PKK enlarges target

CEVDET AŞKIN

Relatives of the 34 people who were hit and killed by F-16 planes in the southeastern province of Şırnak’s Uludere district on the night of Dec. 28, 2011, have handed in a three-page petition consisting of eight items to the Parliament’s Human Rights Commission delegation visiting the region to inspect the incident. 

According to Doğan News Agency’s story dated Feb. 5, the petition said: “It is a first that at the night the incident happened, all the roads leading to Turkey were totally closed and that illuminating shells were used during the incident. There is only one route and one passage we are using in border trade with Iraq. However, at exactly point zero, there are four roads leading to Turkey. All of these roads are used for passage. 

However during the night of the incident, all of these roads were blocked by soldiers, our children’s passage to Turkey was not allowed. We would like to acknowledge that until the perpetrators of this grave incident that has caused the deaths of 34 people are found and punished, we will not demand any compensation from the state and that we will reject any material and moral indemnities offered or to be offered. It should be noted that while we are in such a deep sorrow, we will not touch the money that is the blood money of our children.” 

According to Fırat News Agency’s story dated Feb. 5, Hanım Encü, who lost her brother Serhat Encü in the bombardment, said, “We don’t want blood money. They can keep their money. We want justice. If justice is not served, we will leave and go to Iraq.”

Head of the delegation Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy Ayhan Sefer Üstün, after talking to the relatives and families of the deceased for three hours, gave a statement, saying, “We are trying to shed light on this incident. Our Parliament is making efforts for it; the representatives of our nation are here. ‘Have trust in us,’ we are saying.” Üstün also pledged that an objective report would be issued. 

The PKK

One of the commanders of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) Cemil Bayık said they would be targeting administrative and political authorities in the coming period as well as military forces and the police. 

According to Fırat News Agency’s story dated Feb. 5, Bayık said, “This is no longer limited to the mountain, city or metropolis; the war will be spread to every area.” He said there would not be any actions against civilians. Bayık claimed they would “paralyze” the political, administrative and cultural systems in Turkey. 

Bayık also said they were not expecting a land operation from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in northern Iraq during the spring months: “There will not be such an approach as to stay in the defense, waiting for a cross border operation.” 

The petition of those who lost their loved ones in Uludere clearly demonstrates that people do not want money, they want justice. The strength and justness of this demand has also increased the responsibility of the government on bringing this incident to light. More clearly, Uludere becomes the government’s justice test. 

Bayık’s words signal that the tactic plan for the year 2012, the year that the PKK had declared earlier that would pass with clashes, has become clearer. Bayık is also informing what the organization would be doing in the armed dimension apart from the widespread mass movements that are planned to start prior to Feb. 15, which is the anniversary of Öcalan’s being handed over to Turkey, be improved on March 8 Women’s Day and reach its climax at the Nevruz Festivity. 

Bayık, differing from what they used to in their past, is giving signals that the organization will conduct military actions in cities – including the metropolises – and will target a wide spectrum including AKP politicians, mayors, party administrators as well as civil administrators such as governors and district governors.

Considering the analysis in another northern Iraq journal titled “Why is the PKK toughening?” dated Jan. 28, the perception is that Bayık’s words cannot be assessed merely as simple propaganda or an effort to boost morale to supporters. 

It is apparent that the PKK that sees itself in a life-or-death struggle will attack, with all its might, in the coming period, everything that exists in the name of the state to paralyze the system.