PKK: Doctrine, Objectives, and Origins

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PKK Doctrine, Objectives, and Origins
Imari Epps
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Origins

• 1923 Kemal embarks on westernization and
  unification of Turkey
• Dev Genc
• Revolutionary Youth Organization

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Doctrine

• Kurdish Nationalism Kurds felt wronged by the
  Turkish government. Wanted to take back what was
  theirs.
• Leftist Greatly influence by Stalin, Ocalan
  wanted to terminate colonialism by spreading
  socialism

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Objectives

• Primary Goal

• Spreading socialism

• Secondary Goal

• An Independent Free Kurdistan

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PKK Now

• 2011 Democratic Autonomy
• Zubeyir Aydar
• KONGRA-KEL

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PKK Leadership

• Hierarchical Leadership
• Founded by Abdullah Öcalan
• Founded PKK during right and left wing conflicts
  in 1980
• Launched war against Turkey

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• Fought for independent Kurdish state
• Ruled by fear and often ruthlessly killed
  potential challengers
• Personality cult and Iron-fisted leadership style

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• Had many clans backing up the PKK
• Claimed to be the chief advocate for Kurdish
  Nationalism but was more Marxist leaning
• Alienated many Kurds due to violent methods
• Ultimately lost power and exiled
• Advocated for peaceful negotiations with Turkey
  from exile

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STATE
Non-STATE
SUPPORT
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Terrorist Organizations
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The Strategy of the PKK
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Violence

• Before Ocalans capture in 1999 the PKK
  conducted violence and instilled fear through
  indiscriminate civilian killings, targeting
  businesses and disrupting communication between
  people and the government
• Victims of the PKK have included women,
  children, schoolteachers, doctors, engineers,
  religious functionaries, military personnel and
  police

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Koma Jinen Bilind (KJB)
In 1993 Ocalan allowed the creation of a separate
female group within the PKK, the KJB.
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Unilateral Ceasefires and Violence

• The PKK declared unilateral ceasefires in 1993,
  1995, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2009 and 2010
• Turkey does not agree that they are an attempt to
  be peaceful, but rather as tactical moves and
  thus does not agree to a ceasefire in return

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Currently

• Since June 12, 2011, this has been the worst
  period of violence since the capture of Ocalan
  with an increase of attacks against the military
  and police
• Usual tactics include ambushing military patrols
  in rural areas, using IEDs along security forces
  routes and bombing security and civilian targets
  in urban areas

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PKK CounterTerrorism

• Kristen Barber

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Counter-Leadership Strategy
Abdullah Öcalan

• Armed Conflict Response War
• State of Emergency Law in Southeastern Turkey
• Focus on Abdullah Öcalan
• Öcalan captured in 1999

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Peace Talks
AKP Prime Minister RecepTayyip Erdogan

• After renouncing violence, PKK pledged to disband
  in Feb of 2002
• Peace talks began, rise of AKP
• Homecoming Law (2003)
• Kurdish Reforms

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KONGRA-GEL/KADEK

• PKK reforms in Northern Iraq as KONGRA-GEL
• Within Turkey, Kurdish political party renamed
  KADEK
• Turkey launches cross border offenses into Iraq

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International Counterterrorism response

• EU classifies PKK as terrorist organization,
  advocates political change within Turkey as
  primary response
• President Bush pledged support in intelligence
  and information sharing
• U.S. continues to pledge support of Turkish
  counterterrorism efforts, but advocates
  protection of Iraqi Kurdish population

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Non-violent Political Activity

• Fasih Nooran

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Political Parties
Political Parties

• Have been represented by many political parties
• Ties to DTP (banned since 2009)
• Claims they are working with BDP
• Allows them to engage in political activities
• Able to publicize their views

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Social Organizations

• Public Relations branch ERNK
• The Free Youth Organization
• The Free Womans Organization
• The Kurdistan Students Association
• The Kurdish Imams Association
• Provides political, moral and financial support
• Serves as a recruiting base

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Criminal Activities

• At first
• Funding for operations
• Later
• A profit-making mission
• Some profits go towards weapons and equipment
• Most of it is kept by the individuals

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Conclusion

• Involved in a lot of non-violent political
  activity
• Does not legitimize their violent activities
• Crucial part of their mission
• Difficult to stop