Sterka Sor

Sterka Sor, also known as Bes Parcacilar, was a Kurdish political group that formed in 1975-1976 from a Turkish leftist organization, Halkin Kurtulusus. Sterka Sor believed Kurdistan was a colony divided into five nations: Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria, and the USSR. Sterka Sor's belief that a Kurdish region existed within the USSR distinguished it from most other Kurdish groups that were generally pro-Soviet and viewed the USSR as anti-imperialist. Sterka Sor was active in Gaziantep and Dersim, drawing it into conflict with the Abdullah Ocalan’s followers (the nascent PKK) who were also active in the region. Sterka Sor assassinated a leading member of this group in 1977 and fought with the PKK until 1980. The PKK ultimately destroyed Sterka Sor in this fighting and a number of former Sterka Sor militants joined Kawa.