KURDISH REBELS exploded a remote-controlled bomb next to a bus carrying military personnel and their families on the outskirts of Istanbul yesterday, killing five and wounding 12. Three of the dead were soldiers and one of the other two was the 17-year-old daughter of an officer.
The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK) claimed responsibility for the attack, the second on security forces in Istanbul in the past month. It comes at a time when the Kurdish Workers’ party (PKK) has called off its 14-month ceasefire and begun launching near-daily attacks on the military and police.
TAK is thought to be an offshoot of the PKK, the main Kurdish force fighting for autonomy. TAK has been blamed for previous attacks, including a series of bombings in 2006 in Istanbul. PKK officials deny any knowledge of who was responsible.
On Monday, the Turkish army launched a major operation along the southern border with Iraq after 12 Turkish soldiers were killed in attacks over the weekend.
The political consequences of the PKK’s resurgence are expected to be high. The ruling Justice and Development party (AKP), headed by prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is accused of having weakened the government’s position against the Kurdish rebels and being distracted by foreign policy.
"The government's prime responsibility is to provide life security for its citizens," said Yusuf Kanli, a columnist for Hurriyetnewspaper, who is critical of the AKP. "To solve the problems of our neighbours should not be our main concern. Our main problem is our own security." – ( Guardianservice)