Topic: voa Subject: PROFILE: P-K-K By AL PESSIN/ANKARA From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" DATE=3/27/95 TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-20012 TITLE=PROFILE: P-K-K BYLINE=AL PESSIN DATELINE=ANKARA CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE TURKISH KURDISH GUERRILLAS OF THE KURDISH WORKERS' PARTY ARE THE TARGETS OF TURKEY'S INCURSION INTO NORTHERN IRAQ. FROM ANKARA, V-O-A'S AL PESSIN HAS THIS PROFILE OF THE GROUP, WHICH IS KNOWN BY ITS TURKISH INITIALS AS THE P-K-K. TEXT: THE POLITICAL GOALS AND LEVEL OF PUBLIC SUPPORT OF THE KURDISH WORKERS' PARTY ARE DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT, BUT ITS TACTICS ARE CLEAR. THE GROUP IS ONE OF THE MOST BRUTAL GUERRILLA ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WORLD, ASSASSINATING POLICE OFFICERS, SOLDIERS AND KURDISH CIVILIANS WHO COOPERATE WITH THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT. THERE ARE ALSO BOMBINGS AND OTHER ATTACKS. THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT SAYS THE P-K-K KILLED MORE THAN 25-HUNDRED PEOPLE LAST YEAR -- HALF OF THEM SECURITY OFFICERS, THE REST CIVILIANS. IN ALL, SOME 15-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CONFLICT, SINCE THE P-K-K BEGAN ITS OPERATIONS 11 YEARS AGO. THE GROUP IS BASED IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY AND NORTHERN IRAQ -- SOMETIMES ENTERING OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION AS WELL. ITS FIGHTERS GENERALLY OPERATE IN SMALL GROUPS, EMERGING FROM MOUNTAIN HIDEOUTS TO STRIKE AND THEN FLEEING. THE GROUP IS BELIEVED TO HAVE SOME SINCERE SUPPORTERS AMONG TURKEY'S 12-MILLION KURDS, MANY OF WHOM FEEL ALIENATED BY TURKEY'S RESTRICTIONS ON THE KURDISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE, AND ON PUBLIC DEBATE ABOUT KURDISH ISSUES. SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY IS A GENERALLY POOR AND FEUDAL AREA, PROVIDING A SUPPLY OF DISGRUNTLED YOUNG MEN ATTRACTED BY THE PARTY'S MARXIST, NATIONALIST PHILOSOPHY AND PROMISES OF A BETTER FUTURE. BUT REPORTS SAY THE GUERRILLAS ALSO USE INTIMIDATION AND MURDER TO FORCE KURDISH VILLAGERS TO HELP THEM, AND EVEN TO FORCE WEALTHY KURDS IN EUROPE AND ELSEWHERE TO GIVE THEM MONEY. // OPT // SOME TURKISH KURDS CONSIDER THE P-K-K TO BE THE EMBODIMENT OF THEIR DESIRES FOR MORE CULTURAL AND POLITICAL FREEDOM. BUT OTHERS WOULD PREFER A MORE MODERATE ALTERNATIVE -- SOMETHING TURKISH LAW PREVENTS FROM DEVELOPING. // END OPT // THE SPECIFIC GOALS OF THE P-K-K ARE DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT. AT VARIOUS TIMES, THE GROUP'S LEADER, ABDULLAH OCALAN, HAS ADVOCATED EITHER AUTONOMY FOR TURKEY'S KURDS OR INDEPENDENCE FOR WHAT HE CALLS "GREATER KURDISTAN," INCLUDING TERRITORY FROM IRAN, IRAQ AND SYRIA. THOSE COUNTRIES HAVE THEIR OWN KURDISH MINORITIES WHO DO NOT NECESSARILY GET ALONG WITH THE P-K-K. THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT LABELS THE P-K-K FIGHTERS "TERRORISTS," AND ON THAT BASIS ASKS FOR INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING OF ITS NEED TO GO INTO NORTHERN IRAQ AND ROOT THEM OUT. BUT SOME VOICES IN THE WEST ARE NOT SO SURE, EXPRESSING CONCERN THAT IN ITS EFFORT TO END THE P-K-K'S ATTACKS TURKEY MIGHT FURTHER ANTAGONIZE ITS KURDISH MINORITY AND FUEL SUPPORT FOR MORE SUCH ATTACKS. (SIGNED) NEB/AWP/MH/CF 27-Mar-95 12:11 PM EST (1711 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ------------------------------------------------------------------------------