Page 272 - America's Failure to Perceive the PKK

On October 1, 2006, the terrorist organization PKK declared a
ceasefire for the fifth time, and terminated it once again on the
grounds that Turkish military operations against it were continuing.

The KCK declared on April 13, 2009 that it had reached a decision
on a ceasefire on the grounds of "necessary defense," nevertheless, it
staged countless attacks since then and martyred 134 people during
this so-called ceasefire period.

Leaders of the PKK and the KCK have reiterated over and over
again that the PKK would never lay down its weapons. HDP mem-
bers also weighed in on the subject.

For instance, the KCK's Qandil chief Sabri Ok said: "...Such disar-
mament is impossible as long as the reason for our very emergence exists
right here and it is against our reality… Our movement definitely does not
have in its agenda disarmament or withdrawal of our armed forces to certain
places… Even discussing disarmament under these circumstances is disre-

spectful towards the will of the Kurds… Such things cannot be discussed
until the leader Öcalan is freed and meets with the guerilla in person. And
the guerilla will never abandon their weapons…" 104

Duran Kalkan, a member of the KCK's Executive Committee,
said: "We don't find the calls to the guerilla for disarmament meaningful or
serious. We don't even want to discuss it. Guerilla will never lay down its
weapons. … Only if there is a general amnesty that covers the freedom of
Öcalan as well, then the PKK might consider, not laying down its weapons,
but a ceasefire, but never laying down the weapons. Guerilla will never lay

down its weapons."
HDP MP Leyla Zana also made it clear that disarmament is
impossible when she said: "Armed conflict has now reached a certain
point. I never discuss disarmament. That's the insurance of the Kurds. As

long as this problem persists, those weapons are the insurance of the Kurds."

270 America's Failure to Perceive the PKK