...и да се опитам да те светна по въпроса за курдските терористи. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Profiles: PKK Kurdistan Labor\Workers Party (PKK), a/k/a: Kurdish Separatists, Mesopotamian Army The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) is one of the most active and best-organized terrorist organizations in the world. For centuries, the Kurdish people (estimates today suggest 20,000,000 Kurds) have inhabited an area in the Middle East encompassing southeast Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria, with the majority residing in Turkey. Of these, the Kurdistan Labor Party emerged as by far the most organized and the most influential. Their most recent terrorist campaign seems to have been launched in or around 1985. Their focus shifted to concentrate not only on Turkish targets, but on foreign interests in Turkey. In particular, the tourism industry which brings in an estimated 7 to 8 billion dollars per year to the government coffers, a fact not lost of on the PKK. An example of this occurred on March 27, 1994 when a bomb detonated in the gardens of the Saint Sofia Mosque and Museum in Istanbul, injuring three tourists: one German, one Spanish, and one Dutch. A shadowy branch of the PKK's political wing ERNK called "Metropole Revenge Wing" claimed responsibility for the attack. Fortunately, the organization seems to prefer kidnapping to murder in these cases. This new wave of mayhem has lasted since for ten years and has resulted in an estimated 10,000 deaths during that time. Additionally, the PKK's militant arm, known as the People's Liberation Army of Kurdistan (ARGK), and their seemingly omnipresent sympathizers have intensified their war against Turkish targets in response to the ongoing Turkish military assaults on Kurds in southeast Turkey and northern Iraq. Little is known of the ARGK's organizational makeup, however it is known that the PKK maintains a 4,000-man mountain cadre, a third of which are native Armenians. A good portion of their intelligence is also known to come from the Armenian community, especially from an underground network run in tandem with Armenian priests. Covert operatives, probably trained by the ARGK, are also currently conducting a well-coordinated arson campaign throughout Germany where they were outlawed in 1993. Targets in this series of attacks have included Turkish travel agencies, cultural centers, and assorted stores. This latest wave of terrorism confirms PKK's ability to conduct widespread mayhem, while retaining tight central control. A prime example of this occurred on the night of March 30-31 when twelve German cities experienced as rash of firebombings directed against Turkish-owned businesses. Since 1984, over 300 members of the PKK have been arrested on various drug-related charges, with over half the arrests taking place in Germany. The future is uncertain for this and other Kurdish groups. For while their renewed campaign has certainly drawn more attention to the plight of the Kurdish people, few nations have stepped forward o offer their political support. Additionally, Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller has openly stated that the elimination of this group and its kin are her top priority. This concern is no doubt related to the fact that Turkey is lobbying hard for entry into the European Community, an event that will likely not occur while the Kurdish situation exists. includes: Kurdistan National Liberation Front (ENRK) Metropole Revenge Team People's Liberation Army of Kurdistan (ARGK) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) From: Patterns of Global Terrorism, 1998. United States Department of State, April 1999. Description: Established in 1974 as a Marxist-Leninist insurgent group primarily composed of Turkish Kurds. In recent years has moved beyond rural-based insurgent activities to include urban terrorism. Seeks to establish an independent Kurdish state in southeastern Turkey, where the population is predominantly Kurdish. Activities: Primary targets are Turkish Government security forces in Turkey but also has been active in Western Europe against Turkish targets. Conducted attacks on Turkish diplomatic and commercial facilities in dozens of West European cities in 1993 and again in spring 1995. In an attempt to damage Turkey's tourist industry, the PKK has bombed tourist sites and hotels and kidnapped foreign tourists. Strength: Approximately 10,000 to 15,000. Has thousands of sympathizers in Turkey and Europe. Location/Area of Operation: Operates in Turkey, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. External Aid: Has received safehaven and modest aid from Syria, Iraq, and Iran. The Syrian Government claims to have expelled the PKK from its territory in October 1998.