April 1, 2010:
The Turkish government's peace process has been controversial. Factions within the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) support it, other factions do not. Several BDP leaders like the government's proposed constitutional reforms which make it more difficult for the judiciary to outlaw political parties. However, the BDP officially withdrew its support for the reforms because Kurdish militants say the reforms really strengthen Turkey's current governing party, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) at the expense of everyone else. PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan made this argument from his prison cell. A Kurdish splinter party, the Rights and Freedom Party, does support the reforms.
April 1, 2010: Offensive meets offensive as spring arrives? Good weather in southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq usually means more warfare. The Turkish military is preparing for a new spring offensive against the PKK in southeastern Turkey. The military is positioning supplies for the spring campaign and preparing to send new units into the area. Local observers report an increase in the number of military truck convoys throughout southeastern Turkey. The PKK, which is ostensibly observing a ceasefire, has warned that it may launch new attacks.
March 30, 2010: PKK rebels attacked a military patrol in Hakkari province (southeastern Turkey). Three Turkish soldiers were killed and two wounded when the rebels detonated a remote controlled mine.
March 26, 2010: Belgium announced the six PKK members (of a group of 20 arrested earlier in March) have been released pending trial.
March 25, 2010: A Turkish village guard was killed in Sirnak province. The local security guard stepped on a mine, which was believed planted by the PKK.
March 21, 2010: A senior PKK field commander warned that his forces were considering launching new attacks. The commander said the Turkish Constitutional Court's banning of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) in December 2009 was one reason the PKK was preparing for another round of fighting.
March 14, 2010: A Turkish Army unit and a PKK rebel force engaged in a firefight in Hakkari province (Daglica area, southeastern Turkey). This is the first reported direct firefight between Turkish security forces and the PKK this year. One Turkish soldier was killed.
March 12, 2010: The Turkish government said that it had arrested 23 Kurdish computer hackers. The government accused the hackers of working for the PKK. According to the government, the PKK referred to the hacker group as The Cold Attack Team. The group hacked websites specified by PKK leaders.
March 4, 2010: Belgian police arrested 22 Kurds. The group allegedly helped recruit Kurdish expatriates living in Europe for service in PKK training camps in both Greece and northern Iraq. Several of the suspects are accused of forging passports. Others are accused of conducting financial operations on behalf of the PKK.