The Workers' Party of Kurdistan (PKK)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs - TurkeyII. Political and Strategic Objectives
In 1977, the PKK published a series of "communiqu�s" demanding the separation of Kurdistan from Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Syria. These communiqu�s condemned the Turkish government for engaging In repressive "exploitation" of the Kurds and a "denial" of their educational and cultural heritage. The communiqu�s further declared that the "fundamental force of the revolution would be a worker-peasant alliance," with the "proletariat providing the Ideological, political, and organizational leadership," while the peasantry would constitute the "main force" of the "popular army." "Victory" would be achieved through a "mobilization of the broad forces of the people and a long-term struggle." The PKK openly advocated the use of violence to achieve change and declared "revolutionary violence has to play this role In Kurdistan, and it will, we say, assume the form of revolutionary revenge."
During many previous Interviews, Ocalan evaded questions about the objectives of his organization and tended to formulate his responses based on what he thought the political climate would sustain. During one interview, Ocalan stated that the PKK aimed to create a Kurdish "federation" In the Middle East. He maintained that this system would be most effective in promoting societal development and unity In the area. In the early 1990s, Ocalan stressed the Importance of liberating the Kurdish-dominated region of Turkey and establishing a civil authority there.
In 1993, Ocalan revealed his most ambitious objective during another interview by describing his intention to form a "National United Front." He stated that "among the expected , developments will be to better enlist the south (Iraq Kurdistan) to serve the struggle, make . Causal play a more effective role, and rails the struggle In Europe to an even higher notch." In this interview, Ocalan summarized the PKK's political objective as a "total national democratic liberation war against the escalating total warfare."
Following the conclusion of Turkey's "Operation Steel," a tremendous Turkish government military operation that occurred in March 1995 to uncover and apprehend PKK terrorists operating from within northern Iraq, Ocalan warned that he plans to create a "Second Vietnam" In Turkey. He further claimed that the conflict between the PKK and Turkey will spread to other areas of Turkey. He stated that Operation Steel had brought Iraq Kurds into cohesion with PKK members lrecause "For the first time, the Kurds of Iraq felt broad sympathy and great Interest In the PKK." Ocalan also mamtained that at least 15,000 Kurds residing in Germany are "active members" of the PKK.
In summary, the Ideology and objectives of the PKK Include the formation of a federation system within the Middle East In which the rights of the Kurdish people will be observed and preserved; the taint over of certain areas within the Republic of Turkey where the Kurdish population is heavily concentrated; and the waging of a war for the independence of Kurdistan In response to the alleged warfare conducted by the Turkish authorities against the Kurdish population In Turkey.
The Workers' Party of Kurdistan (PKK)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Turkey