Kurdish Question

The armed wing of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the People's Defence Forces (HPG), has said that the end of the unilateral ceasefire which the PKK had declared (1 June) was a critical phase.

HPG commander Nurettin Sofi announced that "if the attitude of the government and the army does not change, there will be an intensification."

Speaking to the Fırat News Agency (ANF), Sofi said, "We will be forced to continue a war of defence. Such a war would be different from the period before 1 June."

He threatened a spread of fighting throughout Turkey.

Answering questions, Sofi said that he interpreted the operations against the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), which has MPs in parliament, as an attack on "the Kurdish people's will."

Despite the announced ceasefire, land mines have been exploding in recent weeks, leading to the deaths of soldiers. Sofi declared these explosions in the southeastern provinces of Diyarbakır and Hakkari as "defence."

Sofi emphasised that the army was continuing to carry out operations, and that the army and the government shared the same attitude. He accused them of trying to "create a soft atmosphere" politically. Sofi believed that President Abdullah Gül's statements were not backed by practicalities.

Mixed messages

After the 29 March local elections, the DTP emerged stronger than before. The army and the government had reacted negatively to this. Later, 52 leading members of the DTP were arrested in an operation. On the other hand, an interview with PKK leader Murat Karayılan in the Milliyet newspaper, as well as comments by President Gül had given rise to hope for a peaceful process. (EÜ/AG)