Three bomb blasts took place in Marmaris in the first minutes of August 28^th. Official statements indicate that two bombs exploded in trash barrels and one in the minibus, which was carrying locals and tourists. As a result of the blasts, 21 civilians were slightly injured, including 10 Britons and 11 Turkish. Ostensibly, security officials continue their compact investigation to find the individuals or the organization behind the attack. Although there are no official statements related to the perpetrators yet, the PKK terrorist organization is the centre of attention in terms of suspects at the moment.

Similar attacks of the PKK

The PKK started its armed terror campaign in 1984 as a terrorist organization and was heavily defeated by 1995. After that, it started to attack major metropolitan and tourist areas, especially in the Mediterranean region.  The second series of attacks fall at the same time that Şemdin Sakık, the second in charge of the organization, was captured in 1998, and the capture of Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the organization, in February 1999 by the Turkish officials. As those incidents were shocking to the terrorist organization and weakened it, the militants wanted to prove that they were still powerful and had to keep the organization united: They attacked tourist spots to get attention from the Turkish and world media, but the attacks were generally unsuccessful.

The third step of the attack series is again at a time that the PKK terrorist organization happens to be weak. By losing its administrative staff and leader, the PKK did not commit any sensational armed attack until 2004. After 9/11, the anti-terrorist frontline’s attitude was strict towards all terrorist organizations; therefore, the PKK did not want to attract negative reactions.

As known, the central base and living area of the PKK is Kandil Mountain in Northern Iraq and the surroundings are under coalition forces’ sovereignty.  Because the U.S.A. does not directly target the organization and Turkish security forces are not allowed for hot pursuit in Northern Iraq, the PKK has had the opportunity to revive itself.

For a variety of reasons, the organization started its activities at the beginning of 2004. Those reasons include bringing the dispersed organization base and hopeless militants together. By the activities started at the beginning of 2004, the PKK gained some relative success until the middle of 2005. Right at this time, Turkey increased its security precautions including ‘covering soft power’ strategy. Harsh statements from the U.S.A. and British Parliament denouncing the PKK and all related organizations as terrorists put the organization in a more difficult situation. The PKK became lonelier by the international pressure due to the EU’s declarations on the organizations, in addition to Britain and the U.S.A’s earlier statements. The EU openly held the PKK responsible as the source of violence and terror while the Turkish state announced its support of the democratization program. In addition to this progress, the organization carried out its terrorist activities from East to the West of Turkey and had a difficult time against Turkish security forces. Furthermore, the PKK militants got caught during the preparation of an attack in Western metropolitan areas which brought the organization to crossroads. The PKK, as in the old times, started to attack tourist regions as that was its last choice. Bombing blasts in Marmaris could be a result of these reasons.

Why British Citizens?

At first glance, it could seem to be a coincidence that all foreigners wounded in Marmaris bombing blast were British citizens. When evaluated carefully, however; Marmaris is a town that hundreds of thousands tourists visit from many places of the world, specifically European countries and other reasons should be investigated to find out why all wounded foreigners were British. It is witnessed in the earlier attacks, especially the one took place in Kuşadası in 2005, other European countries’ citizens were also injured in addition to British citizens. (All attack in the tourist regions were undertaken by the PKK’s operation wing TAK)

There is a close cooperation between Britain and Turkey on fighting terrorism and the protection of democratic values. Although it is hard to say that there is 100% reconciliation between the two countries on every subject, 9/11 attacks, 15-20 November Istanbul bombings, and 7/7 London bombings join them in the same framework. Both countries fight terror strictly and become targets of terrorists quite often. By attacking Istanbul on 15-20 November explosions, fundamentalist terrorists did not only aim to punish Turkey, but also Britain. However, their plans did not work out, and two countries got even closer in their fight on terror.

The initiative of Turkey- Britain’s fight on terror faces a significant difficulty on the Marmaris bombing. There are a few reasons for that:  First of all, instead of cancelling its flights, Britain suggested to be cautious after 2005 Kuşadası attacks and that was an obvious support for Turkey from the British side. Second, British settlers and temporary residents in Kuşadası declared a common statement and announced Kuşadası as ‘home’ just like Britain. Therefore, the British proved that they are the most resistant community against terror among other tourists and they showed that the attacks would not weaken their strength. Third, British Parliament announced many terrorist organizations such as the PKK, TAK, KADEK and Kongra- Gel officially terrorist valid from 14 August, 2006.

Difficult Test of Turkey- Britain Approach on Fighting Terrorism

Although it is too early to name a common legal Turkey- Britain initiative on fighting terrorism, there is no doubt that the two countries understand one another in the last four years. Marmaris bombings took place right after these developments. The terrorist attack plans of the PKK aimed at the west part of Turkey were known by Turkish intelligence, and some of the militants were caught before they went into action. While for security forces fighting terrorism the success criteria is to get all the bombs before they explode; it is enough for the terrorist organizations to call themselves successful to commit one attack out of hundreds. Considering that perspective, the illusion of terrorists reaching their goal could be believable. But it should be also considered that terrorists lose a great deal of space and reputation when the people do not follow the direction they suggest. Terrorist organizations commit such attacks in their most difficult times, at times when they lose their last hope. This method that they follow now is their last choice, and obviously it is not going to work. One proof is that the British government did not put Turkey on the inconvenient list to visit. The world gets smaller and over time we realize that we are on the same ship. As a result of that, not only the British government but also permanent British residents living in Turkey and the tourists realize and express the need to be tough on terror. Mentioned events after Marmaris bombings could set great examples of interdependence against terror. Another great example was Britain expanding its support against the IRA to nations other than the British after the August 1998 bombing in Northern Ireland. All sections of the society in Turkey will demand democracy in the widest framework possible and put it into practice. However, no right will be gained in the shade of terrorism. The PKK started its activities at a time when freedom rose in Turkey. Facing the attacks, Turkey made important progress with its allies, without getting acrimonious, without being trapped in the terror decoy, by using covering soft power. The bewilderment of Marmaris bombing blast is strong evidence of that.

Translated by Selma Sevkli & Khusbu Shah