Erdogan accuses PKK of 'exploiting' Kurds

ANKARA

Turkey’s president has accused the PKK of exploiting the ‘solution process’ and the Kurdish people.

In a speech to village leaders in Ankara on Tuesday, Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked: "Is it possible for an organization that shoots, ruins and destroys ambulances, fire vehicles, mosques, schools, work places and homes to struggle for the people in the region?"

Erdogan said the terrorist organization is not only "an enemy" of the country but also of "Kurdish brothers," adding that it wanted to make Turkish and Kurdish people enemies of each other.

The president also said the PKK is not a part of the nation, adding: "Those who attack our country's benefits and aim at its unity and integrity do not belong to this nation, whatever title they have, even if they are in the parliament."

The latter comment is thought to be a thinly veiled reference to the People’s Democratic Party (HDP).

Without naming HDP explicitly, Erdogan asked: "Those who backed the terrorist organization, what did you do apart from digging [ditches]? While digging, you disturbed the people there."

Talks between the PKK leadership and the government were facilitated by the HDP and ran for two-and-a-half years as both sides sought to bring the 30-year Kurdish conflict to an end.

However, fighting resumed following the July 20 Suruc massacre, in which 33 pro-Kurdish activists were killed in a Daesh-linked bomb attack. More than 120 members of the security forces have been martyred by the PKK since, according to the government, with around 30 civilians killed.

ANKARA

Turkey’s president has accused the PKK of exploiting the ‘solution process’ and the Kurdish people.

Erdogan said the terrorist organization is not only "an enemy" of the country but also of "Kurdish brothers," adding that it wanted to make Turkish and Kurdish people enemies of each other.

The latter comment is thought to be a thinly veiled reference to the People’s Democratic Party (HDP).

Without naming HDP explicitly, Erdogan asked: "Those who backed the terrorist organization, what did you do apart from digging [ditches]? While digging, you disturbed the people there."

Talks between the PKK leadership and the government were facilitated by the HDP and ran for two-and-a-half years as both sides sought to bring the 30-year Kurdish conflict to an end.