From ww at blythe.org Tue Nov 16 00:51:28 1993 From: ww at blythe.org (ww at blythe.org) Date: 16 Nov 1993 00:51:28 Subject: Kurds: PKK Under Increased Attack Message-ID: Subject: Kurds: PKK Under Increased Attack From: ww at blythe.org (Workers World Service) Reply-To: ww at blythe.org (Workers World Service) Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit KURDISH STRUGGLE: 'PKK STRENGTH CONTINUES TO GROW' By John Catalinotto The Turkish government has opened up another, even more brutal campaign of repression against the movement of the Kurdish people to win their freedom. This campaign includes stepped-up military attacks on civilian areas in an attempt to break the population away from the liberation struggle. The campaign comes as mass support for the Workers Party of Kurdistan (PKK) continues to grow. The PKK has gained supporters not only in Kurdish areas but among Kurdish workers in the major industrial centers of Turkey. Even in Germany, where many Kurds work, the PKK can call out a demonstration of 50,000 on short notice. On Oct. 27 Turkey's President Suleiman Demirel rejected any discussions or bargaining with the PKK. "There is only one possibility," said Demirel--"to eradicate" them. That same day, Workers World spoke with Eliahan of the Kurdistan Committee in Cologne, Germany. He described the Turkish army's actions that week in the Kurdish town of Lice. "They surrounded Lice and let no one in or out," said Eliahan. "Then they bombarded the town with rockets from helicopters and bombs from war planes. Those wounded or injured by the bombardments cannot be brought from Lice to hospitals in nearby towns. "The troops brought all the young people of Lice together in the main square. They kidnapped them," he said, "and we don't know what has happened to them. "Then the army burned down the homes. "The Turkish army began this policy of bombarding inhabited areas in 1992. Since that time they've driven the population from some 600 villages, burning these villages down and destroying them. "This attempt to use psychological war to sow panic in the Kurdish population and break them away from the PKK will fail," said Eliahan. "The PKK's strength continues to grow." PKK SET TO DOUBLE ARMED FIGHTERS The PKK's armed strength is now 15,000. One thousand of these fighters are women, said Eliahan. The Kurdistan Committee's spokesperson said the PKK has established civilian organizations in towns and cities throughout the Kurdish areas. "Not only young people, but 80-year-olds sit together and discuss politics, from the local administration to how communism will impact on Kurdistan." Eliahan said this civilian organization guaranteed the participation of the Kurdish population in administering their area. Another event reflected the PKK's growing strength, said Eliahan. When Azerbaijan was to arrange an oil delivery on a pipeline over Turkish territory, the media said that country would have to make an agreement with the PKK to guarantee delivery. The Kurdish struggle also has growing support within the Turkish areas, where millions of Kurdish origin live and work. "The PKK works in cooperation with a coalition of revolutionary organizations in Turkey," said Eliahan. As its goal, the PKK calls for a federation of Middle Eastern peoples. This would include not only Kurds and Turks but also Armenians, Arabs and Iranians. Last spring the PKK offered a cease-fire in an attempt to get the Turkish regime to negotiate over "the Kurdish question." The first step, said Eliahan, was to recognize that a Kurdish question exists. But the regime refuses to acknowledge the Kurdish question. The PKK asks for international solidarity against the Turkish regime and its imperialist allies. But it is confident that this new attempt to intensify the Turkish army's war against the Kurds will shatter. -30- (Copyright Workers World Service: Permission to reprint granted if source is cited. For more information contact Workers World, 55 West 17 St., New York, NY 10011; via e-mail: ww at blythe.org.) + NEW NUMBERS! NY Transfer News Collective SAME ADDRESS + + Guests: Members Only: Internet: + + 212-675-9690 212-675-9663 nyt at blythe.org + From ecoasys at gn.apc.org Sat Nov 27 04:16:04 1993 From: ecoasys at gn.apc.org (ecoasys at gn.apc.org) Date: 27 Nov 1993 04:16:04 +0000 (GMT) Subject: MAPS/REPORTS ON VILLAGES/FORESTS Message-ID: Can anyone point me to a source of maps and reports detailing the destroyed villages and state of the forests of Kurdistan? These are for the planning of reconstruction/reforestation initiatives. Patrik Schumann ecoasys at gn.aoc.org From pnmideast at igc.apc.org Tue Nov 30 06:37:31 1993 From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team) Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1993 22:37:31 -0800 (PST) Subject: MAPS/REPORTS ON VILLAGES/FORESTS References: Message-ID: Perhaps you could write to the folks on the BBS in Istanbul--there's a topic in mideast.general "New BBS in Istanbul" with their addresses. There's also the Badlisy Center for Kurdish Studies in Wash. DC -- I thought they were online, are they? And the Kurdish Library in England. These are too general, but maybe people in the env.centasia conference have some ideas. If you don't get env.centasia or mideast.general on GreenNet, I'll be happy to send over the refs. Jennifer Smith