PKK collaborates with HDP to forcibly recruit civilians

DIYARBAKIR

PKK terrorist organization has been collaborating with the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) to forcibly recruit civilians, according to a terrorist who had surrendered.

The terrorist, identified by only his initials S.T. for security reasons, had surrendered to Gendarmerie Forces in southeastern province of Diyarbakir and told about his past four years with the terrorist organization.

“HDP is the legal party of the terrorist organization PKK, an ideologically affiliated party,” S.T. claimed.

“In a rural area, I saw that a group of six people, including HDP lawmakers, came to meet with the Diyarbakir representative of the organization. This is the most significant example of the link between the HDP and the PKK,” he said.

S.T. said he had been first sent to the provincial offices of HDP in Istanbul and stayed in a secret compartment on the upper floor of the building for 6 days, adding: ''Later I was sent to their offices in Diyarbakir. I stayed in rural areas with PKK in Diyarbakir, [southeastern province of] Sirnak, Syria and Iraq.”

''In the HDP building, newly recruited ones are sent to PKK with notes. Those who write the instructions and notes usually stay at HDP. In HDP, those who seem like 'tea-makers' are actually the ones who have the authority,” S.T. claimed.

Referring to sit-in protest in Diyarbakir outside the provincial offices of HDP, S.T. said: “if HDP officials want, they can help young people get back from the mountains, as HDP is the legal structure of the organization.”

“Young people on the mountains want to come back and escape from the camps. Therefore, the protest of the mothers should be supported,” he added.

The protest started on Sept. 3 after a mother, Fevziye Cetinkaya, said her 17-year-old son was forcibly recruited by the PKK through members HDP.

People who provide information and financial support to PKK terrorist organization generally live in villages, S.T. said and added: “These militias willingly help the terror organization, meeting all the needs of the members of such as food and medicine. They mostly grow marijuana and raise livestock.”

S.T. said he is happy to move on to his life.

“ I was on the brink of death but I am with my family now,” he added.

*Writing by Erdogan Cagatay Zontur