XXIX. WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF THE PKK ACTIVITIES ON SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY’S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL LIFE?

Popular support for terrorist organizations is, to some degree, dependent on the negative socio-economic conditions that can be exploited.164 In parallel, the PKK conducts activities to undermine the economic development of the region.165 PKK’s direct targeting of construction machines, communication facilities, pipelines and other economic assets and its threats against businessmen that will bid, and extortion of small and other businesses that will make investment cause the decline of investments in the region both by private and public sectors.166

While the most pressing problem of the people in the Southeast is meeting of their basic economic and social needs such as unemployment, inadequate housing, health and education services, PKK’s terrorist actions to block investments dispute PKK’s claim which introduces the PKK as the "leading force" of the Kurdish people. Particularly, teachers in remote areas trying to overcome ignorance of the local people and introduce them to modernity have been subject to attacks by the terrorist organization, PKK. As the result of those attacks by the PKK, 138 teachers lost their lives and 379 primary schools were set fire as of the year 1994.167 In consideration of all these facts, it will obviously be irrational for Kurds to back the PKK.

Using the pretext that so-called war waged against Kurds are being financed, the declaration to start terrorist activities in touristic resorts of Turkey168 (see CHAPTER XXIV) and total extermination plan against economic, political, social and cultural institutions and persons serving them,169 in other words, inhumane actions including burning of schools and assassination of teachers indicate PKK’s intention to undermine economic and social development of Southeastern Turkey by deepening the problems and creating a fertile ground to recruit people, who feel desperate and helpless, through threats and intimidation.

164 Erciyes University, PKK Reality, p. 16.

165 The Turkish Democracy Foundation, Human Rights..., pp. 11-12.

166 Erciyes University, PKK Reality, p. 47; Criss, "The Nature of...", p. 28; Ankara Journalist Association, PKK Reality ..., p. 26; Foundation For Middle East And Balkan Studies, Separatist Terror..., p. 8.

167 "The Teachers Massacred, The Schools Burned Down and The PKK Reality", a brochure by National Education Foundation.

168 As for PKK’s terrorist campaign against tourism, Öcalan did not refrain from making the following threat: "Unless Germany lifts the ban on the PKK, the dead bodies of German tourists may return to Germany [from Turkey]", MED TV, 28 January 1996.

169 PKK, 5. Kongre... [5th Congress...], p. 248.