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Europe PKK ‘peace group’ will arrive on 28
October in Istanbul, DTP to greet PKK group despite
warnings
23.10.2009
By ekurd.net staff
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15 people are said to be coming from Düsseldorf
to Istanbul on October 28.
DTP says PKK members will be greeted with convoy and
rally despite the recent warnings that surrenders
were turn into "PKK show-offs".
October
23, 2009
BRUSSELS, — The last PKK peace group from
Europe will arrive on 28 October in Istanbul. The
group will consist of 15 members. Members of this
latest ‘Kurdish peace mission’ plan to deliver a
statement outlining their aims at a press conference
to be held on 27 October in the European capital of
Brussels.
DTP announced that the Turkey's Kurdistan Workers
Party PKK members, who will come from Europe for
surrender,www.ekurd.netwill
be greeted with convoy and rally despite the recent
warnings that surrenders were turn into "PKK
show-offs".
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Pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) Istanbul
co-chair Mustafa Avci |
The announcement, made
by DTP Istanbul Co-Chair Mustafa Avci comes after
the government vowed not to allow what it called "PKK
show-offs" during the surrenders.
Turkish Interior Minister
Besir Atalay warned
pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) against
"irresponsibly turning the surrender of 34 PKK
members into a political showdown with rallies",
noting that they would not allow it to happen again.
34 members of PKK from Makhmour refugee camp and
Qandil Mountain --8 of which were dressed in PKK
uniforms--
surrendered to
Turkish authorities at Habur border gate. Huge
rallies were held resembling victory celebrations
with the participation of thousands of people and
DTP officials to welcome the group of PKK members, a
scene which created strong reaction in the public,
opposition, media and the judiciary.
"Feast for PKK members"
Avci said they would organize "a feast" in
Kazlicesme after greeting PKK members.
The party official said that the party would ask for
a permission for this event from the governor.
"A reasonable number of people will be in Istanbul
Ataturk Airport to greet PKK members on October 28,"
he said.
Avci said they would try not to block traffic but a
convoy is expected.
Avcı argued, "DTP became a scapegoat after the last
meeting. PKK members will come to the airport with
roses in their hands. The Kurds want peace."
Avci added that they excpect concrete steps from the
government.
New group from Düsseldorf
A new group of PKK members are preparing to come to
Turkey from Europe . 15 people are said to be coming
from Düsseldorf to Istanbul on October 28.
The group will hold a press conference in Brussels
on 27 October to explain the purpose of their return
to Turkey.
After the press conference, the group will go to
Dusseldorf and depart for Istanbul from there.
Turkey's army says PKK
rallies after surrender "unacceptable"
Turkish military said the celebrations held during
and after the recent surrender of 34 PKK members
were "unacceptable".
At a press briefing held Friday, Turkish General
Staff spokesman Gen. Ferit Guler "called on everyone
to avoid acts that would create polarization and
separation and drive the country into an atmosphere
of conflict."
34 members of PKK from Makhmour refugee camp and
Qandil Mountain --8 of which were dressed in PKK
uniforms-- surrendered to Turkish authorities at
Habur border gate on October 19. Huge rallies were
held resembling victory celebrations with the
participation of thousands of people and Democratic
Society Officials to welcome the group of PsKK
members, a scene which created strong reaction in
the public, opposition, media and the judiciary.
"Democracies are not defenseless regimes. These
developments can not harm our will and determination
to fight terrorism,"said Guler.
Probe
Meanwhile, court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor
Abdurrahman Yalcınkaya has opened an investigation
into DTP that welcomed the PKK group from Iraqi
Kurdistan region.
Yalcınkaya is preparing an additional indictment on
DTP that already faces a case over alleged links to
PKK.
The Supreme Court Chief Prosecutor's Office will
examine footage and pictures of rallies and
demonstrations.
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan also issues warning On
Thursday, urging related parties not to exploit the
"homecoming process" for political ends. "We think
this is the last chance. We would never want it,www.ekurd.netbut
we might have to start over."
The surrender comes as a result of Turkish
government's efforts to launch a "democratic
initiative" which is expected to be unveiled soon.
PKK
Since 1984 the PKK took up arms
for self-rule in the mainly Kurdish southeast of
Turkey (Turkey-Kurdistan) which has claimed around
45,000 lives of Turkish soldiers and Kurdish PKK
guerrillas. A large Turkey's Kurdish
community openly sympathise with the Kurdish PKK
rebels. Turkey refuses to recognize its Kurdish
population as a distinct minority.
The PKK demanded Turkey's recognition of the Kurds'
identity in its constitution and of their language
as a native language along with Turkish in the
country's Kurdish areas,www.ekurd.net
the party also demanded an end to ethnic
discrimination in Turkish laws and constitution
against Kurds, ranting them full political freedoms.
The PKK is considered a 'terrorist' organization by
Ankara, U.S., the PKK continues to be on the
blacklist list in EU despite court ruling which
overturned a decision
to place the Kurdish rebel group PKK and its
political wing on the European Union's terror list.
Turkey refuses to recognize its Kurdish population
as a distinct minority. It has allowed some cultural
rights such as limited broadcasts in the Kurdish
language and private Kurdish language courses with
the prodding of the European Union, but Kurdish politicians
say the measures fall short of their expectations.
Ankara is currently working on a package of fresh
reforms to expand the freedoms of the Kurdish
community, but has rejected calls to halt military
action against the PKK.
Kurds are not recognized as an official minority in
Turkey and are denied rights granted to other
minority groups. Under EU pressure, Turkey recently
granted Kurds limited rights for broadcasts and
education in the Kurdish language, but critics say
the measures do not go far enough.
The use of the term "Kurdistan" is vigorously
rejected due to its alleged political implications
by the Republic of Turkey, which does not recognize
the existence of a "Turkish Kurdistan" Southeast
Turkey.
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