"The Kurdish question existed since 1922, and PKK was established in 1970 as a peaceful political organization. The Turkish government had 62 years to solve the Kurdish issue but despite many Kurdish revolutions Turkey only responded to Kurdish demands with military occupation. PKK decided to fight when the coup leaders closed all the door on democratic struggle. Now there is a democratic opportunity available in Turkey. cnt'd ...The Turkish government should start the necessary political and constitutional reforms to grant Kurdish people their cultural and political rights and to give amnesty to PKK, to allow its members to come down from the mountains and participate in political life through a democratic system. So far Turkish institutions failed to provide this opportunity, not only for PKK members but also for ordinary Kurds like Hatib Dicle, who never carried a gun on any day." - dario [a Kurd of Turkey] , 19 July 2011 , 13:33 in 'PKK's Bayık defends deadly attack, chides Öcalan's talks with state' 19 July 2011 TODAY'S ZAMAN