War veterans condemn enthusiastic welcome of returning PKK members

“The picture at the Habur border gate showed that it was not terrorists who surrendered. It was the government who surrendered. This picture has deeply hurt people who believe in the sacredness of this country,” noted Hamit Köse, the chairman of the association.

The terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) turned over a group of its members to Turkish authorities on Monday at the Habur border gate, a groundbreaking move that may lead to the PKK laying down its arms, strengthening the hand of the government in its recently launched democratization package to end the country's decades-old Kurdish problem. The total number of people in the group was reported to be 34.

The group was welcomed by a crowd, including Democratic Society Party (DTP) leaders Ahmet Türk and Emine Ayna, DTP party officials and thousands of people who enthusiastically welcomed the group. The crowd chanted slogans in support of the PKK and the terrorist groups jailed leader, Abdullah Öcalan.

Highly critical of preparations by the pro-Kurdish DTP for the surrender of the PKK terrorists, Köse said: “They were allowed to set up tents near the border gate days before [the return] and launch a welcome ceremony. They praised crimes committed. This is a crime.”

The association was also frustrated over the release of the members of the terrorist group without any punishment. “They said they did not regret their crimes and refused to avail themselves of the repentance law. This is means they do not regret having engaged in acts of terror and shooting bullets at police officers and soldiers,” Köse noted.

Upon their arrival in Turkey from the Habur gate, 34 PKK members were interrogated by special public prosecutors who demanded the arrest of five of them for previously issued warrants for promoting the PKK and being a member of the organization. But a civilian court set up at the Habur border crossing decided to free them on their own recognizance.

“So-called intellectuals said it would hurt terrorists to ask them if they regret their past crimes. The terrorists said they did not surrender but returned to Turkey as peace envoys. Here I would like to ask our prime minister: How will you protect the rights of our slain soldiers? By forgiving their killers? Or by setting up courts under their feet and sending prosecutors to their service? I demand answers to my questions,” Köse remarked.

Another press conference was held in southern Antalya by the association's branch there. Ali Kuş, the branch chairman, lashed out at the joyful welcome of PKK members by the DTP.

“They were neither our soldiers who completed their military service nor pilgrims returning from the holy land. They were treacherous terrorists who shot bullets at our soldiers, police officers, children and even babies,” said Kuş, the branch chairman of the association, and said his association denounced strongly and with hatred the entry of terrorist group members into Turkey as if they had won a victory.

“Unfortunately, those bloody-handed terrorists descended from the mountains under the veil of ‘peace envoys.' We denounce their welcome with drummers, PKK flags and banners of Öcalan, the baby killer,” Kuş added.

Kuş also said the way PKK terrorists were welcomed in the country was treachery toward Turkey's war veterans.

One of the members of the association, Yalçın Kaçar, said he has lost his confidence in the state and the army regarding military service. “Children of middle-class families are killed during their military service. We were talking about our love for the nation and our country, but I don't carry the same feelings anymore. I used to say that I was ready to serve for another time in the army, but I no longer plan to send my son or relatives to the army. I will help my son evade military service if necessary,” he said. Kaçar was wounded during a clash with PKK terrorists during the period he served in the army in the Southeast.