Turkey continues to try to work toward a future without conflict with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The PKK indicated in May that it would end its 40-year insurgency in Turkey; the long war has cost thousands of lives, many of them Kurdish. The group has gone through several changes over the years.
The PKK also has a role in neighboring countries; for instance, it has bases in Iraq and an affiliate group called PJAK in Iran. In Syria, the YPG has historic ties to the PKK. As such, peace in Turkey could also bring more peace to Kurdish areas in the region.
The shift in the PKK stance is primarily due to its leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who decided earlier this year to call for an end to the conflict. He has been jailed by Turkey for decades, and it has not always been clear whether the group would accept his declarations. In July, the PKK showed some of its members burning their weapons, a symbol of disarmament.
The PKK said that it had withdrawn from Turkey in October, and in November, it had made additional changes to its positions in Iraq, moving forces away from the border. All of this creates an example of its commitment to the peace process.
Kurdish media Rudaw is currently reporting that “a delegation representing the Turkish parliament is set to visit jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan on Monday as part of efforts to establish a legal framework for ongoing peace talks between his Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the state, a source told Rudaw. Some media outlets have reported that the delegation has already arrived at the prison.”
Turkey is increasingly open to peace as well
This meeting is important because it shows that Turkey is increasingly open to peace as well.
For years, Ankara has, at times, exaggerated the PKK’s role or sought to use alleged attacks to crack down on civil rights. As such, Ankara has not always been a positive force for peace.
The willingness of Turkey to enable visits and have politicians meet the jailed Kurdish leader shows that things are changing.
“Abdurrahim Akdag, a former lawmaker for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), confirmed to Rudaw that the delegation had arrived in Istanbul province, where the Imrali island is located. Ocalan has been kept in prison at the island since 1999 for his party’s decades-long deadly war with the state,” Rudaw noted.
“The delegation consists of three lawmakers from the main backers of the peace process – namely the ruling AKP, its far-Right ally the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party).”
It now appears that many Turkish parties are on board for peace, though the nationalist Republican People’s Party (CHP) still opposes this move.
A 51-member committee has been formed in parliament. Reports say the ruling AKP, as well as the left-leaning DEM and the right-leaning MHP, have agreed to move forward.
And, while in South Africa for the G20, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed approval, saying, “We evaluate the commission’s latest decision as one that will open the way for the process, contribute to the process, and accelerate the liquidation of terrorism.”
PKK senior commander Murat Karayilan also spoke out, telling Sterk TV: “Everyone who wants to protect Turkey’s future must act responsibly. From this perspective, the commission’s visit is a positive step and will strengthen the ground for a solution,” Rudaw noted. The PKK would like to see Ocalan receive more freedom as part of the peace process.