10 years demanded for BDP deputies

AA photo

The Van Prosecutors’ Office presented a 15-page summary of proceedings to Parliament on Oct. 31 concerning the 10 pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputies who met with PKK militants in the eastern province of Hakkari.

The Office seeks to annul the deputies’ parliamentary immunity and sentence them to five to 10 years in jail.

The BDP lawmakers, including co-chair Gültan Kışanak, were seen embracing and warmly chatting with PKK militants near Şemdinli in Hakkari province on Aug. 17.

Meeting with PKK militants

The summary of proceedings was prepared following a two month-long examination of the deputy chief prosecutor. The deputies’ interaction with PKK militants was considered a “meeting” in the summary.
The prosecution asked for permission to open a probe against BDP deputies Adil Kurt, Sebahat Tuncel, Nazmi Gür, Hüsamettin Zenderlioğlu, Halil Aksoy, Ertuğrul Kürkçü, Esat Canan, İdris Baluken and an independent deputy from Van Aysel Tuğluk, on charges of “providing help to the PKK and KCK armed terror organizations.”

The government and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have already declared that they will vote to lift the immunity of the 10 deputies if a summary of proceedings is introduced to Parliament.

“The ordinary procedure run for the other summaries of proceedings will be implemented for this summary of proceeding as well,” Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin has said, adding that the summary would first be sent to the Prime Minister’s office and then to Parliament, in line with ordinary procedures. k HDN (hurriyetdailynews)

2 killed in PKK mine attack

DHA photo

2 people were killed in a private car travelling to a Gendarmerie Station in eastern province of Tunceli in a roadside mine explosion...

A private car ran over a previously laid mine at the 40th km of the road to Asagi Torunoba Gendarmerie Station in Ovacik town of Tunceli province in eastern Turkey at about 6pm local time on Tuesday. 2 people inside the car were killed in the explosion.

Security measures were taken against a second mine trap in the area, while army forces were directed to carry out an operation. (DHA)

PKK terrorists attack police department in Şırnak

DHA photo

Some PKK terrorists attacked five different locations with long barrel arms and rocket launchers earlier today in the southeastern province of Şırnak, including a police department and military apartments.

There are reportedly people wounded, but no information has been reported as to the number of injured.

Clashes between PKK terrorists and police still continue. (Anadolu News Agency)

PKK burns school in SE Turkey

DHA Photo

Suspected members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) have burned another school in the Van province of southeast Turkey, causing nearly a 40,000 Turkish Liras worth of damage.

Militants entered the school at around 1:30 in the morning, and set a number of classrooms, computer labs, and administrative offices on fire. One of the walls of the building partially collapsed.

The school has been closed for an unspecified number of days.

Van has been in the process of reconstruction since the city was struck by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake last year. (hurriyetdailynews)

PKK flag at Syrian border removed

DHA Photo

A flag relating to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) which was placed near the Turkish and Syrian border has been removed, Anatolia news agency reported.

The flag was first believed to be representational of the PKK, but was later discovered to be that of a PKK sub-organization. The flag stood approximately one kilometer into Syrian soil but was clearly visible from Turkish border towns.

The flag was located along the escape route reportedly used by two militants after they launched an attack against a police department last month in Kayseri. (ŞANLIURFA - Doğan News Agency)

PKK attacks funeral convoy, kidnaps three in eastern Turkey

Handout by Turkish Armed Forces

Suspected members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) have attacked a funeral convoy in the eastern province of Bitlis, kidnapping two civilians and one soldier, private broadcaster NTV reported on its website today.

The convoy, including voluntary village guards, was headed to the town center to bury the body when PKK members attacked the vehicles. Two village guards, one of them retired, were wounded in the attack.

PKK members then captured one soldier and two teachers and fled the scene.

Operations continue in the area to locate the hostages, as well as the assailants.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. (Hurriyet Daily News)

Turkish Army: No negligence on Dağlıca

Turkish army continues operations in the region after Dağlıca attack. AA photo

The military said there was no logistical or intelligence negligence regarding Tuesday’s terrorist attacks in the Dağlıca district of Hakkari province on the Iraqi border, as suggested by some media reports.

“It has been verified that there was no negligence on this incident. The attacked unit heroically fought and neutralized 15 terrorists in front of their positions,” the army said in a written statement responding to criticisms that the unit was unprepared for such an attack and intelligence reports were ignored.

It confirmed that 31 terrorists had been neutralized as a result of operations carried out by special units immediately after the attack took place.

“The infantry battalion was also supported with a squadron of commandos. The unit has all personnel weapons and vehicles,” the statement said. It also indicated that the attacked station was a small station and not a main building. “It is a temporary base equipped with a tank, with 52 personal trained for homeland security purposes,” it said.

The statement added that unmanned aerial vehicles had immediately been deployed to the region.

It is also indicated that the attack was not made on the main Dağlıca base, but was 10 kilometers away from the base. “Describing this attack as the second Dağlıca attack is wrong, as the location and results are different,” the statement said. Terrorists attacked the main Dağlıca base in 2008, killing 12 soldiers and capturing eight. (ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News)

Minister Sahin protested at soldier's funeral

Idris Naim Sahin, the Minister of Interior Affairs of Turkey, was protested by an angry crowd at the funeral of a soldier who was killed in a PKK attack yesterday. The Minister had to leave the scene amidst protest…

The protest took place at the funeral of Ali Yasin Erosmanoğlu, one of the soldiers who were killed in a PKK attack in southeastern Turkey yesterday. The Minister of Interior Affairs, Idris Naim Sahin, arrived in Trabzon province in northern Turkey on Wednesday for the funeral of the soldier, but had to leave the ceremony after being protested by an angry crowd.

The Minister left the location of the funeral in his car while protests were still taking place against him. (DHA)

26 PKK terrorists killed in operations

Turkish Air Force hit targets belonging to the terrorist organization in north of Iraq as part of operations against the organization.

Turkey's General Staff on Wednesday said that 26 PKK terrorists were killed and 1 terrorist was arrested following a terror attack on a military outpost in Yuksekova town of the south-eastern province of Hakkari.

In a statement posted on their web site Wednesday, the Turkish General Staff said that the jets of Turkish Air Force hit targets belonging to the terrorist organization in north of Iraq as part of operations against the organization.

Eight Turkish troops were killed and 16 others were wounded in Tuesday's terrorist attack. We wish God's mercy to our dear martyrs and offer our condolences to their families, relatives, colleagues and the Turkish nation. We also wish speedy recovery to our troops injured in Tuesday's terror attack, the Turkish General Staff also said. (Anatolia News Agency)

No negotiations, PKK has to lay down arms: Turkish PM

AA Photo

The government will not conduct any negotiations with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told reporters today, adding that the PKK’s disarmament was the only way to end terror.

"Nobody can make terrorism an issue of negotiation," Erdoğan said. "We will end this, sooner or later. This is non-negotiable. There is only one thing to do: Terrorists need to lay down their arms."

"Security forces will halt operations when the PKK lays down ams," Erdoğan added. "Security forces are not fans of operations either. They only conduct these operations when problems occur."

Earlier in the day, pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) leader Selahattin Demirtaş called on the PKK to lay down its arms and for an end to military operations. (Hurriyet Daily News)

8 Martyr, 16 wounded in clashes in southeastern Turkey

Hürriyet Photo

Eight soldiers were killed and 16 more were wounded yesterday during clashes between security forces and members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the southeastern province of Hakkari, daily Hürriyet reported.

Militants attacked military border posts with heavy weapons last night around 5 a.m. The first round of fire killed eight soldiers and wounded 16 more. Clashes continued as security forces were sent to the area.

Chief of General Staff Necdet Özel arrived in Dağlıca following the clashes.

Twelve soldiers were killed, 16 were wounded and eight were kidnapped in the same location near Dağlıca district in a similar attack in 2007. (Hurriyet Daily News)

'Öcalan house arrest can be discussed if PKK lays down arms,' Turkish deputy PM says

Bülent Arınç. AA photo

The government could consider discussing house arrest for the leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, if the organization lays down its arms, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç said today.

Arınç made the remark during an interview broadcast on the A Haber TV channel, where he commented on a call by Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputy Leyla Zana to release Öcalan into house arrest.

House arrest for Öcalan could not be discussed as an isolated subject but could be integrated into a road map, or a "process that would begin with the [PKK] laying down its arms," Arınç said.

Öcalan could not be released into house arrest just because the BDP wants it, Arınç said. "The terrorist organization would not give up violence even if we released [Öcalan] into house arrest now."

The BDP's request to release Öcalan into house arrest was a "solitary demand" which was not sincere and was probably aimed at making political gains, Arınç said.

The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. (Radikal.com.tr)

Independent deputy sentenced to 14 years by Turkish court

Independent Deputy Aysel Tuğluk (L) waves at her supporters during a rally in the eastern province of Van. DHA photo

A court of serious crimes in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır sentenced independent deputy Aysel Tuğluk today to 14 years and 7 months in prison for "making propaganda on behalf of a terrorist organization.”

Tuğluk was facing 82 years in prison on 15 separate charges of "making propaganda on behalf of a terrorist organization” and “committing crimes on behalf of a terrorist organization without being a member of it,” due to speeches she made in various locations on different dates.

Tuğluk was acquitted of five separate charges of making propaganda for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) but was found guilty of the same crime and of committing crimes on behalf of the PKK on 10 remaining charges.

The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. (Hürriyet)

3 PKK terrorists killed in southeastern Turkey

Hürriyet Photo

Turkey's state-run television says Turkish troops have killed three alleged members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in a clash in the country's southeast.

TRT television says the clash occurred near the southeastern town of Cukurca in Hakkari province early today.

Cukurca is located in the country's southeastern tip where Iraq, Iran and Turkey meet.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. (ANKARA - The Associated Press)

PKK frees kidnapped Briton as Turkish soldiers martyr in land mine blast

A group of militants reportedly blocked the road between Diyarbakır and Bingöl on June 2. DHA Photo

A British tourist who was kidnapped by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on the weekend was freed in the eastern province of Bingöl's Genç district, officials said today.

Three Turkish soldiers, meanwhile, were martyr after a land mine exploded while they were conducting an operation to rescue the kidnapped tourist in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır's Lice district, Doğan news agency reported.

The 32-year-old Briton, identified as James Masami by local officials, was described as being in good health and would be taken to Diyarbakır for questioning about his ordeal.

A group of militants reportedly blocked the road between Diyarbakır and Bingöl on June 2, stopping a bus and ordering the passengers to disembark before making propaganda in favor of the PKK.

After explaining the PKK’s goals to the travelers, they stopped more vehicles, which they then set on fire. According to eyewitnesses they went on to kidnap Masami, who was traveling from Diyarbakır to the Black Sea province of Trabzon.

The militants left the scene together with the tourist, according to eyewitnesses.

On May 28 the PKK kidnapped 10 employees working on a road construction project in the eastern province of Iğdır.

The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

*Erdem Güneş contributed to this report from Istanbul. (A British tourist who was kidnapped by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on the weekend was freed in the eastern province of Bingöl's Genç district, officials said today.

Three Turkish soldiers, meanwhile, were martyr after a land mine exploded while they were conducting an operation to rescue the kidnapped tourist in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır's Lice district, Doğan news agency reported.

The 32-year-old Briton, identified as James Masami by local officials, was described as being in good health and would be taken to Diyarbakır for questioning about his ordeal.

A group of militants reportedly blocked the road between Diyarbakır and Bingöl on June 2, stopping a bus and ordering the passengers to disembark before making propaganda in favor of the PKK.

After explaining the PKK’s goals to the travelers, they stopped more vehicles, which they then set on fire. According to eyewitnesses they went on to kidnap Masami, who was traveling from Diyarbakır to the Black Sea province of Trabzon.

The militants left the scene together with the tourist, according to eyewitnesses.

On May 28 the PKK kidnapped 10 employees working on a road construction project in the eastern province of Iğdır.

The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

*Erdem Güneş contributed to this report from Istanbul (BİNGÖL- Daily News with wires)

PKK kidnaps British tourist in Turkey's southeast

PKK members kidnapped four workers earlier this week. DHA Photo

Suspected members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) kidnapped a British tourist last night after blocking the Bingöl highway in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır, daily Hürriyet reported.

Militants stopped several vehicles traveling on the highway and ordered the passengers to disembark. After explaining the PKK’s goals to the travelers, they stopped more vehicles, which they then set on fire.

A passenger bus was also stopped and a British tourist was forced to leave with the militants.

The British tourist is reportedly around 35 and was headed for Trabzon on a tourist voyage.

Investigations are continuing in the area. (Hürriyet Daily News)

PKK kidnaps 10 people in Turkey's southeast

Turkish Armed Forces photo

Ten people have been abducted by suspected members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır’s Lice district.

The abduction of nine men and one woman occurred May 23, daily Hürriyet reported on its website today.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. (Hürriyet)

3 terrorists killed and 2 terorists captured

Three PKK terrorists were killed in a clash with Turkish security forces in Ovacik town of the eastern province of Tunceli.

Three PKK terrorists were killed in a clash with Turkish security forces in Ovacik town of the eastern province of Tunceli on Tuesday.

In a written statement released Wednesday, the Governorship of Tunceli said that three terrorists were killed after they refused to surrender to Turkish security forces on Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile, in a separate operation, two PKK terrorists, including a woman, were arrested by Turkish security forces in downtown Tunceli on Tuesday.

The PKK, is a terrorist organization which has since 1984 been fighting an armed struggle against the Turkish state for an independent state. PKK killed around 30,000 Turkish soldiers, policemen, village guards, teachers, engineers and other Turkish citizens in the past 28 years.

PKK is listed as a terrorist organization internationally by a number of states and organizations, including the United States and the European Union. (Anatolia News Agency)

Turkish officers accused of executing PKK militants, civilian

File photo shows an operation where two PKK members were captured in Bingöl in 2011. DHA photo

Seventeen Turkish soldiers, including three officers, were arrested today on charges of summarily executing two militants and one civilian in a military operation.

Two militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and one civilian, whom the militants had taken hostage after taking shelter in his house, were killed in a shootout with soldiers near Buğulukaynak village in the eastern province of Van in 2009.

An investigation was launched after a soldier who took part in the operation claimed that the militants and the civilian were not killed in a firefight but were summarily executed by the soldiers.

A prosecutor questioned 17 soldiers related to the incident, including the commander of the Van Provincial Gendarmerie Regiment at the time, retired Col. Vecihi Halil İyigün, Maj. Hakan Başaklıgil, Lt. Mulis Çolak, one non-commissioned officer and 13 specialist sergeants.

The suspects were then sent to a courthouse in Van's Erciş district, where they were arrested on charges of voluntary manslaughter.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. (VAN - Doğan News Agency-DHA)

Turkish hacker group declares 'cyber war' on PKK: report

NMTD homepage opening screen.

A group of Turkish hackers say they have launched an attack on websites affiliated with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Doğan News Agency (DHA) reported today.

A group of hackers who called themselves the "NMTD Team" – an acronym derived from the motto "Ne mutlu Türk'üm diyene" (How happy is he who can call himself a Turk) – said they would be attacking sites belonging to and related with the PKK for 30 consecutive days.

The attacks are being made to commemorate three officers who were killed in a PKK ambush in the Amanos mountains of the southern province of Hatay on May 17, the group reportedly announced on its website.

The hackers claimed they have hacked into nearly 500 websites in the last two days, acquiring documents as well as identities and emails of people they believe to be tied to the PKK and passing them on to the authorities.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. (hurriyetdailynews)