VZCZCXRO2260
RR RUEHDA
DE RUEHDA #0056/01 2661130
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 231130Z SEP 09
FM AMCONSUL ADANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4768
INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1308
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1082
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0200
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 1375
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ADANA 000056
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PTER PINR CASC TU
SUBJECT: SE TURKEY SECURITY INCIDENTS: SEPTEMBER 18 - SEPTEMBER 22,
2009
1. The following security incidents for the period
September 18-22, 2009, were compiled by the Security Assistant
at the Consulate Adana from RSO sources, to include Turkish
security contacts, government officials and media reports.
Similar reports have previously been shared informally by
e-mail. Post is now sending this information in cable format to
ensure wider and more regular distribution. The RSO uses the
information to determine the security situation and trends of
violence and crime throughout Turkey. The RSO also tracks the
information by location and shares the information with the
country team and visas viper coordinator.
2. Military operations against the Kurdistan Workers'
Party (PKK) as reported by the Turkish General Staff:
A. Weapons, ammunition, and equipment seized:
Sirnak - 09.18.09: 20 kilograms of A-4 plastic explosive
material and material used to make bombs were found and
destroyed on site.
Hakkari - 09.18.09: A hand-made landmine made of 20 kilograms of
TNT and placed on a roadside was found and destroyed on site.
Hakkari - 09.18.09: 1 Biksi machine gun, 137 rounds of Biksi
machine gun ammunition, 1 Kalashnikov infantry rifle, and 4
magazines were seized.
B. PKK members captured or surrendered:
01.01. - 09.20.09: 75 PKKers left the PKK and surrendered to
security forces. 224 PKK members were neutralized (alive, dead
or surrendered) in the first 9 months of 2009.
09.16-22.09: Security forces captured 5 PKK members. 4 PKKers
were captured alive and 1 surrendered to security forces.
Batman - 09.16.09: 3 PKKers were captured alive.
Sirnak - 09.19.09: Security forces captured 1 PKK member
3. Media reports on Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and
pro-Kurdish organizations
A. PKK attacks:
Hakkari - 09.22.09: The military outpost in the Durankaya
district was attacked by a group of PKKers with long-range
rifles. It was reported that there was no loss of life or
property in the incident.
Bingol - 09.17.09: A civilian working at a mine company was
kidnapped.
B. Anti-PKK operations:
09.17-22.09: Turkey-wide - Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) Anti-PKK
operations continue in Tunceli, Sirnak, Hakkari, Bingol, Mus and
Batman.
Hakkari - 09.22.09: It was reported that Turkish war helicopters
have flown to the border line in the Daglica District of
Semdinli.
C. Arrests:
Hakkari - 09.22.09: Security forces detained 5 people.
Ergani in Diyarbakir - 09.20.09: A member of the pro-Kurdish
YDG-M (Patriotic Democratic Youth Movement) was arrested on a
charge of "making propaganda of the terror organization PKK."
09.20.09 - Diyarbakir: Twelve people, who joined in Molotov
cocktail-throwing and illegal street actions on behalf of the
terror organization PKK, were detained in an anti-PKK operation
and illegal publications, organizational documents and memory
sticks were seized.
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Mardin - 09.20.09: A member of the pro-Kurdish Azadiya Welat
newspaper was detained.
Van - 09.18.09: Security forces detained 3 people.
Sur in Diyarbakir - 09.19.09: Six of eight people who were
detained after an illegal street demonstration were arrested on
charges of "collection member for the terror organization PKK,"
and "making illegal action on behalf of the terror organization
PKK."
D. Other:
PKK's inactivity period, which was declared by the terror
organization on April 13, 2009, has ended as of September 22,
2009. The terror organization PKK is expected to make a
declaration about the ongoing situation.
According to the pro-Kurdish Dicle News Agency, 140 people,
including 70 PKKers, 45 troops, 9 village guards and 16
civilians were killed in 192 separate anti-PKK operations held
by the TAF in the first 9 months of the 2009.
Hakkari - 09.22.09: Many people gathered to attend funerals of 3
PKKers who were recently killed in a clash in Cukurca District.
Clashes erupted when the state officials did not give the bodies
to their families. Security forces intervened with sticks, tear
gas and pressurized water, and demonstrators responded with
stones and Molotov cocktails. The clashes continued into the
night in 11 parishes of the city.
09.22.09: Postponed Kurdish conference likely to be held in
March. During a recent visit by members of the pro-Kurdish
Democratic Society Party (DTP) to northern Iraq, a decision was
made to hold a Kurdish conference in March, DTP sources have
indicated. The conference, which was supposed to have been held
last spring to draw up a road map for a solution to the Kurdish
question, was postponed due to disagreements among various
Kurdish groups.
09.22.09: Government OKs military's cross-border proposal. The
government has approved the military's request to extend
parliamentary authorization to conduct cross-border incursions
into northern Iraq and said the process would be complete next
week.
Silopi in Sirnak - 09.21.09: Thousands of people joined in a
funeral ceremony of a killed PKK member. Demonstrators chanted
slogans in favor of PKK and Ocalan. No clash or any arrest
occurred.
Van - 09.21.09: Thousands of people joined in a funeral
ceremony of a killed PKK member. Demonstrators chanted slogans
in favor of PKK and Ocalan. No clash or any arrest occurred.
09.20.09 - Turkish National Intelligence Agency (MIT) warns
against possible PKK and pro-Kurdish organization's actions.
MIT has sent a warning message to all TNP units in SE Turkey
about the possibility of an increase raise in PKK and other
pro-Kurdish groups' actions.
Bingol - 09.20.09: A police patrol vehicle was attacked by
Molotov cocktail. No injury reported.
Mardin - 09.18.09: A University Preparation School was attacked
by a Molotov cocktail by a group of PKK supporters.
Mersin - 09.18.09: PKK supporters attacked journalists and
security forces. Almost 300 people participated in an illegal
demonstration to support Ocalan's road map. Security forces
intervened with sticks, tear gas and pressurized water, and PKK
sympathizers responded with stones and Molotov cocktails.
Mardin: Security forces intervened with demonstrators holding
an illegal street demonstration. Almost 500 people, who were
chanting slogans in favor of PKK and Ocalan, participated in the
illegal march.
Adana - 09.18.09: Almost 50 DTPers gathered in front of the DTP
Provincial building and held a protest march to the AK Party's
building. DTP Adana Deputy Sahin Kilic said, "The name change
from the Kurd opening to Democratic opening has disappointed
us."
Sanliurfa - 09.18.09: Hundreds of people marched and chanted
slogans in favor of PKK and Ocalan to protest the latest
anti-DTP operations and the Turkish government's attitude
against Ocalan's road map.
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Agri, Igdir, Bitlis, Mus, Mardin, Istanbul, Adana, Sanliurfa and
Konya - 09.18.09: Anti-DTP operations and Turkish Government's
attitude against Ocalan's road map were protested by many
people.
Mersin - 09.18.09: A shop belonging to a Kurdish citizen was set
on fire. It has been alleged the arson attack was carried out
by Ulku Ocaklari (a fanatic nationalist group).
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Illegal Migrants
----------------
4. Illegal migrant arrests:
09.17-21.09: Security forces captured and deported 352 illegal
migrants from the following regions: Syrian border, Greek
border, Edirne, Van, Aydin, Bitlis, Istanbul, Balikesir,
Canakkale, Kilis, Mugla, Aegean Coast.
------------------------------------------
Counter-Narcotic and anti-crime operations
------------------------------------------
5. Anti-criminal operations:
Mersin - 09.18.09: Security forces detained 33 people in an
anti-theft operation. 14 of 33 people later were arrested.
Van - 09.19.09: Turkish smugglers were hit by Iranian Security
forces. 1 person was killed and 2 people were wounded.
Syrian border: The visa requirement between Turkey and Syria
has been lifted. Over the holiday weekend, about 15,000
vehicles entering Turkey from Syria were checked by law
enforcement forces at five checkpoints. Eight tons of smuggled
sugar, 3 tons of smuggled tea, 2,000 packs of smuggled
cigarette, 200 liters of smuggled diesel, 350 liters of smuggled
gasoline, and 500 packs of smuggled nargile tobacco were seized
in Syrian citizens' vehicles. About 5 tons of smuggled tea, 30
tons of smuggled sugar and cigarettes were seized in Turkish
citizens' vehicles.
6. Counter-narcotic operations:
Diyarbakir - 09.20.09: Security forces detained 4 people in a
counter-narcotics operation.
DARNELL