October 8 , 2007

ATAA Condemns the Terrorist Attacks by the PKK

The Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) condemns the terrorist attack by the PKK Kurdish nationalist organization that killed 13 young Turkish soldiers yesterday in the Turkish southeast.

The ATAA conveys its deepest sorrows to the families of the victims and the people of Turkey.  The loss of one life shatters hundreds of lives, which is the ultimate aim of terrorism.  One life lost is one life too many.

PKK terrorists stage attacks from northern Iraq, consistently crossing the border into Turkey, carrying out violent attacks against civilian and military targets, and returning to their bases in Northern Iraq to seek safe haven, with Iraqi Kurdish complicity.

US and Iraqi efforts to prevent PKK terrorists from operating from Iraq are woefully insufficient, costing over 1000 lives in the past two years.

Turkey has a right to defend its people against PKK terrorism, even if that means entering a neighboring state that is unable or unwilling to control terrorist activities in its territory.  Turkey must take assertive and complete action, now.

Though the PKK has been officially recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States and major world governments, PKK terrorist activity has been largely ignored or covered under euphemisms such as “freedom fighters” and “separatists.” by the US media.  It is time that such horrific acts are recognized for what they are, and genuine cooperation is implemented for the US, Turkey and Iraq to eradicate terrorist enclaves.

As the preeminent organization representing the Turkish American community, we offer our heartfelt condolences to the families of the tens of thousands of victims who have perished as a result of the terrorist activity of the PKK.