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From: aforum at moose.uvm.edu (autonome forum)


subject: a history of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party)
posted by: autonome forum
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL RESISTANCE MOVEMENT IN NORTH-WEST
KURDISTAN

     Starting in the early 1970's, some young people of humble
origins, who had been able to travel to Istanbul and Ankara to
further their education, began to do research into the realities
of Kurdistan and on the Kurdish nation's place in the world.
Although political organiziations already existed, they were not
intent on calling for self-determination, but rather on providing
aid for the "Eastern population", as the Kurds were called by the
Turkish government. These organizations demanded roads, water
supplies, and schools for Kurdistan.
     In 1975, these young intellectuals returned to Kurdistan
after a period of research. Shortly thereafter, they began
spreading new ideas among the population in the form of their
booklet called "The Manifesto". Initially popular among youths,
their ideas were soon accepted by the general population. This
ideology represented one of the greatest dangers to the Turkish
State since the 1930's. As a result, Haki Karer, one of the
group's founders, was killed by Turkish agents in Antep.
     Nonethless, on November 27/78, the Partiya Karkeren
Kurdistan (PKK), the Worker's Party of Kurdistan, was founded.
The PKK's program calls for a united, independent, and democratic
Kurdistan. Its aims and means can be summarized as follows: "The
revolution is two-fold, that is, national and democratic. The
national revolution will be responsible for political, military,
and cultural power. The second phase will be that of democracy.
The democratic revolution will strive to eliminate social
contradictions stemming from the Middle Ages." These
contradictions are "feudal exploitation, tribalism, religious
sectarianism, and the slave-like dependency of women." The
revolution's task is "to put an end to all forms of domination by
Turkish colonialization, to set up an independent economy, and to
strive for the unity of Kurdistan."
     Thanks to its dynamics, the PKK rapidly managed to win a
large following among workers, peasants, students, artisans, and
the different social classes and strata. It organized factory
strikes, led student demonstrations, and conducted the struggles
of peasants against land-owners. In town and country alike, it
has been active and inflicted many major blows to the reactionary
network of land-owners.
     In an attempt to stop these developments, the Turkish State
resorted to arrests, massacres, infiltration, and torture. But
nothing could stop the development of the movement. At a meeting
of the Turkish General Staff, it was admitted that "Despite all
the precautions we have taken, we cannot stop the separatist
activities."
     On September 12/80, the Turkish armed forces took power in a
coup d'Etat. One of the coup's main aims was to organize the
suppression of the Kurdish national liberation movement, and a
campaign of terror was started in Kurdistan and Turkey. Thousands
of persons were tortured and sentenced to death, including 122
PKK militants.
     Under intense pressure from the military regime, the PKK
withdrew many of its members from Turkey and began a period of
intensive political and military preparation. The first PKK
congress was held between July 15-26/81. At the second congress
from August 20-25/82, the decision was made to return to
Kurdistan and resume the struggle.
     On August 15/84, the PKK announced the formation of the
Kurdistan Liberation Units (HRK). This event was marked by a
series of actions, including the occupation of two small towns,
Eruh and Shemdinli.
     The aims of the HRK were as follows: "The aim of the HRK is
to conduct an armed struggle to put an end to fascist colonialism
and to achieve the national and social liberation of the Kurdish
people...It will use revolutionary violence to counteract
fascist-colonialist terror and will develop the revolutionary
strength of our people...The HRK was born in an environment of
fascist-colonialist terror, and whilst struggling against it,
they aim at developing the national-democratic awareness of the
people and creating national unity...The struggle of the HRK has
points in common with the struggle of the Turkish people's
resistance to fascist cruelty."
     As a consequence of the struggle led by the PKK, the
National Liberation Front of Kurdistan (ERNK) was founded on
March 21/85. Although based in the Turkish-occupied region of
North-West Kurdistan, the ultimate goal of the PKK/ERNK is a an
independent Kurdistan, with all the various Kurdish regions
(which are now under occupation by Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria)
united together. In this way, the PKK differs from other groups
who claim to represent the "will" of the Kurdish people, groups
who seek to make deals with the leaders of the oppressor nations,
including Saddam Hussein, to gain mere autonomy, and not full
independence, for Kurdish regions.
     During the third PKK congress from October 25-30/86, the
Kurdistan People's Army for National Liberation (ARGK) was formed
to expand on the initial gains made by the HRK. Ever since 1987,
the ARGK has carried out successful military operations against
the Turkish army. Thanks to these successes, the ARGK has taken
root and consolidated its positions within certain zones in
North-West Kurdistan.
     Also in place now are several mass-movements created by the
PKK after 1987: the Workers' Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (YKWK),
the Womens' Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (YJWK), and the
Revolutionary Patriotic Youths' Union of Kurdistan (YXK).

Adapted from Voice of Kurdistan #1

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