Keeping an Eye on the Kurds

December 26, 2005: Turkey is not only beefing up police and military units to combat increased infiltration by the PKK from Iraq and Syria. The Turkish government said that it would begin installing cameras and imaging systems in southeastern Turkish towns of Cizre and Silopi (southeast Turkey). The camera systems will be used to monitor crowds and look for PKK activists. The Turkish security ministry specifically mentioned "provocations" by the PKK (which usually means street demonstrations).

December 9, 2005: PKK rebels attacked a Turkish military unit which was patrolling in Sirnak province (near the Syrian border).Four Turkish soldiers died in the attack. In a firefight after the ambush, Turkish troops killed two guerrillas. Turkey claims that the PKK intends to step up operations along the Iraqi and Syrian borders.