Atalay: "Surrenders of terrorist PKK members will continue"

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Interior Minister Besir Atalay, the government's coordinator for its democratic initiative, said that what he called the "return home" of terrorist PKK members is part and a phase of the democratization process and that there will be more good news soon. The terrorists in the mountains know that theirs is a dead-end street, Atalay said. "We are the Republic of Turkey," he told reporters. "This is a result of our work. Some may be searching for some other meaning, but what we care about is just the plan of our government." Thirty-four people, 26 from the UN Mahmour Refugee Camp and eight from the PKK’s Qandil camps in northern Iraq, surrendered on Monday at the Habur border gate. According to Atalay, in the days to come 100-150 more people could return to Turkey in small groups. "The first group stands as the beginning of a new phase," he predicted. "It has become clear that the terrorists have also understood that it is impossible for them to continue their ways. In full harmony, all institutions of the state are working for this end. We will surely hear more good news in the days ahead." Atalay also warned against provocations that would harm the ongoing process. "There is a large crowd at the Mahmour Refugee Camp and we're focusing on this group," Atalay said. The democratic initiative will face problems if weapons are not laid aside, terror does not end, and violence continues, Atalay added. "We consider all dimensions, including administrative, security, judicial and health, for the first phase of the homecoming process important," he said, adding that they even have psychologists on duty at the border. He also said the measures were taken in accordance with Article 221 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), also known as the "active redemption law," envisaging lesser punishments for members of terrorist groups who surrender of their own accord, who were not involved in any violence, and who are ready to provide information about their group.