"Turkey is carrying out the largest operation against Kurdish rebels in Southeastern Turkey in its history," stated Turkish President Recep Erdogan.
He pointed out that the dismissal of state employees which have connections to the Kurdish separatists is a key element in the fight against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Steps have been taken to clear out PKK supporters from state institutions, added Erdogan.
Today, Turkish authorities dismissed temporarily 11,500 teachers due to suspected ties with the illegal PKK.
Over 40,000 people have died since the beginning of the conflict between the PKK and Turkey in 1984. The fighting between the army and Kurdish rebels was renewed after the collapse of the two-year ceasefire last July.