Sener Toktas
October 09, 2019•Update: October 09, 2019
BITLIS, Turkey
PKK terrorist, who fear intra-organizational torture and execution, surrendered to Turkish security forces, and urged other terrorists to return to their families.
22-year-old, identified by initials D.A. escaped from the terrorist organization and called other terrorists to surrender, who live in fear of death in the terrorist camps without food and sleep.
"I came and took refuge in the compassionate arms of the state. I want everyone to return and meet with their family," D.A. told Anadolu Agency.
According to D.A., five years ago, members of Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and its youth -- the regional-level sister -- branch DBP [Democratic Regions Party] induced him to join the terrorist organization.
PKK terrorist organization is constantly trying to prevent the surrender of young people by making propaganda against the state, he said.
Security forces supported him at every stage of the process, he stressed, adding that he was treated very well by the Turkish state after his surrender.
Many others want to leave the terrorist camps, he said, and added: "I saw it myself, there is no coercion or torture [after surrender] which [terrorists] talk about. Those who are still in the organization should not hesitate, the [Turkish] government helps in every matter".
He voiced support for the mothers in Diyarbakir protesting against the PKK child recruitments and said: "Mothers should continue their protest until they have their children back. Let the children come and stop mothers' tears".
Since Sept 3, families have been staging a sit-in protest outside Diyarbakir office of opposition HDP, accused by the Turkish government of having links with PKK.
The security forces’ efforts to convince the terrorists to surrender bore fruit, and their investigation revealed that they have been active within the PYD/PYG separatist terror group in Syria for years.
Apart from the military methods, Turkish security officials also use the persuasion method in which members of the terror group are convinced to lay down their weapons and yield to security forces. The Turkish state usually gets in touch with the terrorists’ family members to help realize their surrender.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.
*Writing by Havva Kara Aydin
