‘Peace process’ with Turkey in deadlock phase: PKK

ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

Murat Karayılan, the former leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, was appointed as the new leader of the PKK’s armed wing, the People’s Defense Forces. DHA photo

Murat Karayılan, the former leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and newly appointed leader of the PKK’s armed wing, the People’s Defense Forces (HPG), said the peace process between Turkey and the PKK may see a deadlock next week “if Turkey fails to step forward.”

“The prisons are full of Kurdish politicians. This is a fact putting the process in a tight spot. Everybody should know that the following week is very important. If the attitude of the Turkish state continues as it is now, the process will be blocked up. Its not blocked now, but its on the way to being blocked,” said Karayılan, speaking to the Fırat news agency, which is known to have close links to the PKK.

He cited the recent clashes in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır’s Lice district as one of reasons for the signs of deadlock. “We saw in Lice how they [Turkish soldiers] attacked people, there is big oppression on our people,” he said.

Clashes between security forces and another group left one person dead and nine others severely injured on June 28, as the authorities cracked down on local protesters opposing the construction of a new gendarmerie outpost.

Karayılan also criticized the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) policies on the ongoing Gezi Park protests, saying the AKP’s response to the demonstrations showed its intolerance.