It maybe exagerated in Fethiye, but not in places like Alanya.
a movement such as the IRA or ETA
Well actually there is - it's called the PKK and has been around since 1984.
JF
Yes, but not like the IRA who operated all over the U.K. with bombs etc., I have not heard of the PPK bombing the local tourists resorts. I assumed they were mainly around the Turkish Border. I must read more about this subject.
I think you should. There were PKK attacks in Marmaris and Antalya not that many years ago, and numerous in Istanbul and Ankara - all in addition to activity in the east and south east of the country. To be frank, they make the IRA look like amateurs.
JF
Most PKK attacks in resorts have been covered up by the local authorities. Either a gas bottle exploded, a garbage truck had a flat tire, somebody accidently threw a lighter refill cannister in the trash that exploded in the heat, an aircon malfunctioned, etc etc.
I'm talking about the 90's when Turkish government was trying their hardest to increase tourism. Everything was done to attrack more tourists.
At the time you couldn't find a single garbage bin in any of the resorts because PKK used them to hide their bombs.
Hundreds of undercover police were roaming the streets in the resorts trying to prevent trouble.
I agree that PKK makes the IRA look like amateurs.
Kurdish language wasn't allowed to be spoken in the schools (that has only changed relatively recently). Everything was done in Turkish and as a revenge the PKK has killed hundreds of teachers.
Most of them young teachers, newly graduated. Since nobody wants to teach in the east, every new teacher (and doctor as well) has to work in a place that the government assigns you for two years. After those two years they're free to go and apply anywhere they want. But without having worked these obligatory two years, no doctor and teacher is able to work anywhere else.
Hundreds of teachers got killed because they were forced by the government to teach in the east. Teachers were scared to go there but they didn't really have a choice.
At least 40.000 people got killed by the PKK. I remember very clearly how aware I was of PKK and possible problems when I first came to this country. It was like looking over your shoulder all the time to make sure that everything was fine.
With time passing, you tend to forget but that is easy for me. I never lost a family member, friend or neighbour whereas most Turkish people did.
