PKK long known as a terror group
Re “Bush order freezing alleged terrorist funds ruled illegal,” Nov. 29
The Kurdistan Workers Party is a terrorist organization, as acknowledged by the U.S. and the European Union. The heinous acts of the Kurdistan Workers Party, the PKK, claimed more than 35,000 lives in Turkey. Following the capture of its leader, Abdullah Ocalan, in 1999, the PKK was replaced by another terrorist group, Kongra-Gel, which launched a series of bombings and attacks on civilian targets as recently as this year.
The current Iraq and Middle East bloodshed created a power vacuum that has been widely exploited by arms, drug and human traffickers. Unfortunately, the PKK is one of the main profiteers of this state of instability in the region. Suffering from the PKK’s money laundering, smuggling and other illegal activities in their territories, many European countries banned the presence of PKK offices on their territories. The United States was one of the first countries to list the PKK and its affiliates as a terrorist organization.
When all the peace-loving countries unite to fight collectively against this greatest evil of our times, which has no boundaries, makes no distinction but only creates fear and intimidation and has no respect for life and the right to live, then the scourge of international terrorism could be exterminated and eradicated for good from the face of the globe.
A. ENGIN ANSAY
Consul General of Turkey
Los Angeles
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