Zero tolerance to PKK terror, interior minister says

Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said Thursday that the Turkish state will show zero tolerance toward PKK terrorists in counterterrorism operations.

Speaking at a news conference in the Cizre district of the southeastern Şırnak province, Soylu said that citizens expect a secure and safe environment. "Our citizens' expectation from us is to establish peace and security. [So] our job is to provide peace and security," Soylu said. The minister asserted that the nation and the state are united against terrorism. Soylu also visited the center of the district and talked with shopkeepers as well as normal citizens.

Giving examples of how the government has been bettering the lives of the people in the region, Soylu pointed at the Cizre airport, local infrastructure, hospitals and other services.Since 2014, groups linked to the PKK have increasingly carried out terror attacks that have targeted civilians in Turkey.

From 2004 onward, the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) has been one of the most important sub-organizations of the PKK. It has carried out terror attacks in major cities and touristic areas, targeting civilians and security forces.



The People's Defense Forces (HPG) and Self Defense Units (OSB), other PKK off-shoots, have also collaborated with the TAK in some terror attacks, revealing an organic link. Hiding behind concepts of "democracy" and "peace," the PKK has used academic and political sympathizers and social media to further its cause. It is now thought that the PKK used Turkey's "reconciliation process" era as a way of building logistical support, recruiting new members and storing up weapons and ammunition in city centers. Despite changes in the "discourse" of the organization, it has not given up the dream of a separate state and this situation has not changed under the leadership of Cemil Bayik and Murat Karayılan. The PKK is trying to earn sympathy internationally by giving the impression it is supporting coalition forces that are fighting Daesh in Syria.

The armed wings of the PKK have changed names several times in this period. The terrorist organization has continued deadly attacks, using off-shoots such as the HPG, OSB and TAK.