YDG-H
The Patriotic Revolutionary Youth Movement (Kurdish: Tevgera Ciwanen Welatparêzên Şoreşger, Turkish: Yurtsever Devrimci Gençlik Hareket, YDG-H) was the urban, militant youth wing of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) from 2006-2015.[1] Trained by more experienced PKK cadres for urban fighting,[2] and consisting mostly of children and adults in the 15-25 age group,[3] it was reportedly established in 2006.[1] The group started to clash with Turkish security forces and tried to enforce their authority in the areas they were located in 2014 as part of a strategy which involved unilateral declaration of self-management in various towns in Turkish Kurdistan, and creation of trenches and barricades reinforced with IEDs and explosives to deny security forces access.[4]
Patriotic Revolutionary Youth Movement | |
---|---|
Yurtsever Devrimci Gençlik Hareketi (YDG-H) Tevgera Ciwanen Welatparêzên Şoreşger | |
Flag of the YDG-H | |
Foundation | 2006 |
Dates of operation | 2013 | –2015
Country | Turkey |
Active regions | Southeastern Anatolia Region (Turkey) |
Ideology | Democratic confederalism Autonomy |
The group was in favor of regional self-management for the Kurdish people in Southeast Anatolia. Other claimed objectives of the YDG-H include stopping all activities related to drugs and prostitution, and other similar crimes in the region.[5]
In December 2015, the YDG-H was reorganized into the Civil Protection Units (YPS) militia.[6]
See also
References
- "A new generation of Kurdish militants takes fight to Turkey's cities". Reuters. 2015-09-27. Retrieved 2017-08-01.
- Germany, SPIEGEL ONLINE, Hamburg. "Children of the PKK: The Growing Intensity of Turkey's Civil War - SPIEGEL ONLINE - International". SPIEGEL ONLINE. Retrieved 2017-08-01.
- "PKK looks to the future with creation of youth militias". Al-Monitor. 2015-08-31. Retrieved 2017-08-01.
- "The Human Cost of the PKK Conflict in Turkey: The Case of Sur". Crisis Group. 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2017-08-01.
- VICE News (2015-02-13), PKK Youth Fight for Autonomy in Turkey, retrieved 2017-03-30
- "Managing Turkey's PKK Conflict: The Case of Nusaybin". Crisis Group. 2017-05-02. Retrieved 2018-11-24.