PKK Ceasefire Extended for 1 Week

The Executive Council of the Democratic Confederation of Kurdistan (KCK), the umbrella organisation that includes the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), announced and extension of the current ceasefire for one more week until their next announcement. The KCK had declared a ceasefire on 13 August this year which was going to expire today (20 September).

The KCK severely criticized the state's attempts to hold them responsible for the explosion of a roadside mine in the south-eastern province of Hakkari on 17 September. The attack left nine people dead and four passengers wounded.

The Fırat News Agency ANF had the news about the organization's latest announcement for an extension of the ceasefire. According to ANF, the KCK decided to prolong the ceasefire until their next announcement after a meeting to be held in the coming week.

In their announcement, the KCK criticized the media for publishing news that said that the PKK had its stake in the attack because of "infighting between members".

"We issued an announcement that we had nothing to do with the incident of the mine explosion in the town of Peyanis in Hakkari in which civilians were bloodthirstily murdered. The Turkish government and special warfare bodies issued wrong news and intentionally made announcements to channel the public opinion related to the attack. By developing an opposition to our patriotic people, it was said that this bloodshed happened because of 'infighting between PKK members'. The names of some members of the HPG [People's Defence Forces, armed wing of the PKK] came to the agenda to bring down our movement. We call on our people, on a democratic environment and on everybody to be sensitive about not to be deceived by these misleading lies".

"Today [20 September] is the last day of the ceasefire we declared on 13 August. This time passed as a rather tensed period which was not marked by the lack violence. Nevertheless, its importance must be protected. We found it appropriate to announce our decision in the coming week after having evaluated the new situation and new developments in this context. The ceasefire will be valid until our next announcement".

The KCK furthermore expressed its support for a boycott campaign in schools in the region related to the right to education in the mother tongue and called the schools to join. The organization argued that this was a basic right and said: "It is a natural right for the Kurdish children to be educated in their mother tongue. It is a patriotic and human duty of all people from Kurdistan to join the five-day school boycott which was initiated for this aim". (EÖ/VK)