Turkey demands evidence that PKK has laid down its weapons

ANKARA,— Turkey is moving forward with a set of legislative and administrative measures following the announcement by the Kurdish militant group PKK that it will disband, raising hopes of ending a conflict that has spanned more than four decades and claimed tens of thousands of lives.

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which launched its armed campaign against the Turkish state in 1984, declared on Monday that it was ending its insurgency.

The group’s decision marks a significant turning point in a conflict that has resulted in more than 40,000 deaths, primarily among Turkish troops and Kurdish guerrilla fighters.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, addressing the matter on Wednesday, said that while the announcement was notable, “the real priority is implementation,” adding that Turkish authorities will “closely observe whether all promises are fulfilled.”

Erdogan said that Turkey’s intelligence service, the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), would supervise the disarmament process, expected to take place in Turkey as well as in areas of Syria and Iraq where PKK fighters are known to be present.

According to Turkish media, MIT will document surrendered weapons and verify the identities of fighters as part of the demobilization. Coordination with Syrian and Iraqi authorities will be part of the process, though no timeline has been publicly confirmed.

The Turkish government is also working on a legislative package, expected to be submitted to parliament by June.

The draft law is reported to include conditional release for individuals held in pre-trial detention for offenses committed before July 31, 2023.

Other provisions under discussion include the possibility of house arrest for prisoners with serious health issues and for women with children under a certain age, if they are serving sentences of less than five years. Estimates in the Turkish press suggest more than 60,000 inmates could be affected by the measures.

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc, speaking on the matter, cautioned against calling the plan a general amnesty.

“These steps are being taken for humanitarian reasons,” Tunc said. “Sick inmates should not die in prison, but this should not be interpreted as a blanket amnesty. That is not on the table.”

The pro-Kurdish DEM party, which played a role in earlier contacts between Ankara and jailed PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan, has called for deeper reforms, including the release of what it says are nearly 10,000 political prisoners.

DEM co-chair Tulay Hatimogullari said Monday that any genuine peace process would have to begin with freeing prominent detainees such as former party leader Selahattin Demirtas, who has been imprisoned since 2016, and civil society figure Osman Kavala, who is serving a life sentence.

“If there is to be reconciliation, these individuals must be part of the solution,” Hatimogullari said.

Erdogan, on Monday, stated that with the removal of violence and armed threats, “a new era will begin.”

Turkish media have reported that PKK leaders will likely be sent into exile in neutral third countries, such as Norway or South Africa, while lower-level members with no pending charges may be allowed to return to Turkey without prosecution.

Abdullah Ocalan, 76, remains in custody on Imrali island, where he has been held since 1999. While some analysts have speculated that his prison conditions may be relaxed, officials have not confirmed any changes.

Sources suggest that concerns over his personal safety remain a major reason for continuing his isolation.

In a possible sign of wider political shifts, Erdogan also indicated that the government’s controversial policy of replacing elected Kurdish mayors with state-appointed trustees could end once the PKK is fully disbanded.

“Appointing trustees will no longer be the norm,” Erdogan said. Since the March 2024 local elections, 16 mayors from the DEM and the main opposition CHP have been removed over alleged links to the PKK.

(With files from AFP | Agencies)