December
2, 2006: Turkish military operations in Sirnak province (southeastern
Turkey) found 270 pounds of explosives held by the PKK, as well as 52 RPG
rockets and a half-dozen assault rifles.
November
24, 2006: One Turkish soldier died in a PKK ambush in Sirnak province. In the
firefight after the ambush, one PKK guerrilla was killed. The Turkish unit was
conducting a counter-guerrilla sweep of the area. On November 23 the Turkish
military reported that it had killed two PKK guerrillas in the same area. The
Turks believe that the PKK was infiltrating from bases in northern Iraq. The
Turks also contend that the "ceasefire" called for by the PKK 0n October 1,
2006, is really a "tactical move" to help the PKK cadres in northern Iraq
survive through the Winter.
November
23, 2006: Turkey and Iran announced that the two nations have established a
bilateral "commission" to combat "Kurdish" terrorism. The commission will deal
with the PKK and the Iranian PEJAK (PKK in Iran). It is unclear exactly what
the commission will do. However, Turkish officials reported that there are
groups in Iran that have called for "joint operations" (ie, Turkish and Iranian
troops operating together) against Kurdish separatists. Approximately four
million Kurds live in Iran. Six million Kurds live in Iraq. From twelve to
fifteen million (depending on the source of the figures) live in Turkey.
November
19, 2006: The Turkish government is increasingly critical of the US-sponsored
Iraq-Turkey-US "three-party" process which is supposed to bring the PKK in Iraq
to heel. The Turks complain that Iraqi Kurds are not cooperating with the US
and the Iraqi government. Iraq and the US want to appoint an Iraqi Kurd
representative to the "three-party" council, but Turkey has objected.
November
17, 2006: Iraq told the Turkey that Iraq will never be a refuge for
rebels threatening neighbors. Iraq promised Turkey that it would work
with the Turks on issues involving the PKK. But Iraq has been long on promises,
and short on delivery.
