People's Liberation Party-Front of Turkey

People's Liberation Party-Front of Turkey (Turkish: Türkiye Halk Kurtuluş Partisi-Cephesi, THKP-C), founded by Münir Ramazan Aktolga, Yusuf Küpeli and Mahir Çayan in December 1970. Party (THKP) is political wing and Front (THKC) is armed wing of the organization.

Kidapping of Ephraim Elrom

On 17 May 1971 THKC guerrillas Ulaş Bardakçı, Hüseyin Cevahir, Mahir Çayan, Necmi Demir, Oktay Etiman and Ziya Yılmaz kidnapped Israeli Consule Ephraim Elrom.^[2] THKC guerrillas left behind an announcement named "to the Americanist Councile of Ministers" (Turkish: Amerikancı Bakanlar Kuruluna) written by Ulaş Bardakçı and Hüseyin Cevahir.^[3] After the Sledgehammer Operation, THKC guerrillas kills the Ephraim Elrom on 22 May 1971. Elrom's body found in İstanbul, Nişantaşı, Hamarat Building on 23 May 1971. After the killing of consule, ethnic Zaza actor Yılmaz Güney hides THKC guerrillas.^[4]

Sibel Erkan Affair

Guerrillas left Güney's house on 24 May 1971. On 30 May 1971 THKP Central Committee member Mahir Çayan and THKP General Committee member Hüseyin Cevahir founded. After the little conflicts Çayan and Cevahir enter a house in İstanbul, Maltepe. THKC guerrillas takes Sibel Erkan for hostage. Police and army wait 51-hour. After the waiting, police-soldier forces attacks to guerrillas on 1 June 1971. Firstly sniper Cihangir Erdeniz makes 3 shots to the Cevahir.^[5] After forces enter the house and kills the Cevahir. Also Çayan was captured.^[6]

Trials and escape from prison

After the arrest of THKP-C guerrillas, trials begin. Çayan and Bardakçı asked with execution. But on 29 November 1971, 2 THKO and 3 THKP-C guerillas escaped from prison.^{[not 1][7]}

Expulsion of Aktolga and Küpeli from THKP

After the escape Çayan meets with Münir Ramazan Aktolga and Yusuf Küpeli. After the meets, Çayan blamed Aktolga and Küpeli for being Doctorist. With proposal of Çayan, Aktolga and Küpeli exiled from THKP and THKC.

Fall of the Urban Guerrilla team

After the escape Çayan and Bardakçı make a decision. Çayan beings leader of the rural guerrilla units and Bardakçı beings leader of the urban guerrilla units. On 19 February 1971 07:00, Bardakçı killed in Arnavutköy.^[8] With this, urban guerrilla unit of THKC defeated.

Kızıldere Affair

Blacksea rural guerrilla team of THKC and some THKO guerrillas, kidnapped 2 Canadian and 1 Briton radar technicians in Ordu/Ünye on 26 March 1972. But guerrillas trapped in Tokat, Niksar, Kızıldere village on 30 March 1972. First soldiers wants to talk with guerrillas. Guerrillas accept them. But soldiers opened fire on the guerrillas. First guerrilla Mahir Çayan death in there. After the killing of Çayan, guerrillas getting angry and killed the technicians. And conflict starts. After the conflict, 9 guerrilla dead.^{[not 2]} Saffet Alp (from THKP-C) was captured. But after he was killed by soldiers.^[9][10][11] One of the guerrillas, Ertuğrul Kürkçü, was hide and saved himself. But after he was captured on 31 March 1971. Because father of Kürkçü can't find his sons body among the deads.^{[not 3]}

Footnotes

1. ↑ Cihan Alptekin and Ömer Ayna from THKO, Mahir Çayan, Ulaş Bardakçı and Ziya Yılmaz from THKP-C.
2. ↑ 2 guerrilla from THKO and 7 guerrilla from THKP-C.
3. ↑ Now Kürkçü is a member of the Peoples' Democratic Party.

References