The Turkish military has been pounding PKK positions for the last few weeks, and recently imposed a curfew on the town of Cizre, after violence broke out.
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The huge crowd thronged Yenikapi Square on the shores of the Marmara Sea for the demonstration. Turkey began an air campaign against the PKK inside the country and in northern Iraq in the same month.
Since the conflict was renewed, 123 members of the Turkish security forces have been martyred and 29 civilians killed by the PKK, according to the government. “Martyrs never die, the homeland cannot be divided”, the headbands read.
At an “anti-terrorism rally” this weekend, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan looked out over a sea of red national flags and implored supporters to vote on Nov.1 for “domestic” candidates.
However, following a suicide bomb attack in July – blamed on Daesh – in the southeastern province of Sanliurfa that killed over 30 people, conflict has been escalated between the PKK and the Turkish armed forces.
“We will support Erdoğan to the end”.
Writing in the leading independent Hurriyet daily this week, columnist Paul Iddon warned Erdogan against any attempt to undermine the HDP, the first pro-Kurdish party to win seats in parliament. The following day Erdogan allowed the U.S. to use Incirlik airbase in southern Turkey for attacks on ISIL, and the day after Turkey launched air strikes against PKK bases in Iraq together with three symbolic strikes against ISIL on the other side of the Syrian border.
The government has accused the HDP of being a front for the PKK, allegations rejected by the party, which also enjoys support among non-Kurds.
Turkey’s prime minister urged voters Monday to back the ruling party in November polls “so that peace returns to Turkey”, where the army is engaged in a bloody battle with Kurdish militants.
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More than 40,000 people have been killed during more than three decades of the PKK’s insurgency. “We are decisive to demolish all terror camps in Kandil Mountains”.
