Treasury Designates Free Life Party of Kurdistan a Terrorist Organization
"With today's action, we are exposing PJAK's terrorist ties to the KGK and supporting Turkey's efforts to protect its citizens from attack ... "
(EMAILWIRE.COM, February 05, 2009 ) Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of the Treasury today designated the Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK), a Kurdish group operating in the border region between Iraq and Iran, under Executive Order 13224 for being controlled by the terrorist group Kongra-Gel (KGK, aka the Kurdistan Workers Party or PKK).
"With today's action, we are exposing PJAK's terrorist ties to the KGK and supporting Turkey's efforts to protect its citizens from attack," said Stuart Levey, Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
Designated in December 2002 under E.O. 13224, KGK has been involved for more than 20 years in targeting Turkish government security forces, local Turkish officials, and villagers who oppose the KGK in Turkey. Turkish authorities have confirmed or suspect that KGK is also responsible for dozens of bombings since 2004 in western Turkey.
The KGK leadership authorized certain Iranian-Kurdish KGK members to create a KGK splinter group that would portray itself as independent from but allied with KGK. PJAK was created to appeal to Iranian Kurds. KGK formally institutionalized PJAK in 2004 and selected five KGK members to serve as PJAK leaders, including Hajji Ahmadi, a KGK affiliate who became PJAK's General Secretary. KGK leaders also selected the members of PJAK's 40-person central committee. Although certain PJAK members objected to the KGK selecting their leaders, the KGK advised that PJAK had no choice.
As of April 2008, KGK leadership controlled PJAK and allocated personnel to the group. Separately, PJAK members have carried out their activities in accordance with orders received from KGK senior leaders. In one instance, PJAK's armed wing, the East Kurdistan Defense Forces, had been acting independently in Iran. KGK senior leaders immediately intervened, however, and recalled the responsible PJAK officials to northern Iraq.
Under E.O. 13224, any assets PJAK has under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen, and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with PJAK.
Identifying Information
FREE LIFE PARTY OF KURDISTAN
AKAs:
Kurdistan Free Life Party
Party of Free Life of Kurdistan Partiya Jiyana Azad a Kurdistane
PJAK
PEJAK
PEZHAK
Location:
Qandil Mountain, Irbil Governorate, Iraq
Alt, Location:
Razgah, Iran
###
This press release was issued through GroupWeb EmailWire.com. For more information on unlimited press release distribution for $99/month, go to http://www.emailwire.com.
"With today's action, we are exposing PJAK's terrorist ties to the KGK and supporting Turkey's efforts to protect its citizens from attack," said Stuart Levey, Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
Designated in December 2002 under E.O. 13224, KGK has been involved for more than 20 years in targeting Turkish government security forces, local Turkish officials, and villagers who oppose the KGK in Turkey. Turkish authorities have confirmed or suspect that KGK is also responsible for dozens of bombings since 2004 in western Turkey.
The KGK leadership authorized certain Iranian-Kurdish KGK members to create a KGK splinter group that would portray itself as independent from but allied with KGK. PJAK was created to appeal to Iranian Kurds. KGK formally institutionalized PJAK in 2004 and selected five KGK members to serve as PJAK leaders, including Hajji Ahmadi, a KGK affiliate who became PJAK's General Secretary. KGK leaders also selected the members of PJAK's 40-person central committee. Although certain PJAK members objected to the KGK selecting their leaders, the KGK advised that PJAK had no choice.
As of April 2008, KGK leadership controlled PJAK and allocated personnel to the group. Separately, PJAK members have carried out their activities in accordance with orders received from KGK senior leaders. In one instance, PJAK's armed wing, the East Kurdistan Defense Forces, had been acting independently in Iran. KGK senior leaders immediately intervened, however, and recalled the responsible PJAK officials to northern Iraq.
Under E.O. 13224, any assets PJAK has under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen, and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with PJAK.
Identifying Information
FREE LIFE PARTY OF KURDISTAN
AKAs:
Kurdistan Free Life Party
Party of Free Life of Kurdistan Partiya Jiyana Azad a Kurdistane
PJAK
PEJAK
PEZHAK
Location:
Qandil Mountain, Irbil Governorate, Iraq
Alt, Location:
Razgah, Iran
###
This press release was issued through GroupWeb EmailWire.com. For more information on unlimited press release distribution for $99/month, go to http://www.emailwire.com.
Contact Information:
U.S. Department of the Treasury
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Tel: (202) 622-2000
Email us
This is a press release. Press release distribution and press release services by EmailWire.Com: http://www.emailwire.com/us-press-release-distribution.php.
U.S. Department of the Treasury
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Tel: (202) 622-2000
Email us
This is a press release. Press release distribution and press release services by EmailWire.Com: http://www.emailwire.com/us-press-release-distribution.php.
|
Private Equity, Angel Investing
Equity Alliance / Private Equity, Angel Investing, / IPO, Venture Capital & IR services / Equity Alliance International Equityallianceir.com Penny Stocks to Watch Sign up for hot penny stock picks Gains of 500%+ possible! Premiumstockpicks.com/landing/ Your text Ads & PR Text Ads plus unlimited press releases, One release featured/Day for only $575 per month. Read more on Text Ads & PR Your text Ads Here! Text Ads are only $289 per month. Ads are placed same day. More on Text Ads Advertising |