23.03.2008 - Source: BBC News

New clashes between Turkish police and Kurdish protesters in towns of Yuksekova and Von, Hakkari province, marking the Newroz spring festival; 2 Kurds die of bullet wounds ("Two die in Turkey Kurdish clashes") [ID 22691]

Document(s): Open document

06.05.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Southeast: According to officials, 2 soldiers and 5 guerrillas with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) killed ("Renewed Clashes In Southeastern Turkey Kill Seven") [ID 19898]

Document(s): Open document

23.03.2007 - Source: Guardian

According to foreign minister Gul, members of parliament, military chiefs and diplomats, up to 3,800 PKK fighters prepare in Northern Iraq for attacks in the Southeast ("Turkish intervention in Iraq feared") [ID 19668]

Document(s): Open document

15.11.2006 - Source: Konrad Adenauer Stiftung

PKK declares one-sided truce ("Gelassene Reaktion auf den EU-Fortschrittsbericht in der Türkei: Politischer Kurzbericht") [ID 18533]

"Die pro-kurdische Demokratische Gesellschaftspartei (DTP) trat am 11. September vor die Presse und rief die PKK zu einem Waffenstillstand auf. Der Parteivorsitzende Ahmet Türk, der Oberbürgermeister der Stadt Diyarbakır Osman Baydemir und die Bürgermeisterin der Stadt Tunceli Songül Abdil erläuterten, dass die freiheitliche und auf Gleichheit fußende Türkisch-Kurdische Einheit aufgrund der Provokationen nationalistischer und chauvinistischer Kräfte in Gefahr stünde. Man habe, so der Vorsitzende Türk, Zeichen der Basis gedeutet, die klare Erwartungen nach Waffenstillstand hegten. Man glaube daran, dass dieser Aufruf auf positive Resonanz bei der PKK stoße. Die PKK hat mittlerweile einen einseitigen Waffenstillstand ausgerufen."

Document(s): Open document

08.2006 - Source: Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Germany)

On Art. 221 Turkish Penal Code (exemption from punishment for members of a criminal organisation who have not been involved in a criminal offence by this organisation and who leave the organisation voluntarily); Art. 221 increasingly relevant for trials against former members of PKK (in German) ("Straffreiheit nach Art. 221 II tStGB n.F. (in: Entscheidungen Asyl Nr. 8/2006, S. 2)") [ID 17585]

Document(s): Entscheidungen Asyl 08/2006
Entscheidungen Asyl 08/2006 S. 2

10.07.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Amendments to anti-terrorism law sufficiently vague so that any member of news media producing a contested article could be prosecuted, especially as several journalists are already charged with collaborating with the successor to outlawed PKK ("Prime Minister warned that terror law changes could impose censorship of Kurdish issues") [ID 17583]

Document(s): Open document

21.06.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Rüstu Demirkaya, reporter with the Kurdish news agency Diha, detained in Tunceli prison on charge of collaborating with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) ("Call for provisional release of Kurdish journalist accused of collaborating with PKK") [ID 17584]

Document(s): Open document

19.06.2006 - Source: BBC News

2 Turkish paramilitary officers jailed for nearly 40 years each for trying to kill supporter of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) ("Long jail terms for Kurd attack") [ID 17673]

Document(s): Open document

28.05.2006 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Irakische Dorfbewohner durch Beschuss an der türkisch-iranisch-irakischen Grenze vertrieben; am 21. April griffen iranische Truppen Oppositionsgruppe an, die mit PKK in Verbindung steht; Türkei verstärkte Grenztruppen ("Officials warn of displacement following attacks") [ID 15764]

Document(s): Open document

04.05.2006 - Source: BBC News

Trial starts against 2 military policemen charged with attack on shop owned by supporter of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) where one man was killed and another injured; officers were part of an execution squad, says prosecution ("Police on trial for Kurd attack") [ID 15695]

Document(s): Dokument

03.05.2006 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Amassing of troops on border with Iraq for possible operation into Iraqi Kurdistan against PKK-fighters ("Turkey: Ankara Eyes Iraq Incursion Against PKK") [ID 15688]

Document(s): Dokument

27.04.2006 - Source: EurasiaNet

Upsurge in attacks against Turkish security forces by militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (KWP); renewed violence forced Turkey to act on both the military and legislative fronts ("Concern rising about Kurdish discontent in Southeastern Turkey") [ID 15610]

Document(s): Open document

12.04.2006 - Source: Amnesty International

Southeastern Turkey: 13 people killed, many injured and hundreds detained during violent protests against killing of 4 members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) by security forces; majority of detainees alleged they were subjected to ill-treatment and torture by security forces ("Turkey: Recent human rights violations must be investigated [EUR 44/005/2006]") [#49020], [ID 15602]

Document(s): Open document

08.04.2006 - Source: BBC News

Man suspected of a minibus bombing in 2005 arrested; 5 people died in the attack; PKK reportedly responsible for the bombing ("Turkey resort bomb suspect 'held'") [#48690], [ID 15537]

Document(s): Open document

22.03.2006 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Report on the repatriation of a Turkish Kurd, convicted and imprisoned because of his political activities, support and membership with the PKK ("Rückkehrgefährdung für PKK-Aktivisten") [#47139], [ID 15518]

Document(s): Open document

10.03.2006 - Source: Guardian

Escalation of attacks by guerrillas of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), seeking autonomy ("Three die in bomb blast linked to Kurdish rebels") [#46243], [ID 14213]

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Unlawful killings of security forces ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46152], [ID 14212]

"In February demonstrators in Mersin Province claimed police shot and killed Umit Gonultas during a protest in support of Abdullah Ocalan, imprisoned leader of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). According to the Human Rights Association (HRA), there was no evidence that demonstrators used weapons during the altercation. Interior ministry inspectors determined that police did not shoot Gonultas. Prosecutors opened a case against nine members of the pro-Kurdish Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) for their role in a statement protesting the shooting. The DEHAP officials were charged with being members of an illegal organization; their trial was ongoing at year's end.

In June security forces allegedly killed Fahrettin Inan during a clash with mourners at a PKK funeral in Van Province. No one was charged by year's end.

In July army private Murat Polat died from wounds he suffered when he was allegedly beaten by fellow soldiers at Adana military prison. Polat was being detained for allegedly deserting his post and burglarizing a house. Prosecutors chargedeight soldiers for their roles in Polat's death; the case continued at year's end.

In November, assailants threw a bomb into a store in Semdinli, Hakkari Province, killing Mehmet Zahir Korkmaz. Police arrested two Jandarma officials and a PKK informant following the incident. Police also arrested a third Jandarma official who fired on the crowd that gathered at the scene. Over the following days, demonstrators clashed with police in a number of violent protests against the alleged Jandarma role in the bombing; five protestors were killed and dozens injured in the disturbances. Authorities continued to investigate the bombing at year's end.

In July assailants killed Hikmet Fidan, a former DEHAP vice chairman, in Diyarbakir. Prosecutors investigating the murder maintained that PKK leaders ordered Fidan's murder because he had criticized the PKK. Trial proceedings against four suspects in the case continued at year's end.

Also in November, a Hakkari court acquitted 12 defendants, including former members of the security forces, who were charged with extrajudicial killings, bombings, extortion, and other crimes. The court convicted PKK informant Kahraman Bilgic and sentenced him to a prison term of eight years and four months in the case. The ruling was under appeal at year's end."

Document(s): Open document

18.11.2005 - Source: BBC News

Istanbul: 1 person killed and at least 11 injured in bomb explosion; Kurdish rebel group PKK is being blamed for attack ("Suspected bomb blast in Istanbul") [#39455], [ID 14214]

Document(s): Open document

24.10.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Iraqi President Talabani suggests that Turkey give general amnesty for PKK rebels instead of trying to to end conflict with Kurdish rebels in southwest with force ("Iraq President Suggests Amnesty For Turkey's Kurdish Rebels") [#38316], [ID 14215]

Document(s): Open document

10.2005 - Source: UK Home Office

Report on the situation of he PKK/KADEK/Kongra-Gel and the conflict in the southeast ("Country Report - October 2005") [#40563], [ID 14216]

for more detailed information seek out the original document page 133

"6.250 The Turkish commercial television channel NTV reported that on 16 April 2002 the PKK announced that it had ceased activities and had regrouped as KADEK, the Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress (Kurdistan Özgürlük ve Demokrasi Kongresi). [61a] As recorded in Europa, in November 2003 the party assumed the present name of Kongra-Gel (Kurdistan’s People’s Congress). [1d] (p1194) On 4 April 2005, the pro-Kurdish online newspaper KurdishMedia (quoting AFP) reported that:

“Turkey’s armed rebel Kurdish movement has decided to revert back to its original name of PKK after two name changes in three years, a pro-Kurdish news agency reported on Monday. The MHA news agency said a ‘congress’ of 205 members of the organisation, considered terrorist by Turkey and many Western countries, met in ‘the mountains of Kurdistan’ and decided to once again go by its original name of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, whose Kurdish acronym is PKK.” [93b]

6.251 As noted in the European Commission 2005 report:

“Concerning the situation in the East and Southeast of the country, where most people are of Kurdish origin, progress has been slow and uneven. In some cases, the situation has even deteriorated. While no comprehensive policy has yet been established to address the socioeconomic and political problems in this region, it is notable that in August 2005 Prime Minister Erdogan met with several Kurdish intellectuals, visited Diyarbakir and emphasised the need to resolve through democratic means, what he described as ‘the Kurdish issue’. The security situation, which had gradually improved since 1999 has become more precarious since the resumption of violence by the PKK, an organisation which appears on the EU list of terrorist organisations. The level of violence has increased and armed clashes between the security forces and armed groups occur frequently leading to casualties including mortalities on the both sides. Although the state of emergency rule has been lifted, a number of security measures, such as roadblocks and checkpoints, have been reinstated in some provinces of the Southeast. This situation has had an impact on the lives of the population. In this difficult context there are concerns that the security forces sometimes respond inappropriately.” [71e] (p38)

6.252 On 8 November 2004 the BBC reported that a Dutch court had blocked the extradition to Turkey of a Kurdish woman said to be a militant leader. “Nuriye Kesbir, alleged to belong to the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), is accused of organising attacks on military targets in the 1990s. The Dutch justice ministry approved her handover in September [2004] after the supreme court ruled she could be extradited. But a court in The Hague has said the Netherlands could not be sure she would receive a fair trial in Turkey.” [66as]

6.253 On 20 January 2005 the BBC reported that a Dutch appeals court had ruled that Nuriye Kesbir could not be extradited to Turkey. The three appeals court judges who supported the earlier ruling were reported as saying: “The court is of the opinion that Kesbir, as a woman and as a prominent member of the PKK, has a heightened risk of being tortured during her detention in Turkey,” they said in a statement. “The court recognises that the Turkish government has recently made important improvements in the area of human rights, but... there is a difference between what the government wants and what happens at a lower level, at prisons and police stations.” [66u]

6.254 On 11 January 2005 the Turkish Daily News reported that, according to a report released by the Diyarbakir Human Rights Associations, the number of armed conflict between security forces and the Kurdistan’s Workers Party (PKK/Kongra-Gel) increased. While in 104 people died and 31 were wounded in armed clashes in 2003, 219 people died and 126 were wounded in 2004. [23q]

6.255 The USSD 2004 reported that “The Government, as well as the PKK/KADEK/KHK, continued to commit human rights abuses against non-combatants in the southeast. According to the military, 18 civilians, 62 members of the security forces, and 79 terrorists died during the year [2004] as a result of armed clashes.” [5c] (Section 1a)

6.256 On 6 April 2005 Zaman reported that the operation that Turkish Armed Forces had launched against the terrorist organization the Kurdish People’s Party (PKK/Kongra-Gel) continued at the border surrounding the southeastern Turkish cities of Sirnak and Hakkari:

“During the five-day operations, nine terrorists died and their weapons seized and an experienced sergeant was executed. According to information supplied by security units, the largest and most extensive operation in the last six-years is underway. The operation is being conducted from both land and sea. Two brigades and 2000 interim village guards have also participated in the operation. As the operation has shifted to the border, arms equipment and barracks belonging to the terrorist [sic] have reportedly been seized. It is assumed that 1,500 terrorist [sic] remain in hiding in the region. The operation began on March 31 on the steep rocky Cudi Mountain, a place used by PKK terrorists as a passage to Turkey from Iraq. The PKK, which is constantly changing its name in order not to be included among the terrorist organization lists of the European Union (EU) and the US, had held a restructuring congress between March 28 and April 4 and declared the founding of the new PKK and requested the new structure be celebrated with action until May 6.” [84a]"

Document(s): Open document

19.08.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

KONGRA-GEL, political wing of PKK, announces one-month-cease-fire ("Kurdish Group In Turkey Announces Cease-Fire") [#35725], [ID 14217]

Document(s): Open document

18.08.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Kurdish Democratic Society Movement calls on PKK for cease-fire ("Kurdish Group Calls On PKK For Cease-Fire") [#35673], [ID 14218]

Document(s): Open document

17.08.2005 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Dibarbey, Bingöl: Journalist of Kurdish origin detained for allegedly possessing video footage of members of group linked to outlawed PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) ("Kurdish journalist detained for allegedly having footage of PKK militants") [#35700], [ID 14219]

Document(s): Open document

06.08.2005 - Source: BBC News

5 men arrested in connection with plot to carry out bomb attacks in Mediterranean resort of Mersin ("Turkey seizes five in 'bomb plot'") [#35028], [ID 14220]

Document(s): Open document

10.07.2005 - Source: BBC News

Cesme: At least 20 people injured in bomb blast in seaside resort ("More than 20 hurt in Turkey blast") [#33786], [ID 14221]

Document(s): Open document

25.05.2005 - Source: Amnesty International

Sirnak: alleged member of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK–now renamed as Kongra-Gel), may have been killed following his capture by army ("Turkey - Further Information on UA 95/05") [#32381], [ID 14222]

Document(s): Open document
Open document

12.05.2005 - Source: BBC News

European Court of Human Rights ruled that trial of Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan, who was convicted of treason in 1999, was unfair, he was blamed for 30,000 deaths in 15-year war between PKK and Turkish security forces ("Trial of Kurdish leader 'unfair'") [#31928], [ID 14224]

Document(s): Open document

15.04.2005 - Source: BBC News

Siirt: 21 members of Kurdish paramilitary group, the PKK, killed by security forces; 3 members of the armed forces were also killed in 3-day operation ("Turkey kills 21 Kurdish fighters") [#31271], [ID 14225]

Document(s): Open document

30.03.2005 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Background information on formation of organizations succeeding PKK; on activities of PKK/KADEK/Kongra-Gel in Bingöl region and in Northern Iraq between 2003 und 2004 (expert opinion, in German) ("Aktivitäten der Nachfolgeorganisationen der Kurdischen Arbeiterpartei PKK zwischen 2003 und 2004") [#31236], [ID 14226]

Document(s): Open document

08.11.2004 - Source: BBC News

Dutch court blocked the extradition to Turkey of a Kurdish woman, allegedly belonging to the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK); she was arrested in 2001 over charges of organising attacks on military targets in 1990s and was denied political asylum in Netherlands ("Dutch court bars Kurd extradition") [#26876], [ID 14223]

Document(s): Open document

29.05.2004 - Source: BBC News

The Kurdish paramilitary group Kongra-Gel, once known as the PKK, has declared that its five-year unilateral ceasefire will end and that it will target Turkish security forces again ("Kurds move to end Turkish truce") [#22995], [ID 14227]

Document(s): Open document

02.09.2003 - Source: BBC News

The main militant Kurdish group Kadek is calling off a four-year ceasefire because the government has failed to grant Kurds greater political and cultural rights ("Kurdish rebels abandon truce") [#15645], [ID 14228]

Document(s): Open document