"Peace in exchange for more rights, the process under UN supervision"
La Stampa
Political rights and civil rights and free expression of Kurdish identity and culture in exchange for a permanent ceasefire. It is the proposal made by the leader of the Kurdish separatist PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), Murat Karayilan, Turkey to end a conflict that has gone on for 26 years and has already claimed tens of thousands of deaths.
In an interview with the BBC from a hideout in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistian, Karayilan said he was ready to order his men to lay down their arms if Turkey accepts the cease-fire and the conditions of the movement, in a process that should take place under UN supervision. Among the conditions set by the leader of the PKK, there is the end of the arrests of civilians and Kurdish politicians, but also the recognition of political, civil and cultural rights to minorities, according to unofficial estimates, represents one fifth of the Turkish population .
"If the Kurdish issue will be resolved in a democratic manner through dialogue, lay down their weapons, "he assured Karayilan, only to return to the threats:" But if the turkish government refuses to accept this option, we will be forced to proclaim independence. " Cold, for the moment, the reaction of the turkish government. An official source requested by the BBC always has merely stated that "it is not used (the executive) to comment on statements by terrorists." The PKK is blacklisted by the U.S. and EU list of terrorist organizations since the mid-eighties and is engaged in an armed clash with the Turkish authorities that has already claimed more than 40 thousand victims.
Only yesterday
six Turkish soldiers were killed and 17 others were injured in a firefight with a group of separatist PKK in the southeastern province of Hakkari. The fighters had attacked a military unit on the night in the village of Kavusak, District of Cukurca. The military, backed by helicopter gunships arrived on the spot. For years the turkish army is engaged along the border with Iraq against the PKK militants, who have their bases in the mountainous region between Turkey and Iraq. The operations are intensified in the summer months this year and have already made hundreds of victims among the Kurdish fighters and dozens of soldiers. The defense minister, Vecdi Gonul, announced last week that the turkish army will soon constitute a special unit to combat the PKK. The task of the new unit will be to patrol the south-eastern border with Iraq and its soldiers will be equipped with sophisticated weapons.
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