It is not surprising that Turkish military forces have launched an offensive against Kurdish guerrillas and notably the Kurdistan Worker?s Party (PKK) (Group Profile (see logo). For years, this organization and what it stood for has been a scourge to the concept of ?Turkishness? and to modern Turkey . Turkish Kurds did not embrace this nationalism, and the state did not, in turn, embrace the Kurdish Diaspora, often times resulting in harsh crackdowns against expressions of Kurdish ethnicity. The larger problem, however, that brought on the wrath of the government was the armed and violent component of this ethnic movement — the PKK — that was responsible for many incidents of violence during the 1980s and 1990s in their campaign for a Kurdish state (Attacks). Both sides committed atrocities; almost 30,000 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the conflict cross-fire.

However, times have changed. By 1999, the PKK had lost a lot of its steam and called for cease-fire after its leader Abdullah Ocalan was captured in Kenya . Many former PKK members went across the border to northern Iraq where they sought sanctuary with Iraqi Kurds. At the same time, Turkey, which was heavily criticized for its human rights record, started to improve the rights and treatment of its Kurdish population. This effort was viewed with suspicion — as a means to diffuse Western concerns and prepare Turkey for the requirements to join organizations like the European Union. While there is probably truth to the argument, it also is likely that this improvement served to change some policies. Turkey has argued that the Kurdish problem is an internal one, and outside powers do not need to interfere. However, when wanting to join international organizations, domestic policies fall under scrutiny. In addition, many Turks, in addition to the Kurdish minority, were tired of the protracted conflict and violence. The government surely recognized that concessions would temper some of the complaints of the Kurdish population and make them less likely to support violent groups like the PKK. The Turkish government has rescinded the threat of the death penalty against Ocalan and let many activists out of jail. Restrictions were lifted on Kurdish language and cultural heritage activities. The European Union voted on a date to begin initial negotiations on membership based on their human rights improvements and progress (as well as other issues) thus far.