Captured soldiers ‘hopeful for release’ by PKK

Prospective Gov Erenoğlu reportedly voices hope for an end to the process in the most appropriate way. DHA photo

Seven soldiers and one local administration candidate who were abducted by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants have said their health is good and voiced hope of being released soon, an interview conducted yesterday by the Fırat news agency, known for its close ties with the PKK, claimed.

Eight captive public servants were interviewed and pictures of five were released on the agency’s website.

Responding to a question on their possible release as part of the peace process, prospective Kulp district governor Kenan Erenoğlu said they are following the recent process via the radio with limited means and hoping that this process ends in the most appropriate way. Police officer Nadir Özgen, specialist Sgts. Kemal Ekinci and Zihni Koç, Sgt. Abdullah Söpçeler and privates Ramazan Başar, Reşat Çeçan and Hadi Gizli also voiced their hope of being released in the same interview, calling on their families to hold on in the process.

On March 2, Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) co-chair Gültan Kışanak said that the captives abducted by the PKK could be freed in the next 10 days. The jailed leader of the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, has called on the PKK to “treat their prisoners well” and suggested an eventual release. “I hope [the captives] will rejoin their families,” he said after the visit of a delegation of BDP deputies to İmralı island prison.