PKK maintains its presence in Syria as PYD
- Türkiye
- Anadolu Agency
- Published Date: 12:00 | 29 January 2018
- Modified Date: 09:36 | 29 January 2018
The terror group PYD, a Syrian offshoot of the terrorist group PKK, has copied the structure of PKK to pursue its activities in the war-torn country.
The ringleaders of the terror group were trained at Mount Qandil, PKK's headquarters in Iraq, and PYD quickly gained control in northern Syria after the country was gripped by a long-standing violence in 2011.
Supported internationally on the pretext that it was fighting the terror group Daesh, PYD/PKK gained 65% of the Syria-Turkey borders, forcing local residents to abandon their homes and join them in their ranks.
PYD/PKK stepped up its activities in northern Syria in March 2011, taking advantage of demonstrations against Bashar al-Assad regime.
The PYD shares the same organizational structure, administrative level, tactics, military structure, propaganda tools, financial resources, and training camps with PKK, according to security sources.
Terrorist group PYD, which was not active before the civil was in Syria, enhanced its visibility with Daesh threat and Assad regime's support, and started to play an active role in the region.
PKK signature on PYD's establishment
The decision to form PYD/PKK was made in 2002, during the 8th congress of the PKK, upon the terrorist group's leader Abdullah Ocalan instructions.
The fundamental principles forming the PYD's structure were designated by the congresses held after 2003.
While PYD used PKK's training camps located in Qandil in its early days, it established separate camps in northern Syria following the Syrian civil war.
The internal code of PYD was prepared by the PKK leaders; also PKK's so-called co-presidency system was integrated into PYD.
Strong bonds of PYD and PKK terrorist leaders
There are numerous of PKK members in high level administration of PYD, who were trained in the camps at Mt. Qandil.
The links between the terror group PKK and its Syrian offshoot the PYD date back to the 1980s.
Barzani Mohammed, the first so-called co-president of PYD, senior PKK leader Murat Karayilan, another so-called co-president Saleh Maslem and PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan had a shared past.
PKK and PYD/PKK's cooperation in arms
PKK conducts all the terror activities in Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria via HPG, a sub-terror group that is affiliated with Murat Karayilan.
PKK and PYD/PKK coordinate their armed operations in Syria via HPG and YPG.
In 2015-2016, Turkish security forces captured many explosive materials, weapons, and ammunition on Turkey-Syria border, which were believed to be handed over to PKK members in Turkey.
The tunnel systems, which were later destroyed by Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), clearly proved the PKK and PYD/PKK's links in arms.
PYD and PKK's dirty media alliance
Pro-PKK media outlets have become an important area, where PKK's affiliation with PYD came to light.
These media organs frequently shared PYD/PKK demonstrations, in which terrorist leader Abdullah Ocalan's banners and PKK symbols were used.
Terrorist PKK's own media outlets reveal the fact that both terror groups were in coordination.
In a 2009 report issued by the PYD/PKK's Executive Committee, it was argued that "Ocalan's views were in the interest of all the people in the region."
Hawar News Agency (ANHA), known for its ties to the PKK, shared a story on Feb. 10, 2016, saying: "The youth in YPG declared mobilization to fight side by side with YPS [an illegal armed group in eastern Turkey] in certain cities of Turkey."
International statements revealing PKK and PYD cooperation
The annual magazine "Defense Against Terrorism", which is connected to NATO, Andrew Self and Jared Ferris shared an article called "Dead Men Tell No Lies: Using Killed in Actions (KIA) Data to Expose PKK's Regional Shells Game".
The article stressed that most of the PYD/YPG terrorists joined the terror group from Turkey (16%), Iraq and Iran. "The death announcements on PKK's websites clearly reveal the transition between PKK-PYD-YPG.
The former U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter clearly stated on April 28, 2016 that the PKK/KCK and PYD/YPG were operating in accordance with each other.
In January 2017, Spanish police held several people, accused of recruiting militants for YPG to fight in Syria. The charges of "recruiting man to the structures linked to PKK, helping trained militants to go to war-zones to fight under the banner of YPG" were included in statements.
Changing demographic structure via forced migration
Terrorist organization PYD/PKK forces people to leave the areas it occupied in northern Syria.
Claiming that northern Syria belongs to Kurds, PYD/PKK tries to gain control in the region, including the ones where there are hardly any Kurds.
It also does not allow local residents to return to their homes.
The motive behind the move is to change the demographic structure of the region so that they could claim right in the future.
Recruiting youth by force
Hiding behind its alleged "fight" against Daesh, PYD/PKK forces the youth living in the areas it occupied to fight for them.
PKK's Syrian offshoot PYD prefers this way to empower its military power along with securing its presence in the long term.
However, many young people who do not want to fight for PYD/PKK are obliged to run away. The terror group, by doing this, damages the family structure as well.