PKK

The PKK, or Kurdistan Workers Party, is a paramilitary group fighting for an independent Kurdish state. Motivated by an ideology of Marxism-Leninism and Kurdish Nationalism, the PKK seeks to establish an independent state in Kurdistan, a territory comprising parts of southeastern Turkey, northern Iraq, northeastern [Syria]], and northwestern Iran. The legitamacy of the Kurdish state is denied by all of these countries and the PKK is actively opposed by them. The PKK is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, NATO and the European Union, in addition to states neighboring proposed Kurdistan. An estimated 37,000 people or more have been killed since the PKK launched its fight for independence in 1984.

• 1976-1977: Abdullah Ocalan forms the Apocular, a left-wing student group, in Turkey

• 1978: October 27, "Proclamation of Independence of PKK" officially forms the Kurdistan Workers Party

• 1979: The PKK attempts an assassination of Mehmet Celal Bucak

• 1980: November 10, The PKK claim responsibility for bombing the Turkish consulate in France

• 1984: The PKK reorganize into a paramilitary organization

• 1995: The PKK initiates a suicide bombing campaign

• 1999: Abdullah Ocalan is captured by Turkish MIT

• 2000: On the behest of Ocalan, the PKK declares a ceasefire

• 2004: Frustrated by failures to gain recognition, the PKK cancels their ceasefire

• 2004: April 2, the Council of the European Union adds the PKK to its list of terrorist organizations

• 2006: September 28, The PKK again calls for a ceasefire, but the request is not recognized by Turkey

• 2007: September-October, The PKK orchestrates several ambushes in Western Turkey

• 2007: October 17, Turkish parliament approves a military incursion into Iraq to pursue PKK members

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