Infodesk Statement #11

[kurd-l at burn.UCSD.EDU]

Reply-To: kurd-l at burn.UCSD.EDU
From: Kurdistan Committee of Canada <kcc at magi.com>
Subject: Infodesk Statement #11

Information Desk - The Turkish Invasion of South Kurdistan
Tel: +32-2-230-9233
Fax: +32-2-230-9208

Press Release #11

March 29, 1995

We received the following communique from the Press Office of the
People's Liberation Army of Kurdistan (ARGK) in Botan, Kurdistan.
It was titled, "To The Press And The Public Opinion, Statement
Number 2". Below, you will find it verbatim:

             Turkish Army Afraid Of Mountains And Guerrillas

     It has been some 9 days since the Turkish troops invaded
northern Iraq, South Kurdistan. Just like in North Kurdistan, we
have had frequent and close encounters with the enemy forces.
Employing guerrilla tactics and being familiar with the terrain has
enabled us to have superiority in the war. The results follow for
your perusal.
     We have ambushed the enemy forces in many places and in some
of the battles the fighting continued for days. To date, we have
had 69 encounters with the enemy forces. In addition, in four
different places, the enemy forces have stepped on mines.
     While we have been able to monitor the results of 25 battles,
we do not have accurate results for the upshot of the remaining 44
clashes. Also, although we know that the enemy has stepped on our
fields that were mined, we do not have the number of their
casualties.
     Our mobile forces in a border area some 300km long report that
in 25 encounters the enemy losses are 515 soldiers killed and as
many troops injured. We have also put 4 of their tanks out of
commission and 8 of their armoured vehicles as well.
     Of the soldiers that were killed, 183 lost their lives in the
Haftanin region between Hezil and Habur, 302 lost their lives in
the Gandura valley near Hiror, Kele Kurmiye, and Metina, and the
remaining 30 lost their lives in Xankurxe between Zap and Avasin.
     Our losses to date are 21 killed and 12 injured. Of those
killed, 18 were fighters, 2 were platoon leaders, and 1 was the
commander in charge of three platoons.
     The massive and indiscriminate Turkish attack has also
resulted in civilian casualties. The troops have not entered the
highlands, instead they have concentrated in and around Zaxo. In
several places, they have tried to airlift their troops, but to no
avail.
     In other words, the Turkish troops are landlocked in urban
areas. We continue to ambush them continuously. In our nightly
attacks, we are wearing them out day in and day out. It is not
going to be possible for the Turkish soldiers to withstand our
assaults. They already shows signs of low morale and utter
clumsiness.
     South Kurdistan is a terrain we are well familiar with. With
our light and mobile forces, the Turkish troops are perfect
targets. Before they can decide to move back we will rout them out
of South Kurdistan.