For decision makers, one of the most challenging aspects of fighting against terrorism is to hold up its management process by controlling impetuous reactions triggered by terrorist attacks. The fight against terrorism, thus, is a process which should be carried out significantly with patience, as well as intelligence, plan and programme. The real reasons hidden behind terrorist attacks which occurred in Diyarbakır should be evaluated from this point.

The Most Important Aim of the Diyarbakır Bombing for PKK

In recent times, it is observable that Turkey has been implementing “a mentality transformation” on issues related to the fight against terrorism. On this point, the integral approach, marked by a combination of political, social, economic and diplomatic instruments is a new perspective in the fight against terrorism. Terrorists are successfully paralysed at any time in their cells or in Kandil Mountain and their ideology of terrorism began to be undermined very deeply. Regarding to this, the aim of the Diyarbakır attack is to discourage these efforts to achieve a transformation of the traditional Turkish mentality in the context of fighting terrorism.

International Support

Turkey has gained international support in its struggle to fight against terrorism more than ever before in its history. Europeans that used to confuse the issue of Kurds and terrorism for many years finally recognized the justness of the Turkey’s fight against PKK terrorism. Despite opposite expressions emerged in some countries as Denmark and Belgium, it is correct to say that within the European Union, the justness of Turkey’s fight against terrorism is now understood. European countries that have not even recognized the PKK as a terrorist organization in the past recognized Turkey to be right in its point. For instance; Olli Rehn, European Commissioner for Enlargement, stated that thanks to Turkey’s democratisation process such as the new regulations in domestic law and human centred investments, the manoeuvring scope of the terrorist organization are being limited.  Meanwhile, the DTP, Democratic Society Party, that formed a group in the parliament after the elections of 22 July, should keep a sharp distance from any terrorist group. As European Commission Turkey Desk Chief, Christian Danielson, has clearly expressed, PKK is a terrorist organization and EU’s position is extremely clear on that issue. Turkey had been hurt by unjust criticism in the past in terms of its fight against terrorism.  In addition to the statements made by EU authorities generally, member states such as Italy, Spain, France and Britain also individually declared their support for Turkey’s fight against terrorism. The reason behind the changes in European attitude towards PKK attacks can be perceived as closely related to Turkey’s successful attempts made in political, economic and social areas. In a wider context, this helps to explain how Turkey achieved to represent itself successfully in international arena and to use the diplomacy card against the PKK.

A transformation of Turkish mentality in the fight against terrorism also seems to have some positive effects on Turkey - US relations. The meeting of Prime Minister Erdogan with President Bush on November 5, 2007 introduced two important strategic approaches for further consideration. Turkey declared that the operation would be limited to merely PKK targets and would have no other aims so that tools to be used will be appropriate to this. However the US promised to cooperate in fields of intelligence support and to open the air space. The second main strategy put out on the November 5 contained that Turkey would be in the process of Iraq’s re-structuring. The US declared the PKK as an enemy left the PKK indefensible and the mutual agreement between Turkey and US was secured regarding to the PKK’s entity in Iraq which is the most important obstacle in terms of Turkey’s contributions in Iraq. Accordingly, the PKK was no more the target of the US after the US occupation of Iraq in 2003 and within the freedom this situation led, also had the opportunity to shelter and also to direct the activities against Turkey now left exceeded desolation.

PKK’s Political Isolation  

Turkey’s achievements in the arena of diplomacy made the PKK increase its armed attacks throughout Turkey. In other words, a stronger international support caused an increase in terrorist attacks made by PKK targeting civilians. PKK, facing a reinforced opposition, so far focuses on putting an end to Turkey’s strategy towards PKK issue. While PKK members are trying to gain ground again by attending these kinds of attacks in the region around Diyarbakır, other members have also been arrested in cities such as Van, Bursa, Izmir, Istanbul and Ankara while preparing their activities. Essentially, the PKK terrorist attacks which happened during summer and autumn of 2007, particularly in Ulus Anafartalar and Hakkari Daglıca can be understood in that regard. PKK attempts to change the content and the timing of the operation of Turkish military which are aiming at eliminating PKK existence with no return. PKK hoped that Turkey will act according to its anger rather than its intelligence. Nevertheless, they expected to attain a great propaganda power with the civilians loss and thus accordingly to make Turkey lose its international support as a result of the military operations. But, in every such attempt, hopes of PKK come to naught.

The Transformation in Turkey’s Strategy to Fight against Terrorism

In recent times, Turkey has not repeated its strategic faults made many times before. Turkey, with an initiative power in its hands, has begun to manage successfully fight against terrorism in the way that it was planned. The responsible attitude of Turkish authorities in handling the problem shortly after PKK Daglıca armed attack forms an important example in this context. After such an attempt, Turkey acted contrary to the PKK expectations. Rather than entering into Northern Iraq, with an authorization given by Turkish Parliament to the Government in favour of sending troops into northern Iraq, Turkey succeeded in turning this disorder into the opportunity to inform international public. Particularly Russia, Iran, Israel, EU, the US and central government of Iraq and also many other countries supported Turkey’s cross-boarder operation or at least they kept quietness. Even though Turkey has remained as a very strong country, showing its capacity to shape its next steps with patience, PKK has lost more plausibility in international arena. The PKK terrorist organization now is left isolated not only in Europe and in regional countries but also in Iraq by Iraqi Kurds.

To understand the “mentality transformation” that Turkey has undergone during its fight against terrorism, one major point must be taken into account. Turkey has developed a clear strategy not only by promoting the political and economical instruments, but also by trying to eliminate the hostile policies between the Kurds and Turks. The terrorist organization that carried the crowds for many years to make them attend to the celebration of Newroz, faces a threat over the decrease of its potential supporters. The last election on 22 July 2007 reflects a sharp decline of PKK popularity in cities where they were quite pretentious. In regions where the shutters were taken down with one order of terrorist organization, the resistance against the terror organisation now is exorbitant. It is important to note here that demonstrations where people express their detestations for terror are drawing attention not only in West, but even more in Eastern part of Turkey.

PKK Attack in Diyarbakır

The PKK justified all actions against Turkish occupation and demand from anyone to understand the consequence from the attack of Amed (Diyarbakır) in this kind of process. Targeting civilians in Diyarbakır putted out the real face of terrorist organization. PKK realized the fact that it is losing its influence on its ground. Therefore, they are trying to pass a message to people in Diyarbakır that “We are still strong and while we are fighting in the mountains you can not stick to your daily life. If you do not stand by my side, we kill you too.” Terror organisation PKK has chosen to kill innocent people in order to demonstrate their existence. Similarities of savagery can be recalled between Diyarbakir bomb attack in 2008 and Pinarcik Massacre which PKK killed 30 people including women and chidren in 1987.

Propaganda by Tragedy

Turkey in the 21st century, as we know well, is based on a very heterogeneous society where people come from different ethnic groups. As a result of this, Turkey represents a country where all people come from very different regions, cultures and therefore develop very different political opinions in an environment of the dialogue. With a great progress in improving democracy in Turkey, everyone from different political centres can be a component part of Turkish parliament. In addition thanks to the achievements in the field of freedom of speech and to the strong belief of maintaining Turkish state governed by the rule of law, Turkey is no more an area for those who try to use instruments based on violence in order to present their existence. There certainly can not be any doubt that, today’s Turkey does not allow to determine its agenda by topics appeared after the dead victims of terror. From this perspective, the critics made by civil society in Diyarbakır against terrorist attacks can be perceived as good signals to look forward to the coming years of Turkey. It is therefore, definitely clear that after the recent attack in Diyarbakır, the terrorist organization PKK will lose credibility among its supporters.

The cross-boarder military operations of Turkey, with its preserving civil targets, but destroying the logistic infrastructure of the terrorist mainly based on intelligence reports, have bring a heavy trauma to the terrorists. After these operations Turkey is able to note that “none of civilians has been attacked during military operations”, being contrary to statements made by terrorist organization. The terrorist attack of PKK in the centre of Diyarbakır has caused dead of five students and wounded many who might have been dreaming of university. Afterwards, the PKK has defined the Diyarbakır bombing as “a normal reaction” against an occupation of their land by using religious and self-defence arguments. In fact, this attack forms another aspect of tactics that PKK needs to make propaganda among people in order to gain ground again. The bombing in Diyarbakır makes also clear that being enemy of human life or hating everything that belongs to human kinds constitute the basic apprehension of the terrorist organization. This does not mean that the lost lives can lead to any independent Kurdish State or to improvements in the life quality. However, the Diyarbakır bombing originally shows a desperation among those who are about to lose its supporters. At that point, the threatful message of Abdullah Ocalan addressed to Turkish authorities can be seen very interesting. “Introducing policies to eliminate PKK existence would have very bloody consequences; you should also negotiate with me by forming a reflection group. Unless this suggested process will not be implemented, I do not take any responsibility of bloody attempts”. Here, Ocalan by stating that PKK is a responsible of all these kinds of attacks, he does not avoid to show his role in this bloody game.

Consequently

The Diyarbakır bombing can be regarded as the last steps taken by PKK. Especially such an attempt that occurred in Diyarbakır, in a city where mainly Kurds live, indicates clearly that the PKK ideology is about to be undermined. Killing young people is described by PKK as a means to give lesson to Kurds in case they do not defend Kurdistan. Today, PKK’s possibilities for propaganda have come to an end. Turkey now realizes a great “mentality transformation” in its struggle to fight terrorists. At that point, it is worth mentioning that the “integral approach”, combining all types of instruments in terms of economics, politics or social arena leads Turkey to strengthen its strategy on its integral manner “PKK issue”. Furthermore, it is also important to provide the same sensitivity for probable attacks such as Diyarbakır bombing which could occur in other cities.

Diyarbakır bombing is a very big tragedy that Turkey had to face. Yet, Turkey has to turn this bad memory to an opportunity to let Kurds and Diyarbakır societies see and understand what terror means. There certainly remains nothing to be said after PKK has assumed responsibility on bloody bombings. Turkey with its government, security forces and most importantly with its responsible society has never been that much close to dispatch the terror spiral. Everyone should understand that we do not have any other chance to lose this historical opportunity.

Translated by Habibe Kader, Ayca Turan