ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (Teyrebazen Azadiya Kurdistan – TAK) claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s suicide bombing in Ankara that killed 28 and wounding 61 others, calling it a “War Of Taking Revenge.” “This was a revenge for Kurds killed and burned in Cizre by the fascist Erdogan and his gang,” the group said in a statement published online on Saturday. The month-long Turkish military operations in the majority Kurdish town of Cizre in Turkey’s southeast ended on February 11. The Turkish military claimed their activities in the city were part of security operations against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Locals report at least 145 civilians were killed and pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtas accused Turkish authorities of committing a massacre there. The town remains under curfew. Little is known about TAK. It appeared on the scene in mid-2004, carrying out small, non-lethal attacks at first. However they quickly, and deliberately, began targeting and killing civilians and tourists. It appears to have been founded within the the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and still claims Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned head of the PKK, as its leader though it severed ties with that organization, stating that they could no longer accept what they call the “passive struggle methods” of the PKK. “We will be in more radical position… After now, our attacks will continue and become more violently [sic]. We, as an organization are not connected with or dependent on any one or anywhere. Each militants [sic] of our force is ready to sacrifice his/her life for this struggle. We have the will and force to do all kind of action. Our military training and technical opportunities are adequacy [sic] for all kind of actions,” proclaimed an undated statement published on TAK’s website announcing its separation from the PKK. TAK’s aim is to oppose Turkey’s repression of the Kurdish minority and to avenge the deaths of Kurds killed by Turkish authorities. “The military bureaucracy, economy and tourism are our top priority targets, while terror of state is not stopped [sic].” TAK’s leadership and numbers are unknown but it claims on its website that its ranks have swelled three-fold and it is welcomed by the people. In its statement released yesterday, TAK reiterated its commitment to targeting tourists, arguing that attacking the tourism industry damages Turkey economically and is therefore justified. Tourism accounts for approximately 10% of Turkey’s GDP. “Tourism is one of the most important sources feeding the dirty and special war, so it is a major target we aim to destroy,” TAK announced. “We warn the foreign and native tourists not [to] go to the touristic areas in Turkey. We are not responsible for who will die in the attacks targeting those areas. Turkey is not able (and will never be) to save you and tis [sic] own people.” The PKK has renounced the use of terrorist tactics and Ocalan has committed to seeking a political resolution to the Kurdish issue. The PKK’s armed wing claims it limits its activities to confrontations with and attacks on the Turkish military and security forces.
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