Turkish students condemn killings

The Turkish Student Association (TSA) strongly condemns the latest terrorist attack in Semdinli, in southeast Turkey, which killed 15 Turkish soldiers and wounded more than 20. After that, terrorists killed four police in Diyarbakir. The national news agencies in Turkey reported that about 350 PKK terrorists attacked the Aktutun Law Enforcement Station at about 1 p.m. Oct. 4.

According to the Turkish Armed Forces, the terrorist attack at Aktutun turned out to be a complete failure for the PKK, which was planning to take control of Bayraktepe - a crucial strategic location near Aktutun.

At least 25 terrorists were killed. The General Staff also stated that the what was clearly distinctive about the recent attack was the employment of heavy artillery and sophisticated weapons by the PKK terrorists, who launched the attack from Northern Iraq.

This week, the Turkish Parliament is scheduled to vote on a proposal to extend a mandate giving military authorization for cross-border operations against PKK rebel bases in northern Iraq for another year.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization under the United States Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act. The PKK, also known as the “Kurdistan Worker’s Party”, is a Marxist-Leninist organization that engages in cigarette smuggling, narcotics trafficking, child pornography and female trafficking to raise money for its terror operations.

Today, it operates under the banner of Kurdish nationalism.

In recent years, the PKK established camps in northern Iraq. The PKK operates from northern Iraq, consistently crossing the border into Turkey, carrying out violent attacks against civilian and military targets and returning to their bases in northern Iraq.

As the preeminent organization representing the Turkish American community, we mourn the loss of the fifteen courageous Turkish soldiers and four police officers, and offer our heartfelt condolences to their families and to the Turkish nation.
 
Mehmet Akif Demircioglu
President of the Turkish Student Association