PKK declares ceasefire with Turkey after Ocalan's call

QANDIL MOUNTAINS,— Kurdish militants from the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) announced on Saturday a ceasefire with Turkey, following a historic call from their imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, urging the group to dissolve and end its decades-long armed struggle.

This move marks the first official response from the PKK after Ocalan’s appeal earlier this week. In a statement, the PKK’s executive committee declared a ceasefire, effective immediately, in an effort to implement Ocalan’s vision of peace and a democratic society.

The group expressed its full support for Ocalan’s call and committed to following it. “None of our forces will take armed action unless provoked,” the committee said in a message relayed by the pro-PKK news agency ANF.

This is the PKK’s first declared ceasefire since February 2023, when the group temporarily paused hostilities to aid rescue efforts following the devastating earthquake that struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria.

The PKK, which has been designated as a “terrorist” organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, began its insurgency in 1984.

The group seeks greater autonomy for Kurds within Turkey and greater cultural and linguistic rights for the Kurdish population, which constitutes about 30% of Turkey’s population.

Historically, the PKK targets Turkish military and government security installations but avoids civilian casualties, a strategy that has led some international groups to question the PKK’s classification as a terrorist organization.

Efforts to end the conflict have been ongoing since Ocalan’s imprisonment in 1999, with several peace initiatives failing to bring lasting resolution. In a meeting with members of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Peoples’ Party (DEM) on Thursday, Ocalan called for the PKK to lay down its arms and convene a congress to formally disband the organization.

The PKK has expressed readiness to hold a congress as Ocalan requested but emphasized that a safe and secure environment must be created first. They also called for Ocalan to have physical freedom and unrestricted access to his supporters for the congress to succeed.

In addition to addressing the internal dynamics of the PKK, the group has emphasized the need for Ocalan’s prison conditions to be relaxed.

They argued that he should be able to work freely and establish open communication with anyone he wishes, as this would ensure the success of his peace initiative.

The Turkish military has long conducted operations against the US-backed Kurdish SDF forces in Syrian Kurdistan, whom they accuse of being linked to the PKK, and this ceasefire may serve as a step toward resolving tensions in the region.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have firmly denied Turkey’s claims of having ties to the PKK.

General Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the SDF, stated that Ocalan’s recent call for the PKK to disarm and dissolve does not apply to the Kurdish forces under his command in Syria.

This latest ceasefire comes after years of failed negotiations. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan referred to Ocalan’s call for peace as a “historic opportunity” and expressed his government’s commitment to ensuring that the peace process would succeed.

However, while Erdogan supported the potential for talks, his government has increased pressure on opposition groups, including arrests of journalists, politicians, and activists.

Kurdish opposition DEM party urges Turkish government to seize the opportunity

The pro-Kurdish opposition party in Turkey has urged the government to seize the opportunity to end the long-standing Kurdish insurgency and demonstrate a commitment to finding a “democratic solution.”

Tuncer Bakirhan, co-president of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Peoples’ Party (DEM), emphasized the need for political will from the government to make progress. In an interview aired on Friday, Bakirhan told Haberturk TV that while the decision to lay down arms is important, it is not enough to resolve the Kurdish issue.

“There is a Kurdish issue, and laying down arms alone is not sufficient,” Bakirhan stated.. “What is needed is a democratic solution, and the people are waiting for concrete measures.”

Bakirhan called on the government to take decisive steps to address the concerns of the Kurdish population, who are seeking a resolution based on equal rights and recognition.

Erdogan warns of resuming military action against PKK

Hours after the PKK declared its ceasefire, Erdogan warned that Turkey would not hesitate to resume military operations if the group failed to honor its commitments.

“We will continue our operations until the last terrorist is eliminated,” Erdogan said during a Ramadan iftar dinner in Istanbul.

The Turkish president did not specify what conditions he expected the PKK to meet, while Kurds say the next move is up to Turkey.

(With files from AFP | Agencies)