PKK's Captives Interviewed
Firat News Agency has released a series of interviews with 8 state workers - including Turkish army officers, a prospective governor and policeman - who are being held as captives by PKK since 2011.
Family members of captive workers expressed their concerns to Hürriyet newspaper.
On February 23, during the meeting with Kurdish deputies on peace talks, PKK leader Öcalan said "both PKK and Turkish state held captives". On the same day, Kurdish deputies reportedly received a letter from Öcalan which appealed the release of PKK's captives in Qandil Mountain in 10 days.
On Saturday, Peace and Democracy Party Co-Chairperson Gültan Kışanak confirmed Öcalan's statement in a press conference.
Firat News Agency also cited the caption dates of aforementioned Turkish state workers.
On 9 July 2011, noncommissioned military officer Abdullah Söpçeler and chief sergeant Zihni Koç have been seized in Lice, Diyarbakir province.
On 12 August 2011, Kenan Erenoğlu, a prospective governor, was captured on the highway between Muş and Kulp provinces.
On 10 September 2011, police officer Nadir Özgen has been taken captive by PKK in Çatak, Van province.
On 1 October 2011, PKK captured chief sergeant Kemal Ekince in downtown Şırnak.
On 6 August 2012, private soldiers Reşat Çeçan, Hadi Gizli and Ramazan Başaran were captured on the highway between Lice and Bingöl provinces.
PKK's captives spoke up concerning their health updates.
“We are wishing for good"
Kenan Erenoğlu, prospective governor: "We have been kept as captive since August 2011. We have been here [Qandil Mountain] ever since. We are doing well health-wise. We want our families to know this. I urge them them to their spirits high. We are hoping to see them soon. We can only hear news through the radio. We have limited resources."
"I miss my family"
Zihni Koç, senior sergeant: "I was taken by PKK in 2011. My health is OK. I want my family to know this. I miss my family. But I want them to take really good care of themselves. I can imagine that they are very tired of waiting."
“I wish the process turns out good"
Abdullah Söpçeler, noncommissioned army officer: "I have been kept here for the past 21 months. I am doing well. I don't have major health issues. I urge my family to be patient and take good care of themselves. Like my friends here, I wish the peace process to turn out good."
"I want my family to contribute to the process"
Kemal Ekici, senior sergeant: I was in Şırnak before my capture. I have been here almost 18 months now. My health is fortunately doing good. I am sending my salutations to my family. I want my family to contribute to the process. We can only know what's happening through the radio. We are wishing the ultimate good from God."
"My health is doing very well"
Nadir Özgen, police officer: "I was held in Van's Çatak district in September 2011. My health is doing very well. We hear the news through the radio. I hope everything will end up good."
"I hope to meet my family soon"
Ramazan Başar, private: "I'm from Mardin province. We were held on the highway between Amed [Diyarbakir] and Bingol provinces. My health is OK. I urge my family not to wonder about me. I hope to meet them soon. I hear about our release process on the radio. I hope it will turn out good."
“Let the bloodbath be over”
Reşat Çeçan, private: "I am from Suruçlu, Urfa province. We were captured on 6 August 2012. They [PKK] treat us well here. We have no major issues. We are doing well. They help us when we need help. Our only issue is the longing. We are sending our salutations to everyone. We are against the bloodbath. My brother is also fighting in the mountains. He is a [PKK] guerilla and I am a [Turkish Army] solider. If there is a clash, we won't even recognize each other. We might just shoot each other."
“Guerrillas have families too"
Hadi Gizli, private: “I am from Viranşehir, Urfa province. I am ethnically an Arab. We were taken captive in August 2012. We have been in the hands of the organization [PKK] ever since. Both physically and psychologically, we are doing well. We wish to be with our families as soon as possible. I hope this longing will be over soon. We want this process to turn out good. I hope the arms will stop speaking and we will meet our families. Guerrillas have families too. I hope this process will guarantee everyone to live in peace."
Other captives' families worried
Although the prospect of 8 state workers' release is soon, they form only the tip of an iceberg. There are estimably 140 individuals captured by PKK for reasons associated with trade with Turkey.
Halit İlhan and Nimet Özdemir, family members of PKK's other captives spoke to Hürriyet newspaper.
"There are estimably 140 individuals captured by PKK," Ahmet İlhan, captive Abdulvahap İlhan's brother, told Hürriyet.
"My son was taken to PKK's Mahmur Camp in Northern Iraq," Halit İlhan, a retired village guard, said. "They have captured my son because our family's profession." (AS/BM)