PKK says conditions are unsafe to hold congress on its dissolution

DIYARBAKIR-AMED,— The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has stated that current security conditions make it “impossible” for its leadership to convene and formally dissolve the group, as requested by its imprisoned founder, according to Kurdish media reports on Friday.

Cemil Bayik, the co-president of Executive Council Kurdistan Communities Union (Koma Civaken Kurdistan KCK), the political wing of the PKK, told Kurdish broadcaster Sterk TV that Turkish surveillance and airstrikes have made holding a congress too dangerous.

“Every day, we see surveillance planes flying overhead, bombings happening, and attacks continuing,” Bayik said. “Holding a congress under these circumstances is impossible.”

His statement follows a call from Abdullah Ocalan, the PKK’s founder, urging the group to disarm and disband.

Ocalan’s request, made in a letter two weeks ago, asked the PKK to hold a congress to formalize the decision.

Shortly after, the PKK declared a ceasefire and expressed readiness to convene, but it maintained that “a secure environment” was necessary for the process. The group also insisted that Ocalan personally lead the effort.

Speaking on Thursday, Bayik reiterated that the congress could take place “if conditions are met,” according to the PKK-affiliated ANF news agency.

The PKK leadership remains in the mountainous regions of Iraqi Kurdistan (Bashur), where Turkish forces have repeatedly conducted airstrikes.

A Turkish F-16 fighter jet, October 21, 2015. Photo: Creative Commons/ Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum/wikimedia

Despite talks of a possible resolution, Turkey has continued its military operations. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned on March 1 that Ankara would not tolerate delays.

“If the promises made are not kept and attempts are made to stall, we will continue our operations until the last terrorist is eliminated,” Erdogan said.

On Wednesday, Erdogan stated he was open to meeting with representatives from the pro-Kurdish DEM party, which has served as a mediator between Ocalan and Ankara in the past. The party confirmed it had requested a meeting, though no date had been set.

Ocalan’s statement has sparked hopes that Kurdish demands for greater rights in Turkey—where Kurds make up roughly 30% of the 85 million population—could gain traction.

The PKK began its insurgency in 1984, pushing for greater autonomy in Turkish Kurdistan (Bakur) for the Kurdish minority. The conflict has led to the deaths of more than 40,000 Turkish soldiers and Kurdish fighters.

The PKK typically targets Turkish military and government facilities, while making efforts to avoid civilian casualties. This tactic has led some international organizations to call for a reevaluation of the PKK’s designation as a terrorist organization.

(With files from AFP | Reuters | Agencies)