Rebel group , the Kurdistan Workers’ Party ( PKK ), has said that it will negotiate with Ankara 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 TAK , he warned: “The Kurds will defend themselves to the end, so long as this is the Kurds approach - of course the Rebel group 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. The Turkish government has condemned not only the PKK but also the Kurdish HDP (People's Democratic Party), which won 59 seats in the 550-seat Turkish parliament in November. 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 last July . Separately, the Turkish authorities have ruled out any talks with the PKK .
Rebel group , the Kurdistan Workers’ Party ( PKK ), has said that it will negotiate with Ankara 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 TAK , he warned: “The Kurds will defend themselves to the end, so long as this is the Kurds approach - of course the Rebel group 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 last July . Separately, the Turkish authorities have ruled out any talks with the PKK .