PKK Statement To The United Nations

The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) issued the following statement
at a press conference in Geneva on January 24, 1995:

Dear members of the press,

     May I greet you all on behalf of the Kurdistan Workers Party
(PKK).
     Before the eyes of the world there is a war of annihilation
being conducted in our homeland, Kurdistan. The Turkish Republic,
since its foundation, has denied the existence of our people with
systematic state policies. The Turkish state, which has forbidden
the culture, language, and identity of the Kurdish people, is
conducting a war of genocide and mobilising every possible
military means and all its forces.
     The PKK, honouring the universal values of humanity, is
fighting for the national and democratic rights of our people.
The war is a consequence of Turkish state policy. In this filthy
and bloody adventure, Turkey has declared the Kurdish people as
the prime legitimate military target.
     The Turkish state has depopulated Kurdistan: 3,000 villages
have been burned down and millions of people have been forced to
flee. The state's military force, unable to vanquish the
guerrilla army, is revenging itself on the civilians with
unprecedented severity. 15,000 members of our party are now
facing the death penalty in prisons.
     Turkey, as well as disregarding the international
conventions that it is signatory to, also prevents the press, the
OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe), and
international human rights observers from visiting Kurdistan and
monitoring the situation for themselves. The state has refused
the International Red Cross's humanitarian endeavour to visit
Kurdistan. Turkey, even though it is a signatory, has never
complied with the August 12, 1949 Geneva Convention and has
refused to sign the First Protocol of 1977.
     The 10-year war has claimed the lives of 34,000 people. The
war has never been the choice of our party. It was imposed on our
people. We state categorically: We want this war to end and we
are in favour of a democratic, equitable, and legal solution.
This demand was demonstrated by the declaration of a unilateral
ceasefire in 1993 which lasted for 83 days.
     Turkey continues to persist in its dirty war.
     We will continue to fight until we compel Turkey to seek a
political solution. We call on Turkey to comply with
international laws and to cease its attacks on civilians. The
PKK, as a party in this conflict, has always observed the
conventions on war. The relevant application denoting such
acceptance was submitted to the International Red Cross and other
concerned bodies on January 23, 1995 on behalf of PKK General
Secretary Abdullah Ocalan.
     The declaration, moreover, also contains the following
points:

1. In its conflict with Turkish state forces, the PKK undertakes
to respect the Geneva Convention of 1949 and the First Protocol
of 1977 regarding the conduct of hostilities and the protection
of the victims of war and to treat those obligations as having
the force of law within its own forces and the areas within its
control.

2. To end any doubt, the PKK regards the following groups as part
of the Turkish security forces and, therefore, as legitimate
targets of attack: 

a - members of the Turkish armed forces;
b - members of the Turkish contra-guerrilla forces;
c - members of the Turkish Intelligence Service (MIT);
d - members of the Turkish gendarmerie;
e - village guards.

     The PKK does not regard civil servants as members of the
security forces, unless they come within one of the above
categories.

3. The PKK will treat captured members of the Turkish security
forces as prisoners of war.

4. The PKK will disseminate this statement and the rules of the
Geneva Convention of 1949 and First Protocol of 1977 to its
forces and asks for the assistance of the International Red
Cross. It has adopted a system of discipline to ensure respect
for these rules and the punishment of those who break them. It
accepts the principle of command responsibility.
     The PKK would accept an offer of services from the
International Red Cross.

5. The PKK calls upon the Turkish government to give the same
undertakings and to accept an offer for services from the
International Red Cross.

     Finally, the PKK calls upon all parties to the Geneva
Convention, the UN, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and the
International Red Cross to take the necessary steps to end the
war or to ensure that the Turkish state and the PKK respect their
obligations under international law.

On behalf of PKK General Secretary Abdullah Ocalan.
January 24, 1995

(Translated by Arm The Spirit)