VZCZCXRO6685
RR RUEHDA
DE RUEHDA #0013/01 0491253
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181253Z FEB 10
FM AMCONSUL ADANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4861
INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1404
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1167
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 1471

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ADANA 000013 
 
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 10 - 15, 2010 
 
¶1.  (U) The following security incidents for the period of 
February 10 - 15, 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: 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
-------- 
Mardin - 2.12.10: One Improvised Explosive Device (IED), one 
pressure sensitive IED, one round of RPG-7 ammunition, and 
logistical materials. 
 
Mardin - 2.11.10: Six rounds of RPG-7 ammunition, 127 rounds of 
Biksi machine gun ammunition, one pair of binoculars, one 
pressure-sensitive IED, and logistical materials. 
 
Diyarbakir - 2.11.10: One hand grenade and logistical materials. 
 
 
Tunceli - 2.11.10: Security forces found and destroyed one IED. 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
¶B.  PKK members captured or surrendered: 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
2.10.10 through 2.15.10: Security forces captured seven PKK 
members. 
 
Mardin - 2.12.10: Security forces caught and arrested one PKK 
member. 
 
Hakkari - 2.10.10: One PKK member surrendered. 
 
 
¶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 Mardin, Hakkari, Sirnak, Diyarbakir and Tunceli. 
 
----------------- 
¶B.  Arrests: 
----------------- 
 
Tarsus - 2.15.10 - two people were arrested on the charge of 
"illegal actions on behalf of the PKK." 
 
Diyarbakir - 2.15.10: Security forces detained four minors 
preparing to join the PKK. 
 
Sanliurfa - 2.15.10: Security forces detained three people 
planning to carry out Molotov cocktail and bomb attacks on the 
February 15 anniversary of imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah 
Ocalan's capture.  Law enforcement seized materials used in 
making Molotov cocktails, gunpowder, fuses, illegal 
publications, and organizational documents. 
 
Hakkari - 2.14.10: Security forces arrested 32 people in 
simultaneous anti-KCK (Kurdish Democratic Confederation/Turkey 
Council) operations. (Note:  KCK is considered by Turkish law 
enforcement to be the urban wing of the PKK.  End note.) 
 
Mersin - 2.14.10: Security forces detained two people on the 
suspicion of terrorism. 
 
Sanliurfa - 2.14.10: Security forces detained an employee of the 
pro-Kurdish Azadiya Welat newspaper on the suspicion of 
terrorism.  In a separate operation, a member of pro-Kurdish 
Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) was arrested on the charge of 
"membership in the PKK." 
 
Gaziantep - 2.13.10: Security forces detained 50 people in 
anti-KCK operations. 
 
2.13.10: Turkish police arrested 86 people suspected of links 
with the PKK in operations in advance of the February 15 
anniversary of Ocalan's capture.  Police raids targeted the SE 
 
ADANA 00000013  002 OF 003 
 
 
provinces of Adana, Batman, Hakkari, Mardin, Siirt, Sirnak, 
Agri, Mus and Van, as well as Istanbul. 
 
Van - 2.11.10: Security forces detained four people on the 
charge of "illegal actions on behalf of the PKK." 
 
Sanliurfa - 2.10.10: Security forces arrested an Azadiya Welat 
employee and a member of the pro-Kurdish student association 
HODER on charges of "membership in the PKK," and "making 
propaganda for the PKK." 
Sanliurfa - 2.10.10: Security forces detained three people 
allegedly preparing IEDs.  In that raid, police allegedly found 
bomb-making materials identical to those used in earlier attacks 
in Diyarbakir and Adana. 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
¶C.  Other media stories about the PKK: 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
2.15.10 -- Demonstrations and clashes broke out in predominantly 
Kurdish-populated areas, including Adana and Mersin, where 
hundreds of PKK supporters gathered to protest the 11th 
anniversary of the capture of imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah 
Ocalan. Security forces detained over 110 people, including 35 
minors in the incidents. 
2.13.10 through 2.15.10: 
 
Mersin - PKK supporters attacked Siteler Police Station with 
fireworks and set fire to a 3-G communication station.  In one 
raid, dozens of Molotov cocktails, organizational documents, and 
one rifle were seized. 
Hakkari - Approximately 3,000 PKK demonstrators gathered, 
stoning shops and banks, setting fire to trash barrels, and 
blocking streets.  Seven people, including two police officers, 
were wounded. Police detained at least seven people. 
 
Adana - PKK sympathizers clashed with security forces in the 
city districts of Barbaros, Daglioglu, Gulbahcesi, Karasu and 
Sakirpasa. Police detained at least 13 people. 
 
Diyarbakir - Approximately 1,500 people joined in unauthorized 
street protests (note: this number is lower than past gatherings 
of nearly 5,000. End note).  Security forces detained 28 people. 
 
Diyarbakir -- Pro-PKK "Viyan Soran Revenge Brigade" threw a 
percussion bomb at the 7th Army Corps Headquarters. 
 
Sanliurfa - Security forces detained almost 40 individuals after 
hundreds of PKK demonstrators chanted pro-PKK slogans. 
 
Sirnak - PKK supporters blocked the Cizre-Idil road to traffic. 
Five people were arrested on the charge of "illegal actions on 
behalf of the PKK." 
 
Adiyaman - PKK sympathizers clashed with security forces in 
Adiyaman city and in the Kahta district. PKK supporters attacked 
a Kahta court house with Molotov cocktails. 
 
Batman - After hundreds of people gathered in the "19 Mayis" 
district, police detained 13 on charges of "illegal actions on 
behalf of the PKK," and "membership in the PKK." 
 
Mardin - Pro-PKK "Martyred Aydin Erdem Revenge Unit" claimed 
responsibility for a percussion bomb that exploded near a police 
station in Kiziltepe district.  Police detained at least 19 
people on the suspicion of terrorism. 
 
Adana - 2.11.10: Law enforcement officials reported PKK 
supporters were behind the explosions of two sound bombs in the 
Beyazevler neighborhood. 
 
Sanliurfa - 2.11.10: Pro-PKK "Ocalan Youth Initiative" claimed 
responsibility for a Molotov cocktail attack on a BIM 
supermarket located in the Suleymaniye neighborhood. 
Hakkari - 2.11.10: Security forces intervened with pressurized 
water, tear gas and batons and PKK demonstrators responded with 
Molotov cocktails and stones. 
Mersin - 2.10.10: Fanatic nationalist students attacked a group 
of Kurdish students, seriously wounding two of them. 
Hakkari - 2.10.10: Security forces detained 33 people in an 
anti-KCK operation. 
¶4.   (U) Media reports on significant crime or security 
incidents: 
 
Sanliurfa - 2.15.10: Security forces seized three Kalashnikov 
rifles, two hunting rifles, six magazines and 576 rounds of 
ammunition, and 30 rounds of bullets in an anti-smuggling 
operation.  Five people were detained in the operation. 
 
¶5. (U) Illegal immigrant arrests: 
 
 
ADANA 00000013  003 OF 003 
 
 
2.5.10 through 2.14.10: Security forces captured and deported 
158 illegal immigrants from: Canakkale, Hatay, Sirnak, Hakkari, 
Bursa, Izmir, Erzurum and the border areas of Greece, Syria, 
Iraq, Iran, and Georgia. 
 
¶6.  (U) Counter-narcotic operations: 
 
2.12.10:  Anadolu News Agency (AA) reported the Anti-smuggling 
and Organized Crime Bureau's Narcotics section has conducted 
more than 44,621 anti-drug operations since 2006 targeting the 
producers, smugglers and users of drugs, resulting in the 
detention of nearly 100,000 people.   AA reported that in 2009, 
law enforcement seized 12,234 kilograms of heroin, 25,778 
kilograms of cannabis, 391,770 tablets of ecstasy, and 2,798,090 
Captagon tablets.   According to official figures, over a 
four-year period, seizures of heroin, cannabis and Captagon 
tablets has increased, while there has been a decrease in the 
number of seized ecstasy tablets. 
Gaziantep - 2.11.10: Security forces seized 103 kilograms of 
hashish. 
Mersin-Bitlis-Gaziantep - 2.10.10: Security forces seized a 
total of 76 kilograms of hashish. 
 
Gaziantep - 2.10.10: Security forces detained 77 people. 
DARNELL