Many people, including former DTP members, BDP officials, Human Rights Union members, and members and officials of pro-Kurdish unions gathered to protest recent anti-KCK operations. Demonstrators chanted slogans in favor of PKK and Ocalan. No clash or arrest occurred. Mersin - 01.06.10: A fight between two high school students - one Turkish and one Kurdish - turned into an ethnic dispute ADANA 00000003 003 OF 004 involving over 200 residents. The fight ended after police teams arrived on the scene and fired shots into the air. Six injuries and 15 arrests were reported. Gaziantep - 01.06.10: Demonstrators, including BDP officials and members, gathered to protest recent anti-KCK operations. Meanwhile, investigations continue regarding the 24 people who were detained in the last anti-KCK operations. Turkey-wide - 01.04.10: The Democratic Society Congress, which gathered in Diyarbakir a few months ago upon orders from Abdullah Ocalan, added certain press agencies to its list of targets. Security forces have heightened security measures at offices believed to be at risk. Diyarbakir, Van & Mus - 01.04.10: Demonstrators, including current and former BDP and DTP members and officials, gathered to protest anti-KCK operation. ¶4. (U) Media reports on significant crime or security incidents: 01.10.10: A suspect in the trial of suspected members of an illegal gendarmerie unit called JITEM has confessed to taking part in extrajudicial killings and even making prayer beads out of the ears of those whom he had killed. Bingol - 01.10.10: A child was wounded by an IED. Hatay - 01.10.10: Security forces detained 47 people in an anti-gang operation. Twenty-two of them later were arrested on the charge of "membership in an organized-crime group." Kilis - 01.10.10: Security forces found 10 hand grenades and 9 fuses at a residence. Bingol - 01.09.10: Unidentified people slashed the tires of 13 civilian vehicles. Elsewhere in the province, villagers found some fragments of human bones. A criminal investigation is underway. Diyarbakir, Hatay Osmaniye and Gaziantep - 01.07.10: Security forces detained 77 people and confiscated 162 historical artifacts in an anti-organized-crime and smuggling operation. Mersin - 01.07.10: An attacker opened fire at a police check point, wounding 3 police officers. The attacker was later apprehended. Batman - 01.06.10: Security forces confiscated 1 rifle, 6 pistols, 7 magazines, 78 rounds of ammunition and 28 bullets. 5 people were detained. Elazig - 01.06.10: Security forces detained 4 people in an anti-organized-crime operation. Elazig - 01.05.10: Security forces seized 1 Kalashnikov rifle, 4 rifles, 3 pistols, and 172 rounds of ammunition. Diyarbakir - 01.05.10: Demonstrators protested recent anti-KCK operations, blocking traffic and throwing stones and Molotov cocktails. Security forces intervened with tear gas, batons and pressurized water. Van - 01.05.10: Demonstrators, including Human Rights Union and pro-Kurdish organization officials, gathered to protest anti-KCK operations. Demonstrators chanted anti-GOT slogans. Van - 01.04.10: A person who was working as a cleaner at a bank attempted to rob his employer, killing 1 person and wounding 3 others. ¶5. (U) Illegal immigrant arrests: 12.27.09 through 01.09.10: Security forces captured and deported 963 illegal immigrants from: Kirklareli, Kilis, Balikesir, Erzurum, Nigde, Tekirdag, Van, Aydin, Hatay, Aksaray, Hakkari, Sirnak, Bitlis, Edirne, Mugla, the Aegean Coast and the borders of Iran, Iraq, Syria and Greece. Nine Turks assisting them were also detained in the operations. ¶6. (U) Counter-narcotic operations: Turkey-wide - 01.01.09 through 12.31.09: Gendarme forces confiscated 44 kilograms poppy gum, 2,400 kilograms of heroin, 2,035,527,831 units of cannabis, 998 seeds of cannabis, 20,000 kilograms of raw hashish, 5,500 kilograms of powder hashish, 1.7 kilograms of cocaine, 17 kilograms of morphine, 173,000 synthetic pills, and 3470 liters of acid anhydrite. ADANA 00000003 004 OF 004 Adana - 01.09.10: Security forces seized 500 pills (Ice) and detained 7 people in an anti-narcotic operation conducted against 8 separate addresses. Two Ecstasy pills, 720 grams of cannabis, and 10 kilograms of white powder were also seized in the operation. Batman - 01.08.10: Security forces seized 8 kilograms of hashish and detained 5 people. Osmaniye - 01.08.10: Security forces detained 4 people in an anti-smuggling operation. Sanliurfa - 01.06.10: Security forces seized 6 kilograms of hashish and detained 2 people. Hakkari - 01.04.10: Security forces seized 36 kilograms of hashish and arrested 2 people. Elazig - 01.04.10: Security forces seized 20 kilograms of hashish and detained 3 people. Van - 01.04.10: Security forces seized 120 kilograms of heroin and 170 kilograms of hashish. 6 people were detained in the operation. Van - 01.05.10: Security forces confiscated 95 kilograms of hashish and detained 2 people. DARNELL