|
Rebels call for Kurds to refuse to serve in Turkish
army
11.6.2006
|
|
|
|
DIYARBAKIR,
Kurdistan-Turkey, June 10, 2006 (AFP) , -- Turkey's
main Kurdish separatist rebel group called Saturday
on Kurds to refuse to serve out their mandatory
stint in the army or at least refuse to take part in
operations in the country's Kurdish southeast.
"Each young Kurdish patriot should refuse to do his
(military) service in these conditions, or at least
refuse to participate in operations" in the
southeast, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) said in
a statement.
The call for military desertion was made after
Turkish security officials announced that two
Kurdish rebels, including a PKK regional chief, had
been killed in clashes with the army in
Kurd-majority Diyarbakir province early Saturday.
Military service is mandatory for Turkish males once
they reach 18. The length of service runs from six
to 15 months, depending on education level, and
there is no alternate service or clause allowing for
conscientious objectors.
For many Kurds from destitute parts of the
southeast, army service has traditionally provided
an opportunity to learn how to read and write, as
well as job training for civilian life afterwards.
The armed rebel PKK has stepped up attacks against
Turkish security forces over the past few months.
The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by
Turkey, the United States and the European Union.
More than 37,000 people have died since the start of
the PKK separatist insurrection in 1984.
AFP
Southeastern Turkey:
North Kurdistan (
Kurdistan-Turkey) wikipedia
Top |
Kurd Net
does not take credit for and is not responsible for the content of news
information on this page
|
® 