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The People's Liberation Party-Front of Turkey (Turkish: Türkiye Halk Kurtuluş Partisi-Cephesi, THKP-C) was a Turkish Marxist–Leninistguerrilla group that was founded in 1970 by Münir Ramazan Aktolga, Yusuf Küpeli and Mahir Çayan. The People's Liberation Party of Turkey (THKP) was the political wing and the People's Liberation Front of Turkey (THKC) was the armed wing.
The THKC guerrillas left Güney's house the 24 May 1971. On 30 May 1971 Çayan and Cevahir entered a house in Maltepe, Istanbul, and took Sibel Erkan as a hostage. The police and army initiated a rescue operation and had the house under siege for 51 hours. After, they attacked the guerrillas on 1 June 1971. Firstly sniper Cihangir Erdeniz directed 3 shots at Cevahir.[4] After, the forces entered the house and killed Cevahir. Also Çayan was captured.[5]
Trials and escape from prison
After the arrest of THKP-C guerrillas, trials begun. Çayan and Bardakçı asked with execution. But on 29 November 1971, 2 THKO and 3 THKP-C guerillas escaped from prison.[not 1][6]
Expulsion of Aktolga and Küpeli from the 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.
Elimination 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.[7] With this, the urban guerrilla unit of the THKC was defeated.
A Black Sea rural guerrilla team of the THKC and some THKO guerrillas, kidnapped 2 Canadian and 1 Briton radar technicians in Ünye on 26 March 1972. The revolutionaries were surrounded by Turkish soldiers in Tokat, Niksar, Kızıldere village on 30 March 1972. At first, the soldiers wanted to negotiate with the militants. Then the soldiers opened fire upon the militants, as result of which Mahir Çayan died. After the death of Çayan, the militants 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.[8][9][10] One of the guerrillas, Ertuğrul Kürkçü, hid and saved himself, but he too was captured on 31 March 1972 due to his father not being able to find his son's body amongst the dead.[not 3]
