XXVI. IS THE PKK A NATIONAL LIBERATION MOVEMENT?

PKK declares that it inherits the mission of the "liberation of Kurdish nation" and one of its well-known affiliated organizations carries the title, "Kurdistan National Liberation Front-ERNK". However, a national liberation movement first requires the existence of a community which sees themselves as an oppressed nation. The surveys conducted on the Turkish citizens of Kurdish ancestry point out that 61.1% and 19.1% indicate the economic measures and granting of cultural and political rights respectively for the solution of their problems.151 In a paper prepared by Dicle University of Diyarbakyr, economic difficulties, population movements, health problems, problems of infrastructure, inadequate housing, education and investment, high birth rate and unemployment are listed as the most pressing problems.152 Neither is there an indication of popular support for the PKK (see footnote no. 175). Hence, behind PKK’s inhumane brutal violence which is also directed to the citizens of Kurdish descent lies its policy of "first neutralizing people between [ the PKK and the State] and then making them supportive of the organization through the feelings of sympathy mixed with fear."153

Continuous migration of citizens with Kurdish origin into the Western parts of Turkey, largely due to the economic reasons show their intention of taking their part in the Turkish social life in which no ethnic discrimination exists.

Furthermore, in the United Nations’ practices, national liberation movements are limited to the communities which are assumed to have the right of self-determination in the context of decolonization.154 Having fought side by side against occupiers in the Independence War and investing and spending, as in the case of the Southeast Anatolia Development Project (GAP), much more than the income received from the region (see CHAPTER XX), it will be wrong to refer to colonization in Turkey.

Introducing itself as an organization struggling for the rights of an oppressed nation, the PKK tries to conceal its real face to receive support and sympathy of the international community, notwithstanding its terrorism.

151 Özbek, "Güneydoğu Anadolu..." [Southeastern Anatolia’s...], p. 14.

152 "One More Report on the Kurdish Issue", Evrensel, 25 December 1995.

153 İmset, PKK:...[The PKK:...], p. 131.

154 Pazarcı, Uluslararası Hukuk... [Lectures on...], pp. 23-24.