Rebel group, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has said that it will negotiate with Turkey but refuses to surrender. Its leader, Cemil Bayik, revealed that current attempts to force the group to surrender will only intensify its operations and the conflict with Turkey. During an interview with the BBC, he warned: “The Kurds will defend themselves to the end, so long as this is the Turkish approach - of course the PKK will escalate the war.” Bayik argued that his group was not looking to divide the country, and continued to want to live within its borders. Its primary goal, however, is to have what he described as “Kurds’ innate rights” accepted within Turkey. Notably, Bayik sought to distance the PKK from the Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), which claimed responsibility for bomb attacks in the capital in February and March. The PYD also announced on Monday that they would be holding a referendum on independence by September 2017.
Rebel group, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has said that it will negotiate with Turkey but refuses to surrender. Its leader, Cemil Bayik, revealed that current attempts to force the group to surrender will only intensify its operations and the conflict with Turkey. During an interview with the BBC, he warned: “The Kurds will defend themselves to the end, so long as this is the Turkish approach - of course the PKK will escalate the war.” Bayik argued that his group was not looking to divide the country, and continued to want to live within its borders. Its primary goal, however, is to have what he described as “Kurds’ innate rights” accepted within Turkey. Notably, Bayik sought to distance the PKK from the Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), which claimed responsibility for bomb attacks in the capital in February and March. Separately, the Turkish authorities have ruled out any talks with the PKK.