Sir:

We, the mothers who feel the utmost pain of the terror, would like to express our relief following the capture of the bloodiest terrorist of our time, Abdullah Ocalan. The fact that Ocalan was captured in Kenya and he will face justice is the outcome of the international cooperation against terrorism.

It is also confirmed by the reports of international institutions that Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is a terrorist organisation involved in organized crime.

The PKK is included in the list of terrorist organizations of the US State Department and in the global terrorism report it is described as a terrorist organisation which committed acts of attack, kidnapping and racketeering. In a decision of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe taken in June 1998, the terrorist and violent acts of the PKK which caused mass migration were denounced.

Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin can enjoy the rights and freedoms in political, economic and cultural life. The official language in Turkey is Turkish but it is free to speak, publish, and release recordings in Kurdish.

According to a decision by Germany's Karlsruhe administrative court ruled in September 1997, Kurds in Turkey are not subject to oppression. Walter Schwimmer, member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe was quoted in April 8, 1999 edition of Turkish daily, Hurriyet as saying "one who says that Kurds are oppressed in Turkey is not telling the truth. Kurds can take any position in Turkey like the late president Turgut Ozal".

Today it can be said that few countries are perfect in democracy and human rights. The important thing is the respect for human rights in the society. In Turkey there are efforts to improve democracy. But terrorist organisations hamper these efforts. A report of April 1999 by Human Rights Watch says: "PKK tries to restrict the freedom of press and kidnaps and kills journalists".

Some media institutions tried to depict Ocalan, following his capture, as a moderate and peaceful man releasing his photographs playing football and freeing doves. On the other hand, violent protests in foreign embassies in Europe and bombed attacks in Turkey by the PKK show that PKK does not give up terrorism and targets civilians.

The capture of Ocalan demonstrated that terrorism could not flourish in democratic countries and nothing can be achieved through terrorist means.

We, the mothers of the victims of terrorism, demand the PKK, which is also involved in narcotics trafficking, to be outlawed.

Without giving concession to terrorist organizations, the determined struggle against terrorism will certainly succeed. This is not only an international legal obligation but also an obligation for humanity to pay our respect for thousands lost their lives in terrorist incidents. The revocation of the licence of the PKK controlled Med TV by the Independent Television Commission of Britain attests our right position.

Yours truly,
Mrs. Turkan Aksu
Head of the Turkish Mothers Association
http://www.geocities.com/Wellesley/8355
e-mail: turkander@geocities.com