Tuesday, 23 March 2010
The Defence Regions of Medya (Qandil Mountains)- Murad Karayilan the Tead of Kurdistan Con-federal System (KCK) told Reuters that they could end a truce and renew fighting against Turkish forces because a ban of Turkey's main Kurdish party has made a political settlement more remote”.
The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) expects the Turkish army to begin operations in the Spring thaw in the mountains of Southern Kurdistan (Iraq).
"If the Turkish state continues its military operations and the pressure against political actors, no lasting peace can be had," Karayilan told Reuters.
FIGHTING OR DIALOGUE?
“The PKK declared unilateral ceasefire in March 2009 and protracted it four times within the course of last year. Yet the military operations have continued from the Turkish side. We have lost 95 of our comrades within the course of last year as the result of these operations. Karayilan said”. “We even sent two peace groups to Turkey to show our eagerness for peace, he continued”.
"The base for a political solution is being destroyed, Kurds are being forced into war," said Karayilan flanked by young guards in baggy green fatigues, armed with AK-47 assault rifles.
"If steps aren't taken, this will revert to war. There's a month or a month-and-a-half left," he said, when asked if there was a date for any resumption of hostilities.
The PKK will not disarm without a negotiated settlement, but Turkey has ruled out talks with the rebels. The rebels do not insist on direct talks but the arrest of dozens of Kurdish politicians makes finding a mediator difficult, Karayilan said.
The PKK has dropped its campaign for an independent Kurdish homeland in southeast Turkey and says it is fighting for greater cultural rights, including local self-governance for Kurds, who make up about 20 percent of Turkey's population of 72 million.
"We don't say violence no longer has a place," Karayilan said. "But we believe that violence will only go so far, that in the end societal problems need to be solved through dialogue."
Karayilan said the PKK has 7,000 fighters. He said that the regular shelling of PKK sites by Turkey has little impact on fighters shielded in the Qandil Mountains.
