Kurdish militants have declared a ceasefire in their 40-year insurgency in Turkey, sparking hopes of a breakthrough in peace talks between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The announcement comes after imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan called for his group to disarm.
The PKK declared a ceasefire on Saturday, effective immediately, and stated that its forces would not take armed action unless attacked. This marks the first sign of progress since peace talks broke down in 2015.
Ocalan’s call for peace was announced by his delegation of Kurdish politicians, who visited him on Thursday. The executive committee of the PKK said Ocalan’s call indicated a “new historical process” had begun in Kurdistan and the Middle East.
The move has been seen as a significant boost to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government, which has long sought to end the conflict. Erdogan welcomed Ocalan’s message as a “new phase” in peace efforts and expressed hope for a historic step towards reconciliation between Turkey’s Kurdish and Turkish peoples.
However, some analysts believe that the main aim of the reconciliation effort is for Erdogan’s government to garner Kurdish support for a new constitution that would allow him to remain in power beyond 2028. The pro-Kurdish People’s Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) has expressed interest in supporting the new constitution.
The ceasefire follows years of pressure on Kurdish politicians, including several mayors being removed from office in recent months. The PKK also appealed for Ocalan’s release from prison to “personally direct” a party congress that would lead to his group laying down its arms.
While some Kurdish groups, such as the Syrian Democratic Forces, have distanced themselves from Ocalan’s call, others see it as an opportunity for peace. As tensions between Turkey and the PKK continue to ease, hopes are growing for a more peaceful future in the region.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/pkk-turkey-kurdish-militants-ceasefire-66bae6dd7d08c8144b683f92042fbfc9