TUrk Haters: Read and Learn: Press Release by the United States Information Service on the PKK and Abdullah Ocalan



http://www.ataa.org/ataa/ref/pkk/mfa/pressrelease-usis.html



PKK & TERRORISM

Press Release by the United States Information Service on the PKK and
Abdullah Ocalan

21 November 1998

1. Following is additional public information on the terrorist
activities of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan that action and info posts
may share with host governments and local press to help make our case
that Ocalan is a terrorist who should face justice on the charges
brought against him. Posts should know we are working to develop
further information on Ocalan for your use.

Begin Points:

Kurdistan workers' party (PKK) leader Ocalan has maintained Iron-
Fisted control over the PKK since he founded the organization in 1974,
and he has approved and directed terrorist attacks against civilian
targets and assassinations of PKK defectors.

In addition to insurgent operation against Turkish military and
security forces, the PKK under Ocalan's control has carried out scores
of terrorist attacks against non-combatant targets, including the
assassinations of Turkish teachers, village guardsmen and their
families, and Turkish.

Government officials, PKK terrorist have conducted several massacres
of Kurdish civilians --including women and children-- in southeastern
Turkish villages deemed hostile to Ocalan's organization.

To weaken the Turkish economy, the PKK conducted terrorist attacks
against industrial infrastructure in southeastern Turkey and against
tourist sites in major cities and along the Mediterranean coast.

In an effort to discourage tourism, the PKK publicly ordered terrorist
bombings against major tourist sites in Istanbul and in Turkish resort
areas. As part of this effort, the group also has bombed passenger
trains, ferryboats, and buses in southeastern Turkey. Several of these
attacks have resulted in civilian casualties.

The PKK has used suicide bombing against Turkish targets that resulted
in the deaths of 12 Security personnel and two civilian bystanders,
and injuries to at least 50 other people.

The PKK has conducted violent demonstrations and arson attacks against
Turkish diplomatic, commercial, and cultural facilities in Germany and
other European countries.

In 1993 and 1994 the PKK staged a series of kidnappings of foreigners
--for a total of 21 victims-- in Eastern Turkey to frighten away
tourists and to embarrass the Turkish government.

In 1992 the PKK conducted at least six attacks against western oil
facilities in southeastern Turkey, forcing two foreign companies to
suspend operation there.

During the past decade, the PKK has conducted assassinations,
kidnappings, and acts of arson in western Europe against former PKK
members and Kurdish emigres opposed to the group. Assassinations of
PKK defectors occurred in Sweden in 1984 and 1985, in Denmark in 1985,
in the Netherlands in 1987 and 1989, and in Germany in 1986, 1987, and
1988.

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