Hevallo,

No you are wrong, it was not the existance of an armed struggle with the PKK i was rejecting, but the statement that the captured soldiers are POW's.

They are hostages, no different than any other hostage taken by any other terrorist group. Just like the Americans and British taken hostage in Iraq.

Thankfully in this case it served the propaganda aims of the terorrists to paint a compassionate, concilatory picture of themselves. But the aim was propaganda all the same.

You stated that the PKK should be applauded for releasing the hostages safely, without condemning the ambush in which 12 Turkish soldiers were killed. which led to their being captured in the first place,

That is hyprocritical to say the least.

I do not dispute the human rights violations of the Turkish Army. I don't dispute that there is a Kurdish issue in Turkey,

But that still doesnt make the PKK good or credible in my book, nor does it make the attack conducted against Turkey on the 21st of Oct anymore understandable.

Maybe I could understand your position better if you could explain why the PKK has chosen this particular point in time to call off its unilateral ceasefire?

Is this in retaliation to something?

Hevallo:

I have demonstrated in this discussion that there is popular support in Turkey from the Kurdish people. Any conversations that you have had with 'your neighbours' or 'work mates' who are Kurds will conversations that take place in the context of Turkey's labelling of the Kurds as 'terrorists'. Who is going to admit to you, in Turkey, that they support the PKK when your reaction will be one of disgust and horror.

I am saddened by this comment and agree that peer pressure (putting it lightly) will make it impossible to talk Kurdish issues with a kurd in Turkey face to face.

However, would you please tell me what you made of the election results? Please tell me if you disagree that the AKP has gained a lot of votes from the Kurdish community.

kind regards