Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Civil Unrest, Clashes Continue

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS ADANA 000215

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PTER TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY CIVIL UNREST, CLASHES CONTINUE

REF: A) ADANA 208 B) ANKARA 6772

1.(SBU) Southeast Turkey's cities and small townships have been
experiencing considerable civil unrest and protesting since the
11/9 Semdinli incident in which the Jandarma Intelligence
Service is alleged to have bombed a local mayor's public event.
Protesters calling for an investigation of the Jandarma
Intelligence Service's activities in Hakkari, as well as often
espousing support for pro-PKK issues, have clashed with police
on an almost nightly basis in Hakkari's cities of Hakkari,
Semdinli and Yuksekova, as well as in Van, Sanliurfa,
Diyarbakir, Mersin, Mardin and Adana provinces. Press reports
indicate approximately a half dozen deaths and several dozen
seriously wounded protestors and police in the clashes.

2.(SBU) In Adana, there have been 50-60 strong civilian clashes
with the police in neighborhoods 3-4 kilometers from the
consulate and 8-10 kilometers from the residences approximately
seven evenings since Nov. 13. These clashes frequently have
featured Turkish National Police (TNP) deployment of several
riot control units and seen rock throwing and Molotov cocktail
launching by protestors answered by TNP deployment of water
cannons and tear gas accompanied by baton use. Additionally,
the TNP told the press that they arrested four ESP (small
Socialist leftist group) members on Nov.20 for protesting the
Semdinli incident.

3.(SBU) Meanwhile, there are credible press reports of probable
PKK terror attacks on GoT security forces in Van, Sirnak and
Mardin in the last week, resulting in approximately 8 killed and
a dozen wounded. On 11/17, a probable PKK terror attack
derailed railroad cars on a train in Van province. GoT forces
also reportedly are engaging in counter-terrorist sweep
operations in Tunceli, Mardin, Sirnak (near Silopi) and Hakkari
provinces.

4.(U) Baghdad minimize considered.
REID

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