PKK Released Eight Hostages; One Soldier Abducted

As reported on 3 October, 24-year-old Special Sergeant Kemal Ekinci from Gaziantep (eastern Mediterranean) was abducted by the armed outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on 1 October in the Cumhuriyet district of Şırnak (south-eastern Turkey). Ekinci was on his way to Çakırca Brigade when he was kidnapped.

On 2 October, the PKK released the four workers Hacı Kozludereli, Ali Çatak, Doğan Dönekli and Doğan Kaz. They had been kidnapped together with another four workers on 9 September from a dam construction site in Siirt (south-east). Ten construction machines were set on fire. Four workers were released on the way after a short while, the other four workers were kept hostages. After their release on Sunday (2 October), they gave their statements to the gendarmerie.

Moreover, village guards Mahmut Yalçın, Mehmet Ali Kahraman, Saffet Timur and Nesim Timur were released in the past days. They had been abducted by the PKK on 8 September in Şırnak (Beytüşşebap Township, Mezra Municipality).

A total of 19 people are still being kept hostages by the PKK since July, among them three soldiers, one district governor candidate, two drivers, one village guard and twelve teachers. (NV/VK)