Kurdish Leader Calls for Peace, Turkey Responds

Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), has declared an end to the armed conflict against Turkey. He shared this news through a video message, which was broadcasted by the PKK-affiliated Firat News Agency. Ocalan emphasized that this change marks a significant move from armed resistance to democratic politics. He stressed the importance of a smooth transition, including the disarmament of PKK fighters and the establishment of a parliamentary committee to oversee the peace process. Ocalan's announcement came just before the first PKK disarmament ceremony in northern Iraq. Earlier in May, the PKK had already decided to disband after over 40 years of fighting against the Turkish government. This decision followed Ocalan's call for disarmament in February. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed lawmakers about the peace initiative. He expressed hope for quick progress and benefits for all people in Turkey and the region. Erdogan mentioned the need to tear down the "wall of terror" to prevent more suffering. He also warned against any attempts to sabotage the peace process. Aysegul Dogan, a spokesperson for Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM party, spoke about making the disarmament process permanent. She mentioned the need for legal assurances and mechanisms to ensure a smooth transition to democratic politics. Dogan also noted that DEM members would attend the disarmament ceremony in Sulaymaniyah, northern Iraq. The PKK has been labeled a "terrorist" group by Turkey, the European Union, and the United States. Ocalan, born in 1948 to a poor Kurdish family, became politically active after studying political science at Ankara University. He founded the PKK in 1978, and the group launched a separatist rebellion against Turkey in 1984. The conflict has resulted in over 40, 000 deaths and thousands of Kurds fleeing violence in southeastern Turkey.