KCK denounces US bounties on PKK leaders as attack on Kurds
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The political umbrella group of the PKK denounced US bounties on their top leaders as an attack against all Kurds.
"This aggressive, political decision and stance issued against the freedom movement has no political, social, ethical, conscious, or universal truth basis to it," said the Kurdistan Communities Group (KCK) in a statement on Wednesday.
The US announced rewards for information on three senior PKK leaders on Tuesday: up to $5 million for Murat Karayilan, up to $4 million for Cemil Bayik, and up to $3 million for Duran Kalkan.
The move came after two days of meetings with Turkish officials.
The PKK is a named terror organization in Turkey, the US, and Europe. Ankara also considers Kurdish groups in Syria – the PYD, YPG, YPJ, and SDF – as branches of the PKK and has denounced US support for these groups in the war against ISIS.
The KCK said that the US decision to offer bounties for its leaders is ideological, political, and against the entire Kurdish nation and democratic struggle.
It is a "conspiracy" that is a continuation of the one that resulted in the capture of PKK's founder Abdullah Ocalan, KCK added.
"This conspiracy that they want to lead against PKK is aimed at derailing our struggle and reinforcing the occupying forces that wish to preserve their domination on Kurds," claimed KCK.
The PKK has engaged in a decades-long conflict in Turkey, fighting for greater political and cultural rights for the Kurds.
The KCK claimed that “economic reasons” were behind the American decision and said Washington has “become complicit in the crimes of killer occupying forces."
The KCK defended the PKK’s record – it has fought alongside Kurdish forces in the war against ISIS.
"In Shingal, the PKK prevented the decimation of the Yezidi community, one of the oldest and most established of humanity, and gave a moral lesson to regional and international political forces," KCK stated, adding that they have also strengthened "brotherhood" between neighbour nations of Arabs, Turkmen, Syriacs, and Armenians, among others.
"The Kurdish nation, the nations of the Middle East, and all the democratic forces of the world should not remain silent against this baseless and unethical decision," KCK implored.
"In these days when calls for the freeing of leader Apo [Ocalan] and delisting the PKK from the terror list in Europe are taking place, our people and democratic forces should exhibit a strong stance against this attack on our comrades Duran Kalkan, Cemil Bayik and Murat Karayilan," added KCK.
"Against these attacks, aimed at eradicating the Kurdish nation, a strong struggle has to be waged.”
"This aggressive, political decision and stance issued against the freedom movement has no political, social, ethical, conscious, or universal truth basis to it," said the Kurdistan Communities Group (KCK) in a statement on Wednesday.
The US announced rewards for information on three senior PKK leaders on Tuesday: up to $5 million for Murat Karayilan, up to $4 million for Cemil Bayik, and up to $3 million for Duran Kalkan.
The move came after two days of meetings with Turkish officials.
The PKK is a named terror organization in Turkey, the US, and Europe. Ankara also considers Kurdish groups in Syria – the PYD, YPG, YPJ, and SDF – as branches of the PKK and has denounced US support for these groups in the war against ISIS.
The KCK said that the US decision to offer bounties for its leaders is ideological, political, and against the entire Kurdish nation and democratic struggle.
It is a "conspiracy" that is a continuation of the one that resulted in the capture of PKK's founder Abdullah Ocalan, KCK added.
"This conspiracy that they want to lead against PKK is aimed at derailing our struggle and reinforcing the occupying forces that wish to preserve their domination on Kurds," claimed KCK.
The PKK has engaged in a decades-long conflict in Turkey, fighting for greater political and cultural rights for the Kurds.
The KCK claimed that “economic reasons” were behind the American decision and said Washington has “become complicit in the crimes of killer occupying forces."
The KCK defended the PKK’s record – it has fought alongside Kurdish forces in the war against ISIS.
"In Shingal, the PKK prevented the decimation of the Yezidi community, one of the oldest and most established of humanity, and gave a moral lesson to regional and international political forces," KCK stated, adding that they have also strengthened "brotherhood" between neighbour nations of Arabs, Turkmen, Syriacs, and Armenians, among others.
"The Kurdish nation, the nations of the Middle East, and all the democratic forces of the world should not remain silent against this baseless and unethical decision," KCK implored.
"In these days when calls for the freeing of leader Apo [Ocalan] and delisting the PKK from the terror list in Europe are taking place, our people and democratic forces should exhibit a strong stance against this attack on our comrades Duran Kalkan, Cemil Bayik and Murat Karayilan," added KCK.
"Against these attacks, aimed at eradicating the Kurdish nation, a strong struggle has to be waged.”