DHKP-C terrorists remain a major threat in Turkey

The latest incident where two terrorists from the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front fraction (DHKP-C) killed a prosecutor in Istanbul late Monday is yet another bloody example of the gruesome acts the left-wing murderers are capable of undertaking in Turkey.

The DHKP-C has been in existence for decades in various forms, committing all kinds of crimes from the bomb attack on the American Embassy in Ankara to the killing of famous industrialist Özdemir Sabancı in the 1990s.

The Americans have cooperated with Turkish security officials to wipe out the DHKP-C and have been successful, to a certain extent. Several DHKP-C cells have been caught through this cooperation and the terrorist organization has been unable to act against American establishments in Turkey. Despite this we have seen a lack of enthusiasm from our other NATO allies, especially in Europe, to deal with the DHKP-C menace. Unfortunately, in some countries we see tendencies among some po liticians to actually encourage the DHKP-C militants.

Despite a security crackdown supported by the Americans, the DHKP-C has continued its activities and has shown its ugly face by hijacking the Gezi protests in Istanbul in 2013 that shook the government. The Gezi incidents, which started as an environmental protest and flourished into a youth revolt, later turned into street violence thanks to the DHKP-C militants who slipped among the youths and wreaked havoc in the streets of Turkey, especially in Istanbul and Ankara.

From time to time, the DHKP-C has been involved in bloody terrorist attacks, with some of its militants having murdered policemen or having tried to create bloodbaths in Istanbul through suicide attacks, but generally these have been isolated cases.

The security forces are aware of the activities of the DHKP-C and are reportedly monitoring their activities throughout Turkey. Yet, it seems the terrorists still have the upper hand at times and can cause a stir and sensation with a small terrorist act that can have huge implications on public morale.

The fact that they managed to enter the heavily guarded Çağlayan court house in Istanbul and managed to slip through the security net is something that the authorities have to take serious note of. It has become apparent that the two terrorists entered the court house posing as lawyers and thus no one checked them for guns and bombs. This is a serious security breach that has to be corrected immediately and not only in Istanbul but throughout Turkey. Human life and especially the life of a prosecutor who represents the state should not be that cheap.

The intelligence apparatus of Turkey should work better to detect and stop such incidents, especially as the DHKP-C is so well known and its militants are being monitored.

What is really sad is the fact that the DHKP-C has unfortunately found a breeding ground among the left wing university students in Turkey. What is sad is the fact that there are so many disenchanted young people in Turkey, the fact that there are so many social injustices in our country, the fact that the religiously inclined people running the country are insensitive to the lifestyles of young people who do not have religious sensitivities due to various reasons are helping the DHKP-C to find recruits and unfortunately brain wash them with little difficulty.

This means the government has to be more sensitive to the problems of these young people and create conditions where they do not fall into the hands of left-wing terrorists with such ease.