Kurdish Militants Declare Ceasefire Following Ocalan’s Call
Kurdish militants have declared a ceasefire with Turkiye after a historic appeal by Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), urging the group to disband.
This marks the first response from the PKK since Ocalan’s recent call for the organization to end its decades-long armed struggle against the Turkish state.
“In order to facilitate the realization of leader Apo’s vision for peace and democracy, we are implementing a ceasefire starting today,” the PKK executive committee announced via the pro-PKK ANF news agency, using Ocalan’s widely recognized nickname.
The committee, operating from northern Iraq, expressed full support for Ocalan’s statement and pledged to adhere to his directives. “Our forces will not engage in any armed actions unless provoked,” it added.
PKK’s Insurgency and Past Peace Efforts
The PKK, which has been designated a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union, launched its armed campaign in 1984, seeking greater autonomy for the Kurdish population, which makes up around 20% of Turkiye’s 85 million citizens.
Ocalan has been imprisoned since 1999, during which multiple attempts have been made to negotiate peace. However, these efforts have repeatedly collapsed, with the most recent round of talks breaking down in 2015.
On Thursday, after meetings with Ocalan in his island prison, the pro-Kurdish DEM Party relayed his message urging the PKK to lay down arms and convene a congress to dissolve the organization.
The PKK has now agreed to hold such a congress but insists that “a secure and appropriate environment must be established” for it to take place. The group also demands that Ocalan be granted greater freedom to oversee the process personally.
Calls for Improved Prison Conditions
The PKK has also called for improved conditions for Ocalan, emphasizing that he should be allowed physical freedom to interact with others, including his political allies.
Turkiye’s government has cautiously welcomed these developments. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described Ocalan’s appeal as a “historic opportunity” and stated that the country would closely monitor the process to ensure a peaceful resolution to the long-running conflict.
“When terrorism and armed struggle are removed from the equation, democracy will naturally create more space for political dialogue,” Erdogan remarked.
Regional Reactions and Implications
The Iraqi government has also expressed support for Ocalan’s call, viewing it as a “positive and significant step toward regional stability.”
The presence of PKK fighters in Iraq’s Kurdistan region has been a point of contention between Baghdad and Ankara, with Turkiye frequently conducting military operations in the area.
As both sides navigate this potential turning point, the international community will be watching closely to see whether Ocalan’s appeal leads to a lasting peace after more than 40 years of conflict.
