Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2025

Daily Sabah - Latest & Breaking News from Turkey | Istanbul

  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV

Our party should have stood against PKK violence, says HDP deputy Tan

by Daily Sabah

ISTANBUL Jan 09, 2017 - 12:00 am GMT+3
HDP Diyarbaku0131r deputy Altan Tan
HDP Diyarbaku0131r deputy Altan Tan
by Daily Sabah Jan 09, 2017 12:00 am

Altan Tan, a deputy of the pro-PKK Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) on Monday said that his party should have rejected PKK "violence" and responded defiantly.

"HDP was supposed to stand against the violence perpetrated by the PKK. People expected us to take a stance against them," he said.

In 2016, the PKK was more active in urban areas than it had been in the past, with militants digging ditches in southeastern cities. Turkish security forces, however, have been successful in their campaign against the PKK, rooting out the terrorist elements off their ditches, and clearing off barricades erected by them, to help locals live in a safer and more peaceful environment.

Talking about the PKK's ditch and barricade strategy, Tan said, "The PKK wanted the locals to be out on the streets as they dug those ditches. But, people from all walks of life and ethnicity did not support it and the conflict ended. People have remained united no matter what."

'Violence, warfare cannot be the way to stand up for ones rights'

Referring to the PKK rhetoric "we are standing up for Kurdish rights," the Diyarbakır deputy said, "Violence, the use of weapons and warfare is not the proper way to stand up for your rights. Even if the state does not take one single step to solve this problem, you should not take up arms and perpetrate violence."

Admitting the fact that the PKK increased its terror activities despite the HDP's success in the June 7 elections last year, when it passed the 10 percent threshold by three points, Tan said, "We achieved our greatest democratic success in the June 7 general elections. I want to ask those who have undermined this political and non-violent success, what have you gained?"

The PKK broke a two-and-a-half year unilateral cease-fire with the Turkish state in July 2015 and resumed its armed campaign, which has seen civilians casualties alongside the deaths of hundreds of police and military officers.

Meanwhile, the Turkish military and air forces have been carrying out campaigns in southeastern and eastern Turkey and in the mountainous regions in northern Iraq, where senior PKK cadres are based, killing thousands of militants.

The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S., EU and Turkey. Formed in 1978, the group has been fighting the Turkish state for an independent Kurdistan up until the early 2000s. The group has since shifted its goal toward autonomy in the predominately Kurdish regions of Turkey.

  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Jan 10, 2017 12:21 pm
    KEYWORDS
    politics
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    No Image
    Afghanistan's drug addicts rounded up in Taliban-run rehabs
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • DS TV
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021