Karayilan: Turkey prepares for military operation against the PKK

Acting leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) said Turkey is preparing for a large scale military operation against Kurdish guerrillas.

President of the Kurdish Democratic Confederation (KCK) Executive Committee, the umbrella organization of the PKK, Murat Karayılan said that they are eager to extend the ceasefire but Turkish army is preparing for a military operation against the PKK, in contrast.

Karayilan gave a speech to Kurdish guerrillas over military radio yesterday. He told guerrillas about Turkey's efforts to destroy the PKK saying that Ankara may try to hit Kurdish movement with a large scale military operation.

He said the latest Turkish diplomatic efforts are connected with the preparations of a military operation against the PKK.

Turkish Interior Minister Besir Atalay visited Iraq, Syria and Kurdish towns near the border within two weeks.

He said this diplomatic efforts with the United States and regional powers aims to seize Kurdish movement in military, economic and political aspects. "Therefore they want to implement their solution in Kurdistan." he said.

Karayilan also mentioned about increased Turkish support for different political movements in Kurdistan.

"Turkey is trying to create an alternate political movement to PKK. They want to create political village guards" he said.

Speaking on negotiations with Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan, Karayilan said they see these negotiations "strategic". He said a new period with new methods has just started for the Kurdish movement.

Karayilan also said if Turkish government takes certain steps Kurdish side will extend the ceasefire indefinitely. But if not, Kurdish side will consider new options Karayilan underlined.

On police operations against the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), Karayilan talked about Turkey's politics of criminalization of Kurdish political movement. "They are detaining BDP members saying that they are members of the KCK. We are the KCK and we are here. We have no connection with the detained Kurdish politicians" he said.

He called the guerrillas to respect the ceasefire and avoid any clashes with the Turkish army.

But he said that the right to self-defence is a natural right and the guerillas should defend themselves aggressively when attacked.

ANF / KANDIL
ANF NEWS AGENCY