NCJ Number
223076
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 32 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 2008 Pages: 65-88
Date Published
2008
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effectiveness of five counterterrorism measures used by the Turkish Government to reduce or eliminate the terrorist activities of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has used terrorist tactics for the past 30 years in its effort to create a separate Kurdish nation-state in the southeastern province of Turkey.
Abstract
The five counterterrorism measures used by the Turkish Government against the PKK are a law that prohibits the use of Kurdish language (1983-1991); a state of emergency (1987-2002); the depopulation of southeastern Turkey (1992-1998); Turkey's foreign policy change (1998); and the capture of the leader Ocalan (1999). The overall conclusion from this examination of five strategies for reducing or eliminating the PKK's terrorist activities is that any one strategy that counters a particular terrorist tactic can be effective for a period of time but will probably not result in the permanent cessation of a persistent terrorist group driven by a passion to achieve its goals. When one terrorist tactic is effectively addressed, it will only be a matter of time before a new and deadly tactic will be devised; for example, the evacuation of Kurdish villagers from Turkey's southeast province (depopulation) was effective in disrupting the PKK supply line and PKK's ability to blend in with the Kurdish population while launching attacks against government forces in rural areas. This counterterrorist strategy was only effective for a time, however, as the PKK adopted a new tactic of urban terrorist activity. The findings of this study argue for a multidimensional and intelligence-based approach to terrorist groups that counters specific terrorist tactics being used at any given time while constantly collecting and assessing information on the likelihood of alternative terrorist tactics being developed. 4 figures, 7 notes and 84 references