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Turkish army prepares for a cross-border
military operation inside Iraqi Kurdistan: PKK
1.9.2010 |
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September 1, 2010
QANDIL Mountains,
Turkey-Iraqi Kurdistan border, — Turkey's Kurdish
rebel group from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)
says Turkish army is preparing for a cross-border
military operation against Kurdish guerillas in
Iraqi Kurdistan region [South Kurdistan].
PKK's umbrella organization Kurdish Democratic
Confederalism (KCK) issued a statement to mark 1
September International Day of Peace.
KCK said they are obeying ceasefire and Kurdish PKK
guerillas are showing great attention to avoid any
conflict with Turkish army.
Turkish side is continuing military operations
despite the ceasefire and there are preparations for
a large scale cross-border military operation to
Iraqi Kurdistan region [South Kurdistan], KCK
claimed.
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PKK says Turkish army is preparing for a
cross-border military operation against Kurdish
guerillas in Iraqi Kurdistan region [South
Kurdistan] |
KCK also noted that
Turkish side is trying to sabotage the ceasefire
process by arresting Kurdish politicians and
shutting
down two
Kurdish language newspapers.
KCK harshly criticized the debate around execution
of the death sentence of Kurdish leader Abdullah
Ocalan and labelled it "an insult to Kurds."
The statement said AKP's "we are bringing democracy"
argument is not sincere as there are no attempts to
lower the 10 percent election threshold which is a
barrier against political representation of the
Kurds.
KCK called AKP government and Turkish state to seize
the opportunity of peace created by the ceasefire
declaration.
Since 1984 the PKK [Partiya Karkeren Kurdistan] 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.
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, the party also demanded an
end to ethnic discrimination in Turkish laws and
constitution against Kurds, ranting them full
political freedoms.
A large Turkey's Kurdish community estimate to over
20
million openly sympathise with the Kurdish PKK
rebels.
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.
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.
Turkish special forces
operate in the border region with Iraqi Kurdistan
region
Turkish state has speeded up constructing new
military outposts on the Iraqi border, although
Kurdistan Democratic Confederation (KCK) declared a
unilateral ceasefire on 13 August.
It is also reported that while the Turkish army
deploys special forces on the border area, in Gedik
Tepe region ‘private army’ composed of professional
soldiers started operating. Gedik Tepe is a
mountainous region on the border where the Turkish
army has lost a significant number of soldiers as a
result of a guerrilla ambushes took place before the
ceasefire.
Despite the ceasefire of KCK Turkish army is
deploying more soldiers on the border where it is
building new outposts rather than responding the
ceasefire. After the guerrilla ambush of 19 June on
Gediktepe region of Semdinli district of Hakkari
‘special army’ composed of private soldiers were
deployed in Gediktepe. The outpost is also reported
to be equipped with tanks.
It is also reported that specials forces from Bolu
and Kayseri Mountain Brigades who are notorious for
mass human rights violations against the Kurdish
villagers of 1990’s are re-placed in the area.
Speaking to ANF a guerrilla commander said “The
Turkish army has been using special forces and
private soldiers against us for years. However,www.ekurd.netthe
issue became popular in the press after the
guerrilla ambush on Gediktepe in which Turkish army
suffered serious losses. The army is trying to cover
up its defeat with such attempts.”
Kurdish villagers are worried
The military activities and new outpost
constructions of the Turkish army in the region are
also worrying the local population. The Kurdish
villagers stated that because of the military check
points between villages and the long searches the
life became unbearable for them. They also complain
about the mistreatment they are subjected to at the
check points as well as on their own property.
Copyright, respective
author or news agency, firatnews com | Agencies
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