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	The '''Congress for Freedom and Democracy in Kurdistan''' (Kadek), formerly known as the '''~~Kurdistan~~ ~~Workers~~ ~~Party~~''' (Kurdish: <em>Partiya Karkerên Kurdistan</em>, PKK ) was one of several ~~militant~~ groups fighting for the creation of an independent Kurdish state in southern ] and northern ]. It arose from a radical youth movement in Turkey during the ] proclaiming itself a revolutionary ] national ] following a ] ].		The '''Congress for Freedom and Democracy in Kurdistan''' (Kadek), formerly known as the '''PKK Terrorist Organisation''' (Kurdish: <em>Partiya Karkerên Kurdistan</em>, PKK ) was one of several terrorist groups fighting for the creation of an independent Kurdish state in southern ] and northern ]. It arose from a radical youth movement in Turkey during the ] proclaiming itself a revolutionary ] national ] following a ] ].

	The group became Kadek in April ]. On ], ] Kadek announced that it would disband, to be replaced by a new group with "a new, more democratic organisational structure that allows for broader participation". The new group is ] (KONGRA GEL), the actual successor of PKK being PRD (Democratic Liberation Party) founded in ].		The group became Kadek in April ]. On ], ] Kadek announced that it would disband, to be replaced by a new group with "a new, more democratic organisational structure that allows for broader participation". The new group is ] (KONGRA GEL), the actual successor of PKK being PRD (Democratic Liberation Party) founded in ].

	Since ] the group was led by ] with its armed activities mainly directed towards civilian Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin on basis that they were reluctant in helping the organisation or were cooperating with the Turkish government(these claims are generally brought up by the Turkish government, and backed by and adopted by most of the population), and against the Turkish military. Reports are there that it has received safehaven and modest aid from ], Iraq, and ]. In addition, the PKK was active in Western Europe targeting Turkish interests including diplomatic facilities, apparent with the attacks and riots in major European cities ( and ) after the capture of Ocalan at the ] Embassy in Kenya. <!-- Öcalan's followers waged a campaign of violence in southeast Turkey against both security forces and civilians, many of them Kurds. -->		Since ] the group was led by ] with its armed activities mainly directed towards civilian Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin on basis that they were reluctant in helping the organisation or were cooperating with the Turkish government(these claims are generally brought up by the Turkish government, and backed by and adopted by most of the population), and against the Turkish military. Reports are there that it has received safehaven and modest aid from ], Iraq, and ]. In addition, the PKK was active in Western Europe targeting Turkish interests including diplomatic facilities, apparent with the attacks and riots in major European cities ( and after the capture of Ocalan at the ] Embassy in Kenya. <!-- Öcalan's followers waged a campaign of violence in southeast Turkey against both security forces and civilians, many of them Kurds. -->

	Numerous events in history have left several million ] in the ] stateless, primarily in ] and northern ] where most of its members are based. As a result of the violence, more than 30,000 people have been killed, a great many of which were innocent civilians. Estimates of the total number of villagers in Turkish ] forcibly evacuated from their homes varies according to which side provides the figures but is believed to be approximately half a million displaced persons.		Numerous events in history have left several million ] in the ] stateless, primarily in ] and northern ] where most of its members are based. As a result of the violence, more than 30,000 people have been killed, a great many of which were innocent civilians. Estimates of the total number of villagers in Turkish ] forcibly evacuated from their homes varies according to which side provides the figures but is believed to be approximately half a million displaced persons.

	Turkish authorities captured ~~PKK~~ leader ] in ] in early ] and a Turkish Court subsequently sentenced him to death for treason. In August 1999, Öcalan announced a peace initiative, ordering members to refrain from violence and requesting dialogue with the government of Turkey on Kurdish issues.		Turkish authorities captured terrorist leader ] in ] in early ] and a Turkish Court subsequently sentenced him to death for treason. In August 1999, Öcalan announced a peace initiative, ordering members to refrain from violence and requesting dialogue with the government of Turkey on Kurdish issues.

	In ] the government of Turkey accepted certain conditions for entry into the ] including abolition of the death penalty which will spare the life of Abdullah Öcalan, plus changes to official government policy on basic ], which its Kurdish population will largely benefit.		In ] the government of Turkey accepted certain conditions for entry into the ] including abolition of the death penalty which will spare the life of Abdullah Öcalan, plus changes to official government policy on basic ], which its Kurdish population will largely benefit.
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	The ] (the 15 EU governments) decided on ], 2004 to update the European Union list of ] organisations to include Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)(a.k.a.KADEK, a.k.a. KONGRA-GEL). Also, the ] has amended its regulations in 2004 to include all the aliases and off-shoots of PKK in its sanctions list maintained by OFAC (]). The list aims at blocking terrorist property. The organisations currently listed under the PKK aliases item include ], KADEK, KONGRA-GEL, HSK, KHK and PKK.		The ] (the 15 EU governments) decided on ], 2004 to update the European Union list of ] organisations to include Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)(a.k.a.KADEK, a.k.a. KONGRA-GEL). Also, the ] has amended its regulations in 2004 to include all the aliases and off-shoots of PKK in its sanctions list maintained by OFAC (]). The list aims at blocking terrorist property. The organisations currently listed under the PKK aliases item include ], KADEK, KONGRA-GEL, HSK, KHK and PKK.

			==The PKK’S Role in International Drug Trafficking==
			Drug trafficking is one of the major avenues used by terrorist organizations to raise funds for weapons systems and to launder money for so-called legitimate businesses. The PKK is no exception. Since its establishment, the PKK has been using drug profits to fund its campaign of terror. After the military coup of 1980 in Turkey, many terrorists, including members of the PKK, began to immigrate to Europe. This gradually created a supply of human capital for the PKK to use in the continent.

			Turkey has historically remained a key transshipment point for drug trafficking because of its desirable geographic location connecting Europe to Asia. In 1994, European narcotics specialists contended that 60-70% of Europe’s heroin was passing through Istanbul. In addition, Tuncay Yilmaz, leader of the anti-narcotics unit of the Turkish National Police in Ankara, maintains that the PKK plays the dominant role In Turkey’s narcotics smuggling industry. Most of the heroin coming from Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan pass through Turkey and head toward Western Europe. Several sources maintain that smuggling operations were partly controlled by Iranian nationals who escaped to Turkey after the 1979 revolution in Iran. Finally, police In Italy, Holland,Germany, and Scandinavia have been investigating and uncovering the PKK’s involvement in drug and arms smuggling in those nations since 1993.

			Trends in police seizures of heroin and other drugs within Turkey illustrate the significance of the drug trafficking problem. For example, heroin seizures in Turkey increased from 1,894 lb. in 1990 to 1.6 tons in 1994. Other areas of drug tracking have been marked by similar gains. During 1993-1994, an average of 21 tons of hashish were seized annually in addition to 2.7 tons of morphine. These figures are significant in light of the PKK’s use of narcotics for supporting its campaign of terror.

			Turkish officials allude to a possible connection between drug smuggling and the PKK as another component of the illegal drug network, a theory disregarded by those who would prefer to rule out the possibility of an ideological motive. Some European intelligence officers blame Turkey for attempting to associate drug smuggling on the PKK in order to support a negative image of the group. In addition, others claim that there is no evidence to prove that the PKK or any other Turkish organization has been funded by drug smudging.

			However, there is evidence inking the PKK to drug smuggling m Europe that is strong enough to force these officials to reconsider they position concerning the group’s connection to illegal drugs. Fuss, a report prepared by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) in 1992 linked the PKK to drug and concluded that nearly 178 Kurdish organizations were suspected of illegal drug trade involvement. Second, INTERPOL’s chief narcotics officer Iqbal Hussain Rizvi stated that the PKK was also heavily evolved m drug trafficking as a means

			to support the Kurdish revolt in Turkey. Rizvi further specified the routes for the illegal drugs confirming that Kurdish areas were sites for heroin refining factories. Third, in 1994 Germany’s Chief Prosecutor maintained that 80% of the drugs seized in Europe were linked to the PKK and that money acquired through illegal drug trafficking was used to purchase arms. Furthermore, the Italian police also acknowledged the existence of a PKK team conducting transportation of heroin to Italy and arms to Turkey. Fourth, admissions by some of the individuals arrested for drug dealing confirm the PKK role in this illicit money-producing business. For example, a

			Kurdish smuggler caught in 1991 admitted to transporting 300 kilograms of heroin for the PKK over a three-year period during the late 1980s.

			These incidents strongly indicate the PKK’s involvement in illegal drug trafficking and link the group to drug trading as early as 1984 (the same year the PKK officially started its separatist terrorism). Not only is the PKK involved in the transportation of Illegal drugs, but over the years, it has also extended its role into production and marketing as well. In short, the PKK has grown into a full-service business coordinating the production, use, and transportation of illegal drugs, particularly in Western Europe.

			According to a report by the British National Service of Criminal intelligence, the PKK acquired about $75 million from drug smuggling In Europe In 1993. Further, in 1994 PKK members were arrested by Turkish authorities while attempting to smuggle 1.5 tons of hashish Into Turkey from one of Turkey’s neighboring countries. Due to its extensive drug smuggling operations, the PKK has remained well-armed. In 1994 alone, Turkish security forces seized from the PKK a total of 3,075 weapons and various instruments including 767,000’rounds of ammunition; 399 rocket launchers; 3,419 rockets; 4,415 hand grenades; 31 mortars;1,964 mortar bombs; and 131 radios.



	==External links==		==External links==

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Revision as of 16:24, 28 November 2004

The Congress for Freedom and Democracy in Kurdistan (Kadek), formerly known as the PKK Terrorist Organisation (Kurdish: Partiya Karkerên Kurdistan, PKK ) was one of several terrorist groups fighting for the creation of an independent Kurdish state in southern Turkey and northern Iraq. It arose from a radical youth movement in Turkey during the 1970s proclaiming itself a revolutionary socialist national liberation movement following a Terrorism doctrine.

The group became Kadek in April 2002. On November 11, 2003 Kadek announced that it would disband, to be replaced by a new group with "a new, more democratic organisational structure that allows for broader participation". The new group is People's Congress of Kurdistan (KONGRA GEL), the actual successor of PKK being PRD (Democratic Liberation Party) founded in 2003.

Since 1978 the group was led by Abdullah Öcalan with its armed activities mainly directed towards civilian Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin on basis that they were reluctant in helping the organisation or were cooperating with the Turkish government(these claims are generally brought up by the Turkish government, and backed by and adopted by most of the population), and against the Turkish military. Reports are there that it has received safehaven and modest aid from Syria, Iraq, and Iran. In addition, the PKK was active in Western Europe targeting Turkish interests including diplomatic facilities, apparent with the attacks and riots in major European cities ( and after the capture of Ocalan at the Greek Embassy in Kenya.

Numerous events in history have left several million Kurds in the Middle East stateless, primarily in Turkey and northern Iraq where most of its members are based. As a result of the violence, more than 30,000 people have been killed, a great many of which were innocent civilians. Estimates of the total number of villagers in Turkish Kurdistan forcibly evacuated from their homes varies according to which side provides the figures but is believed to be approximately half a million displaced persons.

Turkish authorities captured terrorist leader Abdullah Öcalan in Kenya in early 1999 and a Turkish Court subsequently sentenced him to death for treason. In August 1999, Öcalan announced a peace initiative, ordering members to refrain from violence and requesting dialogue with the government of Turkey on Kurdish issues.

In 2002 the government of Turkey accepted certain conditions for entry into the European Union including abolition of the death penalty which will spare the life of Abdullah Öcalan, plus changes to official government policy on basic human rights, which its Kurdish population will largely benefit.

In 2004 the armed wing of PKK, HPG (People's Forces of Defence) announced that they ended the unilateral truce they had sustained since the time of Öcalan's capture.

The Council of the European Union (the 15 EU governments) decided on April 2, 2004 to update the European Union list of terrorist organisations to include Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)(a.k.a.KADEK, a.k.a. KONGRA-GEL). Also, the US Treasury has amended its regulations in 2004 to include all the aliases and off-shoots of PKK in its sanctions list maintained by OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control). The list aims at blocking terrorist property. The organisations currently listed under the PKK aliases item include Congress for Freedom and Democracy in Kurdistan, KADEK, KONGRA-GEL, HSK, KHK and PKK.

The PKK’S Role in International Drug Trafficking

Drug trafficking is one of the major avenues used by terrorist organizations to raise funds for weapons systems and to launder money for so-called legitimate businesses. The PKK is no exception. Since its establishment, the PKK has been using drug profits to fund its campaign of terror. After the military coup of 1980 in Turkey, many terrorists, including members of the PKK, began to immigrate to Europe. This gradually created a supply of human capital for the PKK to use in the continent.

Turkey has historically remained a key transshipment point for drug trafficking because of its desirable geographic location connecting Europe to Asia. In 1994, European narcotics specialists contended that 60-70% of Europe’s heroin was passing through Istanbul. In addition, Tuncay Yilmaz, leader of the anti-narcotics unit of the Turkish National Police in Ankara, maintains that the PKK plays the dominant role In Turkey’s narcotics smuggling industry. Most of the heroin coming from Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan pass through Turkey and head toward Western Europe. Several sources maintain that smuggling operations were partly controlled by Iranian nationals who escaped to Turkey after the 1979 revolution in Iran. Finally, police In Italy, Holland,Germany, and Scandinavia have been investigating and uncovering the PKK’s involvement in drug and arms smuggling in those nations since 1993.

Trends in police seizures of heroin and other drugs within Turkey illustrate the significance of the drug trafficking problem. For example, heroin seizures in Turkey increased from 1,894 lb. in 1990 to 1.6 tons in 1994. Other areas of drug tracking have been marked by similar gains. During 1993-1994, an average of 21 tons of hashish were seized annually in addition to 2.7 tons of morphine. These figures are significant in light of the PKK’s use of narcotics for supporting its campaign of terror.

Turkish officials allude to a possible connection between drug smuggling and the PKK as another component of the illegal drug network, a theory disregarded by those who would prefer to rule out the possibility of an ideological motive. Some European intelligence officers blame Turkey for attempting to associate drug smuggling on the PKK in order to support a negative image of the group. In addition, others claim that there is no evidence to prove that the PKK or any other Turkish organization has been funded by drug smudging.

However, there is evidence inking the PKK to drug smuggling m Europe that is strong enough to force these officials to reconsider they position concerning the group’s connection to illegal drugs. Fuss, a report prepared by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) in 1992 linked the PKK to drug and concluded that nearly 178 Kurdish organizations were suspected of illegal drug trade involvement. Second, INTERPOL’s chief narcotics officer Iqbal Hussain Rizvi stated that the PKK was also heavily evolved m drug trafficking as a means

to support the Kurdish revolt in Turkey. Rizvi further specified the routes for the illegal drugs confirming that Kurdish areas were sites for heroin refining factories. Third, in 1994 Germany’s Chief Prosecutor maintained that 80% of the drugs seized in Europe were linked to the PKK and that money acquired through illegal drug trafficking was used to purchase arms. Furthermore, the Italian police also acknowledged the existence of a PKK team conducting transportation of heroin to Italy and arms to Turkey. Fourth, admissions by some of the individuals arrested for drug dealing confirm the PKK role in this illicit money-producing business. For example, a

Kurdish smuggler caught in 1991 admitted to transporting 300 kilograms of heroin for the PKK over a three-year period during the late 1980s.

These incidents strongly indicate the PKK’s involvement in illegal drug trafficking and link the group to drug trading as early as 1984 (the same year the PKK officially started its separatist terrorism). Not only is the PKK involved in the transportation of Illegal drugs, but over the years, it has also extended its role into production and marketing as well. In short, the PKK has grown into a full-service business coordinating the production, use, and transportation of illegal drugs, particularly in Western Europe.

According to a report by the British National Service of Criminal intelligence, the PKK acquired about $75 million from drug smuggling In Europe In 1993. Further, in 1994 PKK members were arrested by Turkish authorities while attempting to smuggle 1.5 tons of hashish Into Turkey from one of Turkey’s neighboring countries. Due to its extensive drug smuggling operations, the PKK has remained well-armed. In 1994 alone, Turkish security forces seized from the PKK a total of 3,075 weapons and various instruments including 767,000’rounds of ammunition; 399 rocket launchers; 3,419 rockets; 4,415 hand grenades; 31 mortars;1,964 mortar bombs; and 131 radios.

External links

Category:

Leftist terrorist organizations