Kurds demand autonomy

Kurds in Turkey are demanding autonomy similar to that enjoyed by Catalonia in Spain. However, in this case they are ready to give up military operations, stated one of the leaders of Kurdish Workers Party to the Spanish Newspaper, El Mundo. The Kurds are ready to give up their claim of independence and will be prepared to co-exist peacefully in Turkey. The Kurdish Workers’ Party was established in 1978, and is based on Marxist-Leninist ideology with Kurdish nationalist features. In Turkey, as well as in Europe, it is recognized as a terrorist organization. As the Turkish Interior Ministry explained, for the last 20 years there have been up to 30 000 fighters from the Kurdish Workers Party killed or arrested. From time to time, Turkey carries out punitive measures trying to neutralize the network of Kurdish nationalists, whereas Kurds have taken responsibility for several terrorist attacks in Turkey.