Violence threatens to make comeback in southeast Turkey

[dArKeR]

AFP , DIYARBAKIR, TURKEY
Monday, May 31, 2004,Page 6

Turkey's southeast, once the theater of a 15-year bloody insurgency for Kurdish self-rule, is under risk of being pulled into renewed violence amid an increase in fighting between Kurdish rebels and security forces, according to observers in the mainly Kurdish region.

"Twenty-six people, both rebels and members of the security forces, have been killed in the past two months. This points to an increase," Selahattin Demirtas, the head of the Diyarbakir branch of the Turkish Human Rights Association, said.

The new incidents of fighting follow a five-year lull which began after rebels of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) -- now known as KONGRA-GEL -- declared a unilateral ceasefire and withdrew from Turkey in 1999.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/05/31/2003157684

[lanparty]

1. Remember ...

If Iraq splits up, the region is likely to go into ALL OUT WAR in a bid to join Kurdistan.

[Zhade]

2. Yet another of the scenarios we anti-war folks mentioned before the war...

God, I'm getting spiritually sick at being so right so often.