INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Se Turkey Security Incidents: November 16-22, 2009

Published: Tue 24 Nov 2009 11:33 AM
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DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/EUR, DS/IP/ITA, INR AND EUR
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TAGS: ASEC PTER PINR CASC TU
SUBJECT: SE TURKEY SECURITY INCIDENTS: NOVEMBER 16-22, 2009
1. The following security incidents for the period of November
16-22 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. Military operations against the Kurdistan Workers' Party
(PKK) as reported by the Turkish General Staff:
A. Weapons, ammunition, and equipment seized:
Sirnak - 11.17.09: 2 zodiac boats, various logistical equipment,
and food.
B. PKK members captured or surrendered:
11.16.09 though 11.22.09: Security forces captured five PKK
members.
Hatay - 11.20.09: Security forces caught 1 PKK member.
Sanliurfa - 11.17.09: Security forces caught 1 PKK member.
Adana - 11.17.09: Security forces caught 1 PKK member.
C. PKK attacks:
Elazig - 11.19.09: Security forces found and destroyed an IED
made of 100 grams of C-4 and mortar ammunition.
Diyarbakir - 11.16.09: IED killed 4 animals.
3. Media reports related to PKK and pro-Kurdish organizations:
A. Anti-PKK operations:
11.16.09 through 11.22.09: Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) anti-PKK
operations in SE Turkey continue. Many armored vehicles,
military personnel and ammunition were deployed to Sirnak,
Hakkari, Van, Sanliurfa, Hatay, Mus and Siirt.
B. Arrests:
Diyarbakir - 11.22.09: 1 person arrested on the charge of
"making propaganda for the PKK."
Sanliurfa - 11.22.09: Security forces detained 1 person on the
suspicion of terrorism.
Bingol - 11.21.09: 1 person arrested on the charge of "making
propaganda for the PKK."
Siirt - 11.21.09: Security forces detained 3 people on the
charge of "making propaganda for the PKK."
Sirnak - 11.21.09: Security forces detained 1 person on the
suspicion of terrorism.
Hakkari - 11.21.09: A former member of the DTP's youth branch
was arrested on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK."
Sanliurfa - 11.21.09: DTP district chairman sentenced to 3
years in prison on the charge of "making propaganda for the PKK."
Sirnak - 11.20.09: 1 person under investigation on the suspicion
of terrorism.
Siirt - 11.19.09: A DTP Administrator was sentenced to 13 years
in prison on the charges of "violating restrictions on marches
and demonstrations," and "carrying out illegal action on behalf
of the PKK."
Diyarbakir - 11.19.09: 1 minor (17) released after almost 7
months detention on the charge of "making propaganda for the
PKK."
Sanliurfa - 11.19.09: 66 DTP members, who were fined for "making
propaganda for the PKK," are preparing to take their case to the
European Human Rights Court (AIHM).
Sirnak - 11.17.09: Security forces detained 3 people on the
suspicion of terrorism.
Adana - 11.17.09: 2 members of the pro-Kurdish YDG-M (Patriotic
Democratic Youth Movement) were arrested on the charge of
"carrying out illegal action on behalf of the PKK."
Hakkari - 11.17.09: DTP district chairman and his deputy were
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fined 600 Turkish lira on the charge of "making propaganda for
the PKK."
Tunceli - 11.16.09: Security forces detained 1 DTP official on
the suspicion of terrorism.
C. Other media stories about PKK:
11.22.09: Transportation Minister rejected DTP MP Siirt's
proposal for flight announcements in Kurdish.
Sirnak - 11.22.09: Thousands of people joined in a meeting held
by the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy organization. The
participants chanted pro-PKK slogans.
11.21.09: Turkish Interior Minister Atalay announced the
government plans to intensify its efforts to repatriate more
than half of those in the Makhmour refugee camp, located in
northern Iraq and home to a large number of PKK members, as part
of the government's democratic initiative aimed at resolving the
Kurdish issue. Atalay said almost 11,000 people are expected to
surrender and return to Turkey.
Sirrnak - 11.21.09: Members of pro-Kurdish groups, including
SAR-DER, MEYA-DER, KURDI-DER and DTP, protested the construction
of a hydroelectric plant.
Tunceli - 11.21.09: TAF declared military security zones in
several districts due to impending anti-PKK military operations;
the public is banned from entering or exiting the area between
the dates of November 24, 2009 and February 24, 2010.
Sanliurfa - 11.21.09: PKK supporters commemorated the
organization's founding on November 27, 1978. Police intervened
with tear gas and pressurized water while the demonstrators
responded with Molotov cocktails. No casualties reported.
Antakya - 11.21.09: Members of pro-Kurdish Democracy Platform in
Antakya issued a press statement condemning the CHP and chanted
anti-CHP slogans.
11.19.09: PKK's Chief Murat Karayilan threatened, "Unless TGNA
solves the Kurdish issue, a war will break out."
11.19.09: According to pro-PKK website ANF, Sirnak's 23rd
Division launched an investigation against 18 officers who
objected taking part in continuing anti-PKK military operations.
11.18.09 through 11.21.09: In Van, Mersin, Adana and Izmir
provinces, security forces detained several people and destroyed
18,000 books written about imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah
Ocalan..
Imrali Island - 11.17.09: Ocalan is no longer the sole inmate of
the island prison as five convicts were transferred to the
prison complex.
11.16.09: 7 PKK members, who recently surrendered to security
forces, were freed.
11.21.09: Speaking on the Heron plane issue, Turkish Minister
Gonul said Turkey has given Israel a 50-day deadline to fulfill
a number of terms of the agreement. Turkey uses the Herons for
surveillance activities against the PKK.
4. Media reports on significant crime or security incidents:
Adana - 11.22.09 (1000-1600 local time): Members of the People's
Liberation Front held an anti-U.S. demonstration near Incirlik
Air Base, protesting the U.S. presence in the region. Nearly
350 people joined in the protest, chanting slogans such as: "USA
get out of the Middle East," "USA get out of Turkey, this is our
country," "Damn American Imperialism," "Shut down Incirlik Air
Base," "Long live our struggle; damn the USA," "We don't want
142,000 US soldiers in our country," "We will not be the killer
of Afghanistan's people," and, "We will not be the soldiers of
NATO, U.S. and AK Party." Approximately 350 security forces
took exceptional security precautions both at the U.S. Consulate
and Incirlik Air Base, including helicopter a patrol. No
arrests reported. The protest received extensive coverage from
local and national news outlets.
Adiyaman - 11.22.09: Unidentified assailants attacked a civilian
vehicle with long-range rifles, killing one and wounding
another.
Sirnak - 11.22.09: Iranian troops killed a fuel smuggler in a
border village.
Sirnak - 11.22.09: Unidentified thieves broke into the Mor Yakup
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Syriac Church and stole a 200-year-old Bible.
Diyarbakir - 11.22.09: Violent crime is on the rise in the
Ergani district, where 8 people have been killed in the past 3
months.
Mersin - 11.22.09: Police found 2 corpses in a well.
Sirmak - 11.20.09: Security forces detained 25 people in
anti-organized-crime operation; 4 were later arrested.
Adana - 11.22.09: Security forces caught a person who robbed a
Turkish Postal Service branch.
Adiyaman - 11.20.09: 1 person was shot dead. The motive is
unknown.
Hakkari - 11.20.09: Unidentified people set an Iranian vehicle
on fire.
Mardin - 11.21.09: Security forces seized 5 unregistered pistols
and detained 1 person.
Hakkari - 11.19.09: Unidentified people bombed the vehicle of
Semdinli's AK Party Chairman; no causalities reported.
Hakkari - 11.19.09: Passersby found a hand grenade on the roof
of a home in the Semdinli District. The hand grenade was
destroyed on site.
Adana - 11.17.09: Adana TNP's Security Branch Chief visited the
DTP Provincial Building and warned against possible attacks. The
Chief also recommended the installation of surveillance
equipment.
Osmaniye - 11.17.09: Security forces confiscated 5 unregistered
pistols and detained 2 people.
Sirnak - 11.17.09: A person was shot dead. The motive is
unknown.
5. Illegal immigrant arrests:
11.11.09 through 11.19.09: Security forces captured and deported
520 illegal immigrants from: Tokat, Hakkari, Agri, Yalova,
Hatay, Kirklareli, Diyarbakir, Edirne, Canakkale, Van, Mugla,
Sirnak, Erzurum, the Aegean Coast and the borders of Greece,
Syria, Iraq and Iran.
6. Counter-narcotic operations:
Mersin - 11.21.09: Security forces seized 5 kilograms of hashish
and detained 2 people.
Bitlis - 11.20.09: Security forces seized 123 kilograms hashish
and arrested 1 person.
Gaziantep - 11.19.09: Security forces seized 16 kilograms of
hashish and almost 10,000 pills; 12 people were detained in the
operation.
Diyarbakir - 11.17.09: Security forces seized 71 kilograms of
heroin and 381 kilograms of hashish; 23 people were detained and
19 of them later were arrested.
Adana - 11.17.09: Security forces seized 6 kilograms of hashish
and detained 5 people.
Sirnak - 11.16.09: Security forces seized 40 kilograms of
hashish and detained 2 people.
DARNELL
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