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* Conducting attacks on Turkish diplomatic and commercial facilities in dozens of West European cities in 1993 and again in spring 1995.
* Conducting attacks on Turkish diplomatic and commercial facilities in dozens of West European cities in 1993 and again in spring 1995.


The Turkish government responded to these actions, by using a more drastic and direct approach against the PKK. According to the Government, from 1984 through November 1997, 26,532 PKK members, 5,185 security force members, and 5,209 civilians lost their lives in the fighting. The damage to infrastructure and the money spent to end the conflict is claimed by the Turkish government to stand at 200 billion ($200,000,000,000) [[USD|US dollars]]. roject]].
The Turkish government responded to these actions, by using a more drastic and direct approach against the PKK. According to the Government, from 1984 through November 1997, 26,532 PKK members, 5,185 security force members, and 5,209 civilians lost their lives in the fighting. The damage to infrastructure and the money spent to end the conflict is claimed by the Turkish government to stand at 200 billion ($200,000,000,000) [[USD|US dollars]].


==Resource gathering==
==Resource gathering==
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* Grants and subscriptions.
* Grants and subscriptions.
* Sales of publications.
* Sales of publications.
* Donations to the organisation from Kurds living in European countries.
* Donations from Kurdish individuals and organizations in European countries.
* Received safehaven and modest aid from [[Syria]], [[Iraq]], and [[Iran]].
* Received safehaven and modest aid from [[Syria]], [[Iraq]], and [[Iran]].
* ''Aid'' received through intimidation from constructors and merchants running business in the region.
* ''Aid'' received through intimidation from constructors and merchants running business in the region.
* Extortion. In common with many other simmilar organizations, the PKK routinely extorts money from people who start new businesses, and benefits from bids on government contracts. In order to finance the purchase of more sophisticated weaponry such as the [[Germany|German]] design [[surface-to-air missile|SA]] [[FIM-92 Stinger]] missles, of which a number were discovered in mountain depots raided by the security forces in the spring of [[1994]], the PKK has begun to "tax" rich businessmen of (Kurdish origin or not) nationwide. Other professions such as doctors, contractors, builders, farmers, and teachers reportedly are not immune to extortion either. Although the largest portion of PKK's income is derived from drug smuggling, its annual budget is estimated to be $86 million [[USD]]. This includes income from extortion in both Turkey and abroad, especially from Kurdish and Turkish workers, most of who reside in Germany. The British National Service of Criminal Intelligence - [[NSIC]]) reported that in [[1993]] PKK extorted 2.5 million pounds sterling from immigrants and businesses. According to the same source, PKK obtained 28 million [[USD]] from drug smuggling in Europe in [[1993]]. In addition, only those businessmen of whom PKK approves entered bids for government contracts in the southeast, in return for a "commission" to the organization. Likewise, temporary workers in the southeast who were paid a monthly net salary of $1,000 [[USD]] were forced to give up $700 [[USD]] of this sum to the PKK. {{ref|PKK1}}
* Extortion. It has been claimed that the PKK extorts money from people who start new businesses, and benefits from bids on government contracts. In order to finance the purchase of more sophisticated weaponry such as the [[Germany|German]] design [[surface-to-air missile|SA]] [[FIM-92 Stinger]] missles, of which a number were discovered in mountain depots raided by the security forces. People also allege that in the spring of [[1994]], the PKK began to tax rich businessmen of Kurdish origin nationwide. Other professions such as doctors, contractors, builders, farmers, and teachers reportedly are not immune to extortion either. The British National Service of Criminal Intelligence - [[NSIC]]) reported that in [[1993]] PKK extorted 2.5 million [[pounds sterling]] from immigrants and businesses.
* Transfer of money to the organisation from [[refugee]]s entitled to payments in European countries.
* Smuggling of illegal workers and immigrants (costing on average $5,000 per person). The route of illegal imigrant traffic passes through [[Turkey]] to [[Greece]] then to [[Europe]] and the [[United States]].
* Money collected through drug trafficking and arms-smuggling.
* Revenues obtained from commercial establishments belonging to the organisation.
* Revenues obtained from commercial establishments belonging to the organisation.
* Some members of the PKK have been implicated in [[people smuggling]] operations.


The annual budget is estimated to be $86 million [[USD]].
The annual budget is estimated to be $86 million [[USD]].


==Tactics==
==Tactics==
The group in operate in high and mountainous rural as well as dense urban areas. The structure and height of this mountainous region in south eastern Turkey makes it very difficult for [[helicopter|helicopters]] and other aircraft to maneuver, making it difficult for government troops to respond in a timely fashion to any ambush. While escaping/evading government troops members of the PKK often hide in underground safehouses or caves. Although nothing remotely close to [[Vietcong]] tunnel networks nor vegetation cover, the mountains and snow made them virtually invisible, especially during [[winter]].
The group in operate in high and mountainous rural as well as dense urban areas. While escaping/evading government troops members of the PKK often hide in underground safehouses or caves. Although nothing remotely close to [[Vietcong]] tunnel networks nor vegetation cover, the mountains and snow made them virtually invisible, especially during [[winter]].


* Until 1990s PKK to gain support sometimes attacked Kurdish civilians who would not cooperate with the group on a regulary basis or who were informers or [[collaborator]]s with the Turkish army. PKK often raided villiges that did not "adequately" supported the organisation. Doing so the were either punishing the "non-supporters" or "intimidating" who was left to support the organisation. Later blaming the deaths to the [[Military of Turkey|Turkish Military]] as a part of its [[propaganda]] campaign. Some 3,223 schools, attended by 166,000 students in 22 districts of two provinces, remained shut in 1996 as a result of their destruction by the Turkish army in the burning of kurdish villages thought to shelter PKK supporters. 156 teachers have allegedly been killed by the PKK. According to June 1995 findings of the State Ministry for Human Rights Affairs, 809 villages and 1,612 hamlets have been forcibly evacuated by the Turkish army in 19 provinces. Whereas, the State of Emergency Region Governate announced that 753 villages and 1,535 hamlets were completely evacuated, and 235 villages and 141 hamlets partially evacuated. This activity prompted the government to evacuate some remote villages by force if the villagers did not want to leave their homes. After leaving their homes, the villages were often burned and livestock machine-gunned by the Army to create ''free-fire'' zones and to deprive the [[guerillas]] of resources, this is sometimes called ''draining the water'' in [[counter-insurgency]]. The evacuation has caused significant problems in the cities where the evacuees resettled (mostly larger metropolitan cities). The infrastructure had more people than it can handle.
* Until 1990s PKK to gain support sometimes attacked Kurdish civilians who would not cooperate with the group on a regular basis or who were informers or [[collaborator]]s with the Turkish army. Some 3,223 schools, attended by 166,000 students in 22 districts of two provinces, remained shut in 1996 as a result of their destruction by the Turkish army in the burning of kurdish villages thought to shelter PKK supporters. 156 teachers have allegedly been killed by the PKK. According to June 1995 findings of the State Ministry for Human Rights Affairs, 809 villages and 1,612 hamlets have been forcibly evacuated by the Turkish army in 19 provinces. Whereas, the State of Emergency Region Governate announced that 753 villages and 1,535 hamlets were completely evacuated, and 235 villages and 141 hamlets partially evacuated. This activity prompted the government to evacuate some remote villages by force if the villagers did not want to leave their homes. After leaving their homes, the villages were often burned and livestock machine-gunned by the Army to create ''free-fire'' zones and to deprive the [[guerillas]] of resources, this is sometimes called ''draining the water'' in [[counter-insurgency]]. The evacuation has caused significant problems in the cities where the evacuees resettled (mostly larger metropolitan cities). The infrastructure had more people than it can handle.
* The organisation members often hid themselves in these villages while escaping a pursuit from government troops by "blending in" with the population.
* The organisation members often hid themselves in these villages while escaping a pursuit from government troops by "blending in" with the population.
* Planted [[Russia]]n and [[Italy|Italian]] made [[Landmines|Anti-personnel mines]].
* Planted [[Russia]]n and [[Italy|Italian]] made [[Landmines|Anti-personnel mines]].
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* Sabotaging the [[GAP Project]]. On occasions engineers working on the project were abducted, foreigners were usually released. The completion of this project would destroy more Kurdish villages. [[Human rights]] organisations and NGO's are actively campaigning against it.
* Sabotaging the [[GAP Project]]. On occasions engineers working on the project were abducted, foreigners were usually released. The completion of this project would destroy more Kurdish villages. [[Human rights]] organisations and NGO's are actively campaigning against it.
* Abducting/killing doctors, teachers, and other non-military government employees.
* Abducting/killing doctors, teachers, and other non-military government employees.
* Also just like the [[Vietcong]], the organisation members often hid themselves in these villages while escaping a pursuit from government troops by "blending in" with the population.


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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 is an inclrease on PKK activity. There is an increase in PKK attacks on Turkish military, police, and governmental targets near the [[Iraq]]i border in the last weeks. While PKK claims it is only acting in self-defense, Ankara is increasing her pressure to the US for a millitary strike to the PKK in northern Iraq.
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 is an inclrease on PKK activity. There is an increase in PKK attacks on Turkish military, police, and governmental targets near the [[Iraq]]i border in the last weeks. While PKK claims it is only acting in self-defense, Ankara is increasing her pressure to the US for a millitary 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. A great increase in PKK attacks on Turkish military, police and governmental targets in the last weeks seem to further prove this fact. The PKK claims it is only acting in self-defense and protection for the Kurds.
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. A great increase in PKK attacks on Turkish military, 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. Meanwhile, the leader of the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, has recently released the [[Declaration of Democratic Confederalism in Kurdistan]] [http://www.kurdishmedia.com/reports.asp?id=2552].
Since his arrest in 1999, Öcalan had been campaigning for a peaceful solution to the Kurdish conflict inside the borders of Turkey, and in this document he asks for a border free confederation between the Kurdish pieces of Turkey (called North Kurdistan by Kurdish nationalists), Syria (West Kurdistan), Iraq (South Kurdistan) and Iran (East Kurdistan). In this zone, three bodies of law would be implemented: EU law, Turkish/Syrian/Iraqi/Iranian law and Kurdish law
Since his arrest in 1999, Öcalan had been campaigning for a peaceful solution to the Kurdish conflict inside the borders of Turkey, and in this document he asks for a border free confederation between the Kurdish pieces of Turkey (called North Kurdistan by Kurdish nationalists), Syria (West Kurdistan), Iraq (South Kurdistan) and Iran (East Kurdistan). In this zone, three bodies of law would be implemented: EU law, Turkish/Syrian/Iraqi/Iranian law and Kurdish law

Revision as of 19:12, 15 June 2005

Template:Totallydisputed

File:KRD PKK.png
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) Flag
File:Kadek flag.jpg
Congress for Freedom and Democracy in Kurdistan (KADEK) Flag
File:Kongra-gel flag.jpg
Kongra-gel Flag

The Kurdistan Workers Party (Kurdish: Partiya Karkerên Kurdistan or PKK), is an armed anti-goverment organisation claiming to defend the rights of the Kurdish people in Turkey. Its main objective is the creation of an independent Kurdish state in Kurdistan, a territory that is currently southeastern Turkey, northeastern Iraq, northeastern Syria and northwestern Iran. It arose from a radical youth movement in Turkey and was founded in 1973 by Abdullah Öcalan. Operated informally until 1978 when it proclaimed itself a revolutionary communist movement following a Marxist-Leninist doctrine, though since then it has abandoned much of its leftist doctrine. In 2002, the party renamed itself to KADEK, and then in 2004 to Kongra-Gel. Finally in 2005 the party reverted back to its original name, PKK.

In its campaign for Kurdish independence, the organisation has been accused of atrocities against both Turkish and Kurdish civilians. The party is characterized as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, European Union, the United States, Iran and several other countries. The Turkish Government has also been accused of widespread atrocities in its campaign to suppress the organisation, and has continued to repress efforts by the Kurdish people in Turkey to secure regional autonomy or independence. The PKK is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the Turkish state and the USA and United Kingdom among others. Nevertheless the group has supporters in Turkey and in many other countries.

Activities

PKK's targets consist of:

  • Turkish military and police forces.
  • Turkish sites at home and abroad.
  • Kurdish civilians who would not cooperate with the group or were alleged of collaborating with the Turkish military.
  • non-Kurdish civilians.
  • Local Village guards.

Their activities include:

  • Suicide bombs targeting local governors and police installations, and raiding villages and small towns.
  • Bombing tourist sites as well as kidnapping Western tourists, who were subsequently released, primarily in Istanbul and at Turkish seaside resorts.
  • Protests and demonstrations.
  • Conducting attacks on Turkish diplomatic and commercial facilities in dozens of West European cities in 1993 and again in spring 1995.

The Turkish government responded to these actions, by using a more drastic and direct approach against the PKK. According to the Government, from 1984 through November 1997, 26,532 PKK members, 5,185 security force members, and 5,209 civilians lost their lives in the fighting. The damage to infrastructure and the money spent to end the conflict is claimed by the Turkish government to stand at 200 billion ($200,000,000,000) US dollars.

Resource gathering

File:Frankfurd PKK protests after the capture of PKK leader.jpg
PKK supporters demonstrating after the capture of Abdullah Öcalan in Frankfurt, Germany (16 February 1999)

The organisation raised funds via:[1]

  • Revenues obtained from the special nights organised by branch organisations in Europe.
  • Aid campaigns periodically organised by the party.
  • Grants and subscriptions.
  • Sales of publications.
  • Donations from Kurdish individuals and organizations in European countries.
  • Received safehaven and modest aid from Syria, Iraq, and Iran.
  • Aid received through intimidation from constructors and merchants running business in the region.
  • Extortion. It has been claimed that the PKK extorts money from people who start new businesses, and benefits from bids on government contracts. In order to finance the purchase of more sophisticated weaponry such as the German design SA FIM-92 Stinger missles, of which a number were discovered in mountain depots raided by the security forces. People also allege that in the spring of 1994, the PKK began to tax rich businessmen of Kurdish origin nationwide. Other professions such as doctors, contractors, builders, farmers, and teachers reportedly are not immune to extortion either. The British National Service of Criminal Intelligence - NSIC) reported that in 1993 PKK extorted 2.5 million pounds sterling from immigrants and businesses.
  • Revenues obtained from commercial establishments belonging to the organisation.
  • Some members of the PKK have been implicated in people smuggling operations.

The annual budget is estimated to be $86 million USD.

Tactics

The group in operate in high and mountainous rural as well as dense urban areas. While escaping/evading government troops members of the PKK often hide in underground safehouses or caves. Although nothing remotely close to Vietcong tunnel networks nor vegetation cover, the mountains and snow made them virtually invisible, especially during winter.

  • Until 1990s PKK to gain support sometimes attacked Kurdish civilians who would not cooperate with the group on a regular basis or who were informers or collaborators with the Turkish army. Some 3,223 schools, attended by 166,000 students in 22 districts of two provinces, remained shut in 1996 as a result of their destruction by the Turkish army in the burning of kurdish villages thought to shelter PKK supporters. 156 teachers have allegedly been killed by the PKK. According to June 1995 findings of the State Ministry for Human Rights Affairs, 809 villages and 1,612 hamlets have been forcibly evacuated by the Turkish army in 19 provinces. Whereas, the State of Emergency Region Governate announced that 753 villages and 1,535 hamlets were completely evacuated, and 235 villages and 141 hamlets partially evacuated. This activity prompted the government to evacuate some remote villages by force if the villagers did not want to leave their homes. After leaving their homes, the villages were often burned and livestock machine-gunned by the Army to create free-fire zones and to deprive the guerillas of resources, this is sometimes called draining the water in counter-insurgency. The evacuation has caused significant problems in the cities where the evacuees resettled (mostly larger metropolitan cities). The infrastructure had more people than it can handle.
  • The organisation members often hid themselves in these villages while escaping a pursuit from government troops by "blending in" with the population.
  • Planted Russian and Italian made Anti-personnel mines.
  • Planted Russian made Anti-vehicle mines were layed against patroling Turkish Gendarmerie vehicles, however frequently civilian trucks and busses triggered these mines as they are heavy enough. Generally the gendarmerie patroled with Armored vehicles which were either too light to trigger the mine or were armored well enough for the crew to survive the blast while vehicle was rendered useless aside from non-armored yet heavy vehicles such as suply trucks.
  • Sabotaging the GAP Project. On occasions engineers working on the project were abducted, foreigners were usually released. The completion of this project would destroy more Kurdish villages. Human rights organisations and NGO's are actively campaigning against it.
  • Abducting/killing doctors, teachers, and other non-military government employees.


History

PKK supporters demonstrating in London (April 2003)
  • In 1973 the Kurdistan Workers Party, PKK, was established by Abdullah Öcalan, later formalised its doctrine in 1978.
  • In early 1980s consolidated resources and power base, prior to the military coup in Turkey, the PKK fled Turkey and established training camps in the Bekaa valley, part of ex-Syrian-controlled Lebanon.
  • In 1984 the organisation started its armed activities directed towards the Turkish military and Governmental institutes as well as civilian targets throughout Turkey
  • From early 1984 to 2 April 2002, the organisation operated under the banner of PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party).
  • From 1986 to 1987, Turkish Air Force raided PKK camps in northern Iraq in with the approval of the Iraqi government.
  • In 1990s the organisation amended/abandoned its communist secular ideology to better accommodate and accept Islamic beliefs and also abandoned its previous strategy of attacking Kurdish civilians, focusing instead on governmental and tourist targets. The organisation's all-time high of activity was during the Gulf War when Turkey opened its Iraqi border allowing Iraqis and PKK members to flee the Saddam regime. The president of the era, Turgut Özal, is heavily criticised for his decision on this matter.
  • Two major operations were launched one at the end of 1992 and other in March 1995, were launched against the PKK, Some 1,912 PKK members died and 132 were captured alive during the ground actions of Operation Steel which was carried out by the Turkish Army in northern Iraq in May 1997. Some 965 PKK members died during the air raids. A total of 113 Turkish officers and soldiers were killed and 325 injured during this operation.
  • Beginning in 1993, PKK members launched attacks from Iranian soil.
  • Later in 1993, the PKK launched coordinated attacks involving firebombs and vandalism on Turkish diplomatic and commercial offices in six West European countries.
  • In 1994, the political party affiliated with the PKK, Democracy Party, was banned to operate as a political institution. Some members, most prominently Leyla Zana, were arrested and charged with treason and membership in the PKK but were released in 2004.
  • Early 1990s president Hafez Assad of Syria was to cooperate on the management of water flow from the GAP project. Despite a number of protocols signed for that purpose, reports indicate Assad chose to force Turkey into releasing more water by increasing his support for PKK. During this period the PKK started attacking the infrastructure and personnel of the GAP Project.
  • At the end of 1996, in PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan signed a protocol of cooperation with the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C).
  • Over the year 1997, the Turkish Army put out of action 3,302 PKK operatives, among which 484 were captured, 415 surrendered, and 303 arrested, in various operations including those in northern Iraq. During the same period, security forces lost 192 soldiers and 95 others were wounded; in addition, 49 village guards were killed and 14 wounded.
  • On November 14, 1999, Abdullah Öcalan arrived in Rome, Italy accompanied by Ramon Mantovani, a member of the Communist Refoundation Party, from Moscow. Its arrival was a suprise to the Italian government, which had not been notified, and an international crisis began, especially with Turkey. After many rallies in Rome by Kurds, and a wave of sympathy for a people that many did not know of, the government of Massimo D'Alema was not yet able to take a clear stance on Öcalan's status as a refugee or as an international terrorist. Finally, Öcalan was allowed to leave the country, without revealing his destination, thereby releasing the Italian government from an embarassing situation.
File:Ocalan right after capture.jpg
Abdullah Öcalan right after capture.

The PKK now

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 is an inclrease on PKK activity. There is an increase in PKK attacks on Turkish military, police, and governmental targets near the Iraqi border in the last weeks. While PKK claims it is only acting in self-defense, Ankara is increasing her pressure to the US for a millitary 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. A great increase in PKK attacks on Turkish military, 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. Meanwhile, the leader of the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, has recently released the Declaration of Democratic Confederalism in Kurdistan [2].

Since his arrest in 1999, Öcalan had been campaigning for a peaceful solution to the Kurdish conflict inside the borders of Turkey, and in this document he asks for a border free confederation between the Kurdish pieces of Turkey (called North Kurdistan by Kurdish nationalists), Syria (West Kurdistan), Iraq (South Kurdistan) and Iran (East Kurdistan). In this zone, three bodies of law would be implemented: EU law, Turkish/Syrian/Iraqi/Iranian law and Kurdish law

File:Abdullah öcalan.jpg
Abdullah Öcalan

Abdullah Öcalan

Main article: Abdullah Öcalan

Abdullah Öcalan (b. 1948) is the leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party and was captured in Kenya in early 1999 in a joint operation between the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Turkish National Intelligence Agency (MIT), and Israeli Institute for Intelligence and Special Tasks agency (Mossad).

See also

Sources

  • ^ 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
  • ^ Section based on material published by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs unless specified otherwise.

External links

Websites supporting the PKK

Kurdish issue in Turkey

PKK - Kurdish issue links

Websites with criticism of the PKK

governmental:

Non-governmental:

Other websites that cover the Turkey/PKK conflict

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