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The '''Kurdistan Workers Party''' (]: '''''Partiya Karkerên Kurdistan''''' or '''PKK'''), also known as '''KADEK''' and '''Kongra-Gel''', is a militant group, aiming to create an independent Kurdish state in a territory (sometimes referred to as ]) that consists of parts of south-eastern ], north-eastern ], north-eastern ] and north-western ]. Its ideological foundation is revolutionary ] and ] ]. It is an ] ] organisation using force and threat of force against both civilian and military targets for the purpose of achieving its political goal. The PKK is listed as a ] organisation internationally by ], including the ] and the ].<ref name=EUTerrorList>, ], ] ]</ref> (The ] ('''PEJAK''') based in northern Iraq and operating in Iran is associated with the '''PKK'''.) The '''Kurdistan Workers Party''' (]: '''''Partiya Karkerên Kurdistan''''' or '''PKK'''), also known as '''KADEK''' and '''Kongra-Gel''', is a revolutionary group, aiming to create an independent Kurdish state in a territory (sometimes referred to as ]) that consists of parts of south-eastern ], north-eastern ], north-eastern ] and north-western ]. Its ideological foundation is revolutionary ] and ] ]. ](The ] ('''PEJAK''') based in northern Iraq and operating in Iran is associated with the '''PKK'''.)


PKK was founded and led by ]. It emerged as an organisation during the 1970s and developed into a paramilitary organisation which rendered much of southeastern Turkey a war zone in the late 1980s and 1990s, for details see the ]. Its actions have taken place mainly in Turkey and against Turkish targets in other countries, although it has on occasions co-operated with other Kurdish nationalist paramilitary groups in neighbouring states, such as Iraq and Iran.<ref>, by Anthony H Cordesman</ref> The PKK argued that its violence was justified by the need to defend Kurds in the context of what it saw as massive cultural suppression of Kurdish identity and cultural rights carried out by governments in the region. However, in its campaign, the PKK has been accused of carrying out atrocities against both Turkish and Kurdish civilians. Its actions have been criticised by ] groups such as ] and ]. To a lesser extent, some actions of the ] in the past have been criticised by these same groups. PKK was founded and led by ]. It emerged as an organisation during the 1970s and developed into a paramilitary organisation in the late 1980s and 1990s, for details see the ]. The PKK argues that its violence is justified by the need to defend Kurds in the context of what it saw as massive cultural suppression of Kurdish identity and cultural rights carried out by governments in the region, such as the mass destruction of civilian Kurdish villages and the banning of the kurdish language in Turkey.
. <ref>{{cite web | title=Turkish General Election Results 2002| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/turkish/secim2002/secim_sonuclari.shtml| accessdate=November 3| accessyear=2002}}</ref>

The degree of support for the PKK among Turkish Kurds is disputed. In some of the strongholds of Kurdish nationalism in the ] valley and mountainous regions on the Iranian border, PKK-linked parties have consistently polled close to or over 50% of votes cast in elections. However, PKK-linked parties have polled at most approximately one-third of the Kurdish vote (between 5% and 8% of the total Turkish vote), with the majority of Kurds voting for mainstream parties. In some of the more ] Kurdish areas, claimed by the PKK as part of 'Kurdistan', support for PKK-linked parties is at 10% or less. There is some electoral support for PKK-linked parties among Kurdish migrants in cities in Western and Southern Turkey such as ], ] and ]. <ref>{{cite web | title=Turkish General Election Results 2002| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/turkish/secim2002/secim_sonuclari.shtml| accessdate=November 3| accessyear=2002}}</ref>






==Activities== ==Activities==
{{Main|Activities of Kurdistan Workers Party}}
{| class="infobox" cellpadding="1" style="font-size: 85%; align=right;"
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Activities of Kurdistan Workers Party'''<ref name="militaryacts">{{cite web | title=Kongra-Gel, KADEK, PKK: globalsecurity| url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/pkk.htm| accessdate=April 1 | accessyear=2005}}</ref>
|-
|colspan=3|
|bgcolor="#d798ff" align=center colspan=3|Region
|-
|bgcolor="#ccbcff" align=center|Target
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff" align=center colspan=2|Activity Category
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center|Turkey
|bgcolor="#e6f9ff" align=center|Northern Iraq
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center|Western Europe
|-
|bgcolor="#ccccff" rowspan=12| Government
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff" colspan=2|Demonstrations/Protests
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6f9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| ]
|-
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff" colspan=2| ]s
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6f9ff" align=center|
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| ]
|-
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff" colspan=2| Kidnapping
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6f9ff" align=center|
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center|
|-
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff" colspan=2| ]
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6f9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center|
|-
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff" colspan=2| ]
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6f9ff" align=center|
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center|
|-
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff" colspan=2| ]
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6f9ff" align=center|
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center|
|-
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff" rowspan=3| ]
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff"| Post/Train/Power
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6f9ff" align=center|
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center|
|-
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff"| Police
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6f9ff" align=center|
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center|
|-
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff"| Outposts
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6f9ff" align=center|
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center|
|-
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff" rowspan=3| Armed Attacks
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff"| Military
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6f9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center|
|-
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff"| Police
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6f9ff" align=center|
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center|
|-
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff"| Village Guards
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6f9ff" align=center|
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center|
|-
|bgcolor="#ccdcff" rowspan=5| Civilian
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff" colspan=2| Kidnapping
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6f9ff" align=center|
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center|
|-
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff" colspan=2| Assassination
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6f9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center|
|-
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff" rowspan=3| Bombing Attacks
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff"| Villages
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6f9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center|
|-
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff"| Touristic Facilities
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6f9ff" align=center|
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center|
|-
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff"| Commercial Units
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6f9ff" align=center|
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center|
|-
|bgcolor="#ccecff" rowspan=3| ]
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff" colspan=2| ]<ref name="organizedcrime" />
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| ]
|bgcolor="#e6f9ff" align=center|
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| ]
|-
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff" colspan=2| ]<ref name="organizedcrime" /> <ref>{{cite web | title=The Threat Posed from the Convergence of Organized Crime, Drug Trafficking, and Terrorism , by Frank Cilluffo (2000)| url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/library/congress/2000_h/hju68324_0.htm| accessdate=April 1 | accessyear=2005}}</ref>
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| Transit
|bgcolor="#e6f9ff" align=center| Transit
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| Destination
|-
|bgcolor="#e6d9ff" colspan=2| ]<ref name="organizedcrime" />
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center| Origin
|bgcolor="#e6f9ff" align=center| Origin
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff" align=center|
|}

The PKK operates in Turkey, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. <ref name="militaryacts" /> One pattern is apparent after 1984, PKK began to use ]<ref>The rise and fall of the PKK , By Michael Radu, Orbis (Winter 2001)</ref> <ref>The politics of the PKK (Kurdish Workers Party): a balance sheet, By Ute Reissner and Justus Leicht, World Socialist (1999)</ref>. There are three phases in this theory. The militant base during the initial years was coming from different sources, so the first two phases were diffused to each other.

In the first phase (1978-1984), the PKK tried to gain the support of the population. It attacked the machinery of government and distributed propaganda in the region. PKK tactics were based on ], ], ]s, protests, and demonstrations against the Turkish government. PKK have also been accused of violent attacks on individual civilians or residential areas (Kurds and non-Kurds alike), who refused to cooperate with the PKK or were suspected of collaborating with the Turkish authorities. During these years, the PKK fought a gang fight against other dominantly Kurdish organisations in Turkey. The PKK effectively used the prison force to gain appeal among the population. <ref>Immigration Appeals: 2nd - 3rd Quarter (2004), by Great Britain Immigration Appeal Tribunal</ref>

In the second phase (1984-1999), which is called terrorism stage, escalating attacks were made on the government's military and vital institutions all over the country. The objective was to destabilise Turkish authority through long, low-intensity confrontation. In addition to skirmishing with Turkish military and police forces and local ], the PKK have conducted ] on government and police installations, as well as at local tourist sites. ] and ] against government officials and Kurdish tribal leaders who were named as puppets of the state were performed. Widespread ]s were continued from the first stage. PKK had performed ] western ]s, primarily in ] but also at different resorts. PKK have also attacked Turkish diplomatic and commercial facilities across ].


The PKK operates in Turkey, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. <ref name="militaryacts" />
In the third phase, which is called guerrilla stage, conventional fighting was used to seize cities, overthrow the government and take control of the country. PKK seized cities, during the highest activity period and it affected the parliament through Turkey's own election system, but there is no case that during an active conflict PKK sustained its flag in a region within the borders of Turkey. {{citation needed}}


<br clear=all/> <br clear=all/>


==Tactics==
{{Main|Tactics of Kurdistan Workers Party}}
{{Tactics of Kurdistan Workers Party}}


The areas in which the group operates are generally mountainous rural areas and dense urban areas. The mountainous terrain offers an advantage to members of the PKK by allowing them to hide in a network of caves and making military air operations, especially helicopter use, hazardous for the Turkish government. While in urban areas, PKK members are often able to blend in with the local population. The areas in which the group operates are generally mountainous rural areas and dense urban areas. The mountainous terrain offers an advantage to members of the PKK by allowing them to hide in a network of caves and making military air operations, especially helicopter use, hazardous for the Turkish government.

The group has been accused of planting mines <ref name="mine"></ref>(]n-made ] and Russian- and ]-made ]. Use of these mines has led to civilian deaths, in part due to triggering by trucks and buses rather than the intended military ]s.<ref name="mine" />

==History==
{{External_Timeline|Kurdistan Workers Party/Timeline|History of Kurdistan Workers Party}}
{{Main|History of the Kurdistan Workers Party}}
The PKK's core was originally a group called the "Ankara Democratic Patriotic Association of Higher Education" or ], which was made up largely of students, lead by ]. Although originally from ], the group soon moved its focus to south-east Turkey, and its large Kurdish population, where they began organising. With the official release of the "Proclamation of Independence of PKK" on ], ], the group became known as the Kurdistan Workers Party. With its largely communist ideology, the PKK soon found itself in conflict with right-wing entities.

In 1979 Mehmet Celal Bucak was condemned for "exploiting the peasants," and "collaborating". The PKK attempted to assassinate him, but failed. This was the first violent high pitch public action taken by the PKK, and it marked a period of intense ] between radical political elements in Turkey. From 1978 to 1982, the Turkish National Security Council recorded 43,000 incidents it described as ]. As part of the conflict, ex-] ] was assassinated in 1980. The ] that same year largely ended the conflict, with members of the PKK going to prison, or fleeing to ].

Starting in 1984, the PKK transformed itself into a paramilitary organisation (largely based in and supported by ], ] and ]), as it launched conventional attacks as well as ]s against Turkish government, military and civilian targets, many of them connected to the ]. The PKK also moved to a less centralized format, taking up operations in a variety of European and Middle Eastern countries.

Following the collapse of the ], the PKK largely abandoned its communist roots, attempting to better accommodate Islamic beliefs. In the mid 1990s, they also began to shift from conventional bombing to ], launching fifteen such attacks between 1995 and 1999. Interestingly, the majority (11 of 15) of the suicide bombers were women.

] during the ] march . ]]
In the late 1990s, the Turkish army began to gain the upper hand in the ground war with the PKK and post-] changes in international politics resulted in the group losing much of its support from other states. With the decreased security concerns, the Turkish parliament began a controlled process of dismantling the legal control, using the term "normalization" or "rapprochement" depending of the sides of the issue. Ban on publishing using Kurdish language (1983) was dropped in 1991, with more thoroughgoing reforms, such as broadcasting, adopted in the 2000s with the decrease in PKK's activities <ref>, by Ferhad Ibrahim, Gulistan Gurbey</ref>.

In 1999 Turkish authorities ] while he was being transferred by the ] security system <ref>, by Daniel Byman</ref> from Greek ] in ] to a local airport, in a joint operation between the ], Turkey's ], and ]. He was tried in Turkey and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Following a call by the captured Öcallan for a peaceful solution, the PKK found itself blacklisted in many countries. Consequently, the PKK went through a series of name changes and implemented a unilateral truce, which ended in 2004. On ] of that year, the ] added the PKK to its list of terrorist organisations. Later in 2004, the ] moved to freeze assets of branches of the PKK.
<br clear=all/>


==Effects== ==Effects==
{{Main|Effects of the Kurdistan Workers Party}} {{Main|Effects of the Kurdistan Workers Party}}


As a revolutionary ] organization PKK claimed there was a "''mass violence by Turkish state on the Kurd identity''" to justify its activities. In its activities main goal was to alienate the people from the state through pushing security forces into more and more overt and repressive countermeasures. So that PKK can claim itself as defenders of the people against the overwhelming power ("mass violence") of state. The ] section extends the results of this ideology and methods to the democratic processes and justice system in Turkey. In a democratic system, an ideology that questions the state's legitimacy, will of its population and its security apparatus was a hard to be accepted political view, which was shaped under ] story. Turkish governments did not negotiate with organization, so ] were channels between all the sides. Ill formed language act ban of 1983 and Terrorism law of 1991 were significant events. Also, amnesties were interesting during the conflict time, as each amnesty gave more human resource to the organization. The prison as a rehabilitation concept was a failure. The people who were jailed for non-violent activities were becoming militants during their jail time. Government's military operations against the prisons were the highest point in this failure.


As a revolutionary ] organization, the PKK perceived Turkish society as deformed by capitalism and imperialism.
As a revolutionary ] organization, the PKK perceived Turkish society as deformed by capitalism and imperialism. The PKK unleashed its aggression on enemies spanning all classes (farmers, business, etc.) and those that it considered puppets of the state. The ] of PKK's actions are significant. PKK had drastic effects on ], as targeted infrastructure of the region. Regions' inability to join the economical activities were associated with the ], costs (insurance premiums, facility costs, lost of trained personal, etc.) , and productivity (lost of work time, travel restrictions, inability to move in time, etc). The region had very high historical tourism potential, which has been dormant under the terrorism threat for many years.

The integration into social and economical activities are developed within the education system. ] activities were targeted by PKK. Given the fact that the majority of the people are very resilient to the effects of the political violence, the young people whom their stable personality did not develop forms a high risk group. The effect of political violence on the coming generations is an important issue within this period as there is a new generation that has no life experience of normal conditions.

PKK specifically targeted its activities among intelligent, young and inexperienced {{fact}}. When these ideas were falsified, either this realization pushes the young to become a member of the group or generate tendencies towards suicide, feelings of insecurity, problems with authority and lack of social integration {{fact}}.


==International politics== ==International politics==
{{Main|International Politics and Kurdistan Workers Party}} {{Main|International Politics and Kurdistan Workers Party}}


As a descendant of the ], one of the biggest characteristics of Turkey is its multicultural structure. From a threat perspective; supporting Kurdish separationist movement could ignite a ] process in Turkey, such as ]. Support on PKK also associated with ] between Turkey-Syria-Iraq. It is also claimed that PKK was acquired support from other countries (including Russia, Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria) during the ] as a ] between west and east. PKK was associated with energy politics through ] and ].

] has used Turkey's reaction to the PKK as an argument for rejecting Turkey's application for membership in the EU. An interesting issue was revealed during capture and ]. The trial subjected the European Union's opinions or judgments about ] and ] to scrutiny by exposing the intricate relationships between EU member states and the PKK in areas such as military training, infrastructure, and arms support.

The trial also raised questions regarding the EU's usage of secondary arguments (such as Turkey's human rights failings &mdash; see ]) instead of developing direct and open policies toward potential Turkish membership.

EU dysfunction on PKK creates grounds for PKK activity, which the consequences are reflected as increase political violence. Political killings of the Kurds that have different voices are attributed to the PKK's grasp on political processes to keep it under its own control, when there is a push on more representational politics from southeast after post-Öcalan area<ref>Kurdish intellectuals are worried, Hasan CEMAL (milliyet on 07/16/2005 analysis on Hikmet Fidan)</ref>.




] has used Turkey's reaction to the PKK as an argument for rejecting Turkey's application for membership in the EU.


==Current status== ==Current status==
After the capture of leader ] in 1999, he urged the PKK to work for its objectives through peaceful means, and the PKK began a ceasefire in that year. It changed its name to KADEK to reflect a move towards peaceful politics and co-operation with a wider range of ideologies, but it is claimed that this change was aimed to escape from legal results of being listed among terrorist organizations. A PKK/KADEK spokesman stated that its armed wing, The People’s Defense Force, would not disband or surrender its weapons for reasons of self-defense. PKK/KADEK avowing not lay down its arms underscores that the organization maintains its capability to carry out terrorist operations. <ref name="militaryacts" /> ], has declared his own guerrillas as "murderers" <ref>{{cite web | title=Ocalan renounces armed struggle| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/234429.stm| accessdate=December 14 | accessyear=1998}}</ref>. After the capture of leader ] in 1999, he urged the PKK to work for its objectives through peaceful means, and the PKK began a ceasefire in that year. It changed its name to KADEK to reflect a move towards peaceful politics and co-operation with a wider range of ideologies.
The refusal of the Turkish government to issue a general ] to PKK operatives, the failure of the PKK-linked ] to make an electoral breakthrough and profound ideological disputes within the movement led to the ceasefire becoming ragged in 2003, before breaking down completely in 2004. Since the declaration of cease-fire on August 2004, aside from a few isolated incidents armed conflict came to a complete halt. Recently however has been increase in PKK activity. There is an increase in PKK attacks on Turkish military, police, and governmental targets near the ] border in the last weeks.PKK claims it is only acting in self-defense and for the protection of the Kurdish people.

The refusal of the Turkish government to issue a general ] to PKK operatives, the failure of the PKK-linked ] to make an electoral breakthrough and profound ideological disputes within the movement led to the ceasefire becoming ragged in 2003, before breaking down completely in 2004. Since the declaration of cease-fire on August 2004, aside from a few isolated incidents armed conflict came to a complete halt. Recently however there has been increase in PKK activity. There is an increase in PKK attacks on Turkish military, police, and governmental targets near the ] border in the last weeks. While PKK claims it is only acting in self-defense, Ankara is increasing its pressure to the US for a military strike to the PKK in northern Iraq.

With the end of its unilateral cease-fire in August 2004 (the cease-fire had lasted for five years), on the claims that Ankara's reforms are "cosmetic", PKK leaders seem to favour a return to armed guerilla warfare. The increase in PKK attacks on Turkish military, civilians, police and governmental targets seem to further prove this fact. The PKK claims it is only acting in self-defense and for the protection for the Kurds.

During the period 2003-2004-2005 period; the total security personal lost (soldier, police (21), village guard (22)) is 246. The total number of disabled personal is 147. The total armed militant captured: 1325 (359 dead, 377 live, 589 ]) (116 among 377 through exchange of criminals with ], ], ], ], ] and ]). The ] report also expects an increase in the section captured through exchange of criminals in the coming years. These numbers are presented as part of fight on ] activities. Report also mentions groving efforts in mobilizing the criminal information exchange.

The amount of militants who used "Etkin Pismanlik" (5237 - 221/ 2) law is reached to 67 within the 6 months from its onset at 6 2005. The law by itself is not an amnesty. It is designed as a way to help a militant who did not involve into active fight, join to the society. Among the militants, Kerem Işık was a very interesting case as he had been working within the organization since 1989. Given the fact there is no activity record in the Turkish criminal database, Turkish authorities did not use his wound on his neck against him.{{fact}}


==See also== ==See also==
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|} |}



==Footnotes==
<!-- Dead note "PKK1": Section based on the article by Nur Bilge Criss, 'The Nature of PKK Terrorism in Turkey', Studies in Conflict and Terrorism 8 (1995) pp. 17-37 -->
<!-- Dead note "Drug": , by Gareth M Winrow, Kemal Kirisci -->
<div class="references-small">
<references />
</div>


==Sources== ==Sources==

Revision as of 21:13, 5 August 2006

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File:Pkk logo.gif
The PKK logo

The Kurdistan Workers Party (Kurdish: Partiya Karkerên Kurdistan or PKK), also known as KADEK and Kongra-Gel, is a revolutionary group, aiming to create an independent Kurdish state in a territory (sometimes referred to as Kurdistan) that consists of parts of south-eastern Turkey, north-eastern Iraq, north-eastern Syria and north-western Iran. Its ideological foundation is revolutionary Marxism-Leninism and Kurdish nationalism. EU(The Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan (PEJAK) based in northern Iraq and operating in Iran is associated with the PKK.)

PKK was founded and led by Abdullah Öcalan. It emerged as an organisation during the 1970s and developed into a paramilitary organisation in the late 1980s and 1990s, for details see the conflict in south-eastern Turkey. The PKK argues that its violence is justified by the need to defend Kurds in the context of what it saw as massive cultural suppression of Kurdish identity and cultural rights carried out by governments in the region, such as the mass destruction of civilian Kurdish villages and the banning of the kurdish language in Turkey. .


Activities

The PKK operates in Turkey, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.



The areas in which the group operates are generally mountainous rural areas and dense urban areas. The mountainous terrain offers an advantage to members of the PKK by allowing them to hide in a network of caves and making military air operations, especially helicopter use, hazardous for the Turkish government.

Effects

Main article: Effects of the Kurdistan Workers Party


As a revolutionary left-wing organization, the PKK perceived Turkish society as deformed by capitalism and imperialism.

International politics

Main article: International Politics and Kurdistan Workers Party


European Union has used Turkey's reaction to the PKK as an argument for rejecting Turkey's application for membership in the EU.

Current status

After the capture of leader Abdullah Öcalan in 1999, he urged the PKK to work for its objectives through peaceful means, and the PKK began a ceasefire in that year. It changed its name to KADEK to reflect a move towards peaceful politics and co-operation with a wider range of ideologies. The refusal of the Turkish government to issue a general amnesty to PKK operatives, the failure of the PKK-linked Democratic People's Party to make an electoral breakthrough and profound ideological disputes within the movement led to the ceasefire becoming ragged in 2003, before breaking down completely in 2004. Since the declaration of cease-fire on August 2004, aside from a few isolated incidents armed conflict came to a complete halt. Recently however has been increase in PKK activity. There is an increase in PKK attacks on Turkish military, police, and governmental targets near the Iraqi border in the last weeks.PKK claims it is only acting in self-defense and for the protection of the Kurdish people.

See also

Related concepts covered
Turkey Constitution of Turkey Politics of Turkey Left-wing politics
Kurds Kurdistan Abdullah Öcalan Leyla Zana
Terrorism State terrorism Proxy war Sheikh Sayid


Sources

External links

Websites supporting the PKK

Websites with criticism of the PKK

Governmental:

Non-governmental:

PKK issue in Turkey

Other websites that cover the PKK conflict

  1. "Turkish General Election Results 2002". Retrieved November 3. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  2. Cite error: The named reference militaryacts was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Categories: