Statistical Report: PKK behind more than 60 attacks in 2011
By Svetla Dimitrova for SES Türkiye in Sofia — 08/08/12 – Close to 90 people were killed and nearly 220 were wounded in more than 60 attacks staged by the PKK last year.In its report on terrorism in 2011, the US Department of State designated 49 groups as Foreign Terrorist Organisations and noted terrorism-related attacks in Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Greece and Kosovo. Among the designated terrorist groups in Turkey, the report listed the Kurdish separatist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), The Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C), and Turkish Hezbollah (unrelated to the Lebanese Hizbullah). The report also mentioned the detention by the Turkish authorities of members of the Islamic Jihad Union (IJU) and supporters of al-Qaeda and other militant groups.
According to the report, the PKK currently numbers approximately 4,000 to 5,000 fighters. “The PKK remained active in 2011, with approximately 61 credited attacks,” the State Department said. “At least 88 people were killed in the attacks and 216 wounded.” According to the report, Turkey’s counterterrorism efforts remained focused on dealing with the internal threat posed by militant groups, including the PKK.
“Efforts to combat international terrorism are hampered by legislation that defines terrorism narrowly as a crime targeting the Turkish state or Turkish citizens,” the report said. “A draft law before parliament on the Prevention of Terrorist Financing was initially intended to address the definitional issue; however, according to the Financial Action Task Force, the current draft is insufficient to bring this and other areas of terrorist finance legislation up to international standards.”