05.09.2008 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Situations of persons suspected of aiding members of PKK; discrimination against Kurds in the military (particularly alleged PKK sympathisers); deployment of Kurdish conscripts for combat against PKK; penalties for refusal of performing military service and desertion (legislation and practice) ("a-6269 (ACC-TUR-6269)") [ID 24804]

Document(s): Open document

31.07.2008 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Occurrence and causes of honour killings; forced recruitment by PKK; state protection and internal flight alternative (IFA) ("a-6259 (ACC-TUR-6259)") [ID 24253]

Document(s): Open document

30.04.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Terrorist Report 2008 ("Country Report on Terrorism 2007") [ID 23208]

"Most prominent among terrorist groups in Turkey is the Kongra-Gel/Kurdistan Worker’s Party (KGK/PKK). Composed primarily of Kurds with a separatist agenda, the KGK/PKK operated from bases in northern Iraq and directed its forces to target mainly Turkish security forces. In 2005 and 2006, KGK/PKK violence claimed hundreds of Turkish lives. This persisted in 2007, when the KGK/PKK continued its terrorist tactics. The Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK), a group designated under E.O. 13224, is affiliated with the KGK/PKK and has claimed responsibility for a series of deadly attacks on Turkish and foreign citizens in Turkish cities in recent years. KGK/PKK and TAK-linked individuals were discovered in late May in Istanbul, Adana, Konya, and Mardin with explosive materials designed to carry out suicide attacks. On May 25, the KGK/PKK claimed responsibility for the bombing of a cargo train in Bingol Province.

In the midst of weeks of violence, during which KGK/PKK attacks claimed scores of killed or wounded Turkish soldiers and citizens, the Turkish parliament on October 17 overwhelmingly passed a motion authorizing cross-border military operations against KGK/PKK targets in northern Iraq. Turkish forces carried out extensive operations along the Turkey-Iraq border in the latter part of the year. On November 5^th, President Bush committed to provide Turkey “real-time, actionable intelligence” to counter the KGK/PKK in northern Iraq."

Document(s): Chapter 2 - Country Reports: Europe and Eurasia
Chapter 6 - Terrorist Organizations

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Killing of pro-Ocalan protestor ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22797]

"In February 2005 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). The HRA and HRF reported that the Mersin prosecutor was continuing a "secret" investigation at year's end."

Document(s): Open document

06.11.2007 - Source: European Commission

Atacks by the PKK ("Turkey 2007 Progress Report [SEC(2007) 1436]") [ID 22428]

"There has been a further deterioration of the situation in terms of attacks by the PKK and other terrorist groups. The PKK is on the EU list of terrorist organisations. Several hundred terrorist attacks have been recorded since the beginning of the year causing multiple casualties. On 22 May a suicide bombing in Ankara claimed the lives of 9 people. There was an increase of terrorist attacks targeting civilians throughout the whole country."

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

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

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

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

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

04.2005 - Source: UK Home Office

Conflict with the PKK (Partiya Karkeren Kurdistan - Kurdistan Workers’ Party) ("Country Report - April 2005") [#31987],  [ID 14229]

"[...]34.12 Europa reports that in 1984, the outlawed PKK led by Abdullah Öcalan launched a violent guerrilla campaign against the Turkish authorities in the southeastern provinces. The government responded by arresting suspected Kurdish leaders, sending in more security forces, establishing local militia groups and imposing martial law later changed to states of emergency in the troubled provinces. [1d] (p1164)
4.13 The Netherlands report of 2002 stated that “The PKKs armed operations in south eastern Turkey, starting 1984 and peaking from 1990 to 1994, involved attacks on civilian (in many cases Kurdish) and military targets, causing around 30,000 deaths. The PKK was guilty of atrocities, including murders, especially in rural parts of the south east but also in other areas….The PKK attempted to make the south east ungovernable, by systematically destroying economic and social infrastructure etc and by deliberately polarising the local population.” [2a] (p11)
4.14 The Netherlands report continued “From the outset the Turkish army took tough action against the PKK. The combat against the PKK was often also accompanied by various other kinds of human rights violations by the security forces.” [2a] (p12)
4.15 Europa reports that in October 1998 the PKK's leader, Abdullah Öcalan, was forced to leave his base in Syria. Following his expulsion he unsuccessfully attempted to claim asylum in several European countries before being captured at the Greek Embassy in Kenya and returned to Turkey. After his capture widespread Kurdish protests were held throughout Europe. [1d] (p1168)
4.16 Europa continued: “Öcalan was charged with treason on 23 February 1999, and held personally responsible for the deaths of some 30,000 people during the 15 year Kurdish struggle for autonomy.” Some foreign journalists were permitted to observe Öcalan’s trial, but Öcalan’s lawyers claimed that they had been prevented from providing a proper defence. During the proceedings Öcalan depicted himself as a moderate, called for a PKK cease-fire and declared his willingness to negotiate a peace agreement for the Kurdish region if his life was spared. On the 29 June 2003, however, he was found guilty and sentenced to death [later changed to life imprisonment]. [1d] (p1168)
4.17 According to the UNHCR Background Paper 2001 “On 2 August 1999, he [Abdullah Öcalan] called on the PKK to withdraw its troops from Turkey, and cease military operations from 1 September 1999. On 8 February 2000, it [the PKK] formally announced that it would abandon the armed struggle in favour of a political approach. The security situation improved considerably since.” [18c] (p15)
4.18 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]
4.19 The BBC reported on 3 September 2003 that, on 1 September 2003, the PKK/KADEK had announced an end to their four-year cease-fire with the Turkish Government. They accused the Government of failing to fully address demands for Kurdish cultural rights, constitutional change and freedom of expression, despite the passing by parliament of a number laws removing restrictions on Kurds. A spokeswomen for the PKK stated that she did not expect a return to all-out conflict but instead some sort of low intensity warfare. [66e]
4.20 As recorded in Europa, in November 2003 KADEK assumed the present name of Kongra-Gel (Kurdistan’s People’s Congress). [1d] (p1194)
4.21 On the 29 May 2004 the BBC reported that Kongra-Gel declared that its five-year unilateral cease-fire would end in three days time (on the 1 June 2004) and that it would start to target Turkish security forces. However, according to the BBC it is difficult to know how seriously to take the threat of renewed military action by Kongra-Gel as deep divisions have been reported within the organisation. It is believed that a sizeable faction wants to renounce the armed struggle once and for all. [66z]
4.22 On 26 June 2004 the Turkish Daily News reported that a group of Kongra-Gel militants under the command of Osman Öcalan the brother of Abdullah Öcalan had rejected calls to end the ceasefire and had arrived in the Iraqi city of Mosul. The Turkish Daily News reported that Kongra-Gel had split into three factions, one group that supported the end of the ceasefire, and two groups who opposed a return to military conflict. [23n]
4.23 As mentioned in the Europol document ‘Terrorist Activity in the European Union: situation and trends report (TE-SAT) October 2003 - 17th October 2004)’ dated 2 December 2004: “Due to disagreements on both the supremacy within the organisation and the future political line, in May 2004, high-ranking leaders and board members, among them Osman ÖCALAN, brother of Abdullah ÖCALAN, split off the organisation and, in the beginning of August 2004, announced via the print media the foundation of a new organisation named “Patriotic Democratic Party” (Partiya Welatperez’e Demokratik, PWD). PWD’s proclaimed objective is to promote and enlarge the rights of Kurds by political means.” [20] (p44)
4.24 In an article dated 1 September 2004, The Guardian reported that “Two Turks and 11 Kurds have been killed in three days' of fighting between the army and the Kurdistan Workers party or PKK, now known as Kongra-Gel, in Hakkari province on the Turkish border with Iraq. A Turkish official said yesterday that more than 1,000 troops took part in the offensive…. More than 20 soldiers or policemen have been killed since June 1 [2004], when the rebels called off a ceasefire declared in 1999 after the capture of their leader, Abdullah Ocalan.” [...]"

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

25.02.2004 - Source: US Department of State

Government continues to organize, arm, and pay village guards ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2003") [#19741],  [ID 14269]

"Due to the conflict with the PKK/KADEK/KHK, the Government continued to organize, arm, and pay a civil defense force of about 60,000, mostly in the southeast region. This force, known as the village guards, was reputed to be the least disciplined of the security forces and continued to be accused repeatedly of drug trafficking, rape, corruption, theft, and human rights abuses. Inadequate oversight and compensation contributed to this problem, and in some cases Jandarma allegedly protected village guards from prosecution. In addition to the village guards, Jandarma and police "special teams" were viewed as those most responsible for abuses. DEHAP officials claimed that security forces in July publicly displayed the bodies of two slain PKK/KADEK militants in the town of Baskale in Van Province. However, the incidence of credible allegations of serious abuses by security forces in operations against the PKK/KADEK/KHK was low."

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

11.08.2003 - Source: Konrad Adenauer Stiftung

Amnestiegesetz für PKK Kämpfer bechlossen; Straffreiheit, bei Niederlegung der Waffen und Rückkehr ("Das 7. EU-Anpassungspaket") [#15747],  [ID 14230]

"Neben dem 7. EU-Anpassungspaket hat das Parlament in den vergangenen Wochen und Monaten aber noch viele andere Gesetze verabschiedet, die indirekt auch mit der EU-Harmonisierung in Zusammenhang gebracht werden können und die grundlegende Neuerungen beinhalten.

So wurde unter anderem das "Rückkehr nach Hause"-Gesetz verabschiedet. Damit wird den noch auf mehrere tausend geschätzten PKK-Kämpfern in den Bergen des Nordirak, Irans und der Türkei für die nächsten sechs Monate Straffreiheit angeboten, wenn sie ihre Waffen niederlegen und sozusagen nach Hause zurückkehren. Ausgenommen von dieser Strafamnestie sind Anführer der PKK/KADEK sowie Abdullah Öcalan, der weiterhin lebenslänglich auf der Gefängnisinsel Imrali im Marmara-Meer vor den Toren Istanbuls einsitzt. Für diejenigen, gegen die in Abwesenheit Anklage erhoben worden ist, werden die Verfahren je nach Schwere des Vergehens ausgesetzt, und solche, die schon in Haft sind, können in den Genuss von erheblichen Strafminderungen oder sogar Strafamnestie kommen. Mittlerweile haben angeblich schon Hunderte von Betroffenen Interesse an dieser Amnestie bekundet."

Document(s): Open document

06.08.2003 - Source: Süddeutsche Zeitung

Türkei gliedert PKK-Kämpfer ein ("Türkei gliedert PKK-Kämpfer ein") [#15408],  [ID 14231]

"(...) Nach einer vom Parlament verabschiedeten Teil-Amnestie für die PKK haben sich laut einem Bericht des Nachrichtensenders NTV vom Dienstag bereits mehr als 450 Mitglieder der Organisation gemeldet, die von der Strafminderung profitieren wollen. Viele von ihnen sind seit Jahren in türkischen Gefängnissen und hoffen nun auf vorzeitige Entlassung.
(...) Aufnahmelager für die ehemaligen Kämpfer entstehen in den Südostprovinzen Van und Sirnak, dort in der grenznahen Stadt Silopi, ebenso wie in der Westprovinz Kirklareli an der Grenze zu Bulgarien.
(...) Die türkische Armee übt allerdings auch militärischen Druck auf die Kämpfer aus. Der Sender NTV berichtete, türkische Soldaten und amerikanische Truppen hätten am vergangenen Wochenende im Nordirak gemeinsam das Flüchtlingscamp Mahmur aufgesucht, wo angeblich 9000 Kurden türkischer Herkunft leben. Dabei sollen Hunderte von Waffen sichergestellt worden sein. Das Lager gilt als eine Basis der PKK. Wie es hieß, bereiteten sich Ankara und Washington gemeinsam darauf vor, das Lager aufzulösen. Der UN-Gesandte für den Irak, Sergio de Mello, der am Montag Ankara besuchte, zeigte sich deshalb besorgt und warnte vor einem Blutvergießen. Aber aus Washington kommen immer wieder neue Drohungen, militärisch gegen die PKK-Kader, die sich nicht ergeben wollen, vorzugehen. (...)"

06.08.2003 - Source: Frankfurter Rundschau

PKK droht mit Ende der Waffenruhe ("PKK droht mit Ende der Waffenruhe") [#15409],  [ID 14232]

"(...) Kurdische Rebellen in der Türkei drohen damit, wieder zu den Waffen zu greifen. Osman Öcalan - ein Bruder des zu lebenslanger Haft verurteilten früheren Führers der kurdischen Arbeiterpartei PKK, Abdullah Öcalan - sagte jetzt, die Organisation werde eine 1999 ausgerufene Waffenruhe beenden, wenn die türkische Regierung früheren PKK-Kämpfern keine Generalamnestie gewähre und ihrerseits einen Waffenstillstand erkläre.

(...) Die Führungskader der früheren PKK, die sich seit 2002 Demokratischer Freiheits-Kongress Kurdistans (Kadek) nennt, bleiben von der Amnestie jedoch ausgenommen. Osman Öcalan wies die Regelung in einer von der kurdischen Exil-Nachrichtenagentur Mezopotamya als unzureichend zurück. (...)"

31.07.2003 - Source: Frankfurter Rundschau

Kurden reagieren mit Skepsis ("Kurden reagieren mit Skepsis") [#15407],  [ID 14233]

"Ein "historisches Angebot" sieht Ahmet Isik, Abgeordneter der regierenden Gerechtigkeits- und Entwicklungspartei (AKP), in dem Amnestiegesetz, das am Dienstag vom türkischen Parlament verabschiedet wurde. Es sieht vor, dass kurdische Guerillakämpfer, die selbst nicht an Gewalttaten beteiligt waren, straffrei ausgehen, wenn sie sich stellen.
Rebellen, die in Terroranschläge oder Kämpfe verwickelt waren, können mit reduzierten Strafen rechnen, wenn sie mit den Sicherheitsbehörden "kooperieren", also Auskünfte über ihre Organisation geben. Damit würde sich zum Beispiel eine lebenslange Haftstrafe auf neun Jahre Gefängnis reduzieren. Ausgenommen von der Teilamnestie bleiben Kommandeure der früheren PKK, wie ihr bereits zu lebenslanger Haft verurteilter Führer Abdullah Öcalan oder dessen noch flüchtiger Bruder Osman. Auch die Gewährung von politischem Asyl wird von der türkischen Regierung ausgeschlossen. "So etwas ist unmöglich", sagte Außenminister Abdullah Gül am Mittwoch zu Medienberichten, wonach die PKK-Führer, die von der Amnestie ausgenommen sind, etwa in Skandinavien Aufnahme finden könnten.
(...) Zweifel gibt es auch an der Praktikabilität des Gesetzes: Wie soll im Einzelfall festgestellt werden, ob jemand nur Mitläufer oder selbst aktiver Kämpfer war? Kurdische Organisationen wie die PKK-Nachfolgeorganisation Kadek und die pro-kurdische Demokratische Volkspartei (Dehap) kritisieren das Gesetz. Sie fordern eine Generalamnestie und die Legalisierung der Kadek als politische Bewegung. (...)"

21.06.2003 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Auflösung der PKK und Gründung der KADEK Im April 2002; sporadische bewaffnete Auseinandersetzungen zwischen der Armee und Guerilla-Gruppen; neue Lager im Nordiran ("Zur aktuellen Situation - Juni 2003 ") [#14557],  [ID 14236]

"Seit der Inhaftierung von Abdullah Öcalan hat die PKK immer wieder zu erkennen gegeben, dass sie Wege für eine politische Lösung suche und auf eine weitere militärische Konfronta-tion mit dem türkischen Staat verzichten wolle. Sie hat zwar seit 1999 einen grossen Teil der auf etwa 5000 GuerillakämpferInnen geschätzten Truppen abgezogen, ist jedoch nie zu einer Entwaffnung ihrer Einheiten und einer totalen Auflösung geschritten. Wir haben sogar Informationen erhalten, wonach in der Türkei neue Mitglieder für die Guerilla angeworben worden sein sollen, wenn auch in einem unvergleichlich geringeren Ausmass als früher.
Wie bereits in der Aktualisierung vom Mai 2001 erwähnt ist, sollen sich nach Informationen des ehemaligen Ministerpräsidenten Ecevit noch rund 500 Guerillamitglieder in den Bergen der kurdischen Provinzen aufhalten. So ist es auch immer wieder zu sporadischen bewaff-neten Auseinandersetzungen zwischen der Armee und Guerilla-Gruppen gekommen. Auf-grund der bekannt gewordenen Auseinandersetzungen können Idil, Lice, Tunceli und Bingöl als Orte angegeben werden, wo sich solche Gruppen aufhalten.
Laut Informationen vom Oktober 2002 auf der staatlichen Internetseite www.pkkgercegi.net (PKK-Realität) sollen etwa 500 PKK-AktivistInnen in kleinen Gruppen in die Türkei einge-schleust worden sein.
Um ihrem Willen nach einer politischen Lösung Ausdruck zu verleihen, hat die PKK im April 2002 ihre Auflösung und die Gründung der KADEK (Kurdischer Freiheits- und Demokratie-kongress) bekannt gegeben. Doch sowohl die türkischen Behörden als auch die EU gaben sehr schnell zu erkennen, dass diese Namensänderung nicht dazu führen würde, die KA-DEK nicht auf die Liste der Terrororganisationen zu nehmen.
Kürzlich hat die Türkei die NATO davor gewarnt, die PKK habe im Nordiran im Jahre 2002 neue Lager aufgebaut. Dies kann nicht gänzlich ausgeschlossen werden, weil die PKK nach ihrer Vertreibung aus Syrien im Nordirak verstärktem Druck ausgesetzt war. Dieser Druck war auf die zunehmend feindliche Haltung der kurdischen Führer Barzani und Talabani ei-nerseits und den wiederholten Einmarsch der türkischen Armee in den Nordirak anderer-seits zurückzuführen. Dadurch sah die PKK-Guerilla ihre Sicherheit und Bewegungsfreiheit stark eingeschränkt und hat sich immer mehr in den Iran abgesetzt. Dass sich die KADEK-Spitze heute im Iran aufhält, ist naheliegend. Nach Angaben der türkischen Behörden soll sie dort militärische Trainingslager unterhalten. Diese Information muss mit Vorbehalt auf-genommen werden, nicht zuletzt weil die türkischen Behörden behaupten, dass sich drei solche Lager in der Stadt Umriye befänden, diese als medizinische Versorgungsstätten ge-tarnt seien und sich die KADEK mit der Organisation El-Kaida verbrüdert habe."

Document(s): Open document

02.05.2002 - Source: BBC News

BBC: PKK added to the EU's list of groups branded as terrorists ("Kurdish guerrillas to join terror list") [#6707],  [ID 14239]

"The Kurdish separatist group, the PKK, is to be added to the European Union's list of groups branded as terrorists, diplomats said. [...]
The PKK - or Kurdistan Workers Party - has waged a 15-year war for self-rule in south-eastern Turkey, but recently announced it was changing its name and abandoning its armed struggle.
Senior members of the organisation have reacted angrily to the EU move, saying it could lead to renewed fighting.
The EU's original list was issued in December in the wake of the 11 September attacks in the United States.
More groups have been added to it to bring it into line with America's terrorist blacklist."

Document(s): Open document