Turkey’s Pro-Kurd Party Anticipates Historic Declaration from PKK Leader
Turkey’s pro-Kurdish party, DEM, expects a significant declaration from PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan during a meeting at his prison. This meeting, approved by the justice ministry, aims to address the enduring conflict with Ankara. Ocalan’s expected peace appeal raises questions about its reach and effectiveness, given the history of failed negotiations and ongoing violence between the PKK and Turkish state.
Turkey’s leading pro-Kurdish party, the Democratic Regions Party (DEM), has announced that it anticipates a “historic declaration” from Abdullah Ocalan, the incarcerated leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). This declaration is expected to be made on Thursday during a meeting at Ocalan’s prison, located on an island near Istanbul. The gathering falls under ongoing efforts to resolve the long-standing conflict between Ankara and the PKK.
A delegation of seven members, including Ocalan’s lawyer Faik Ozgur Erol and DEM co-chairs Tulay Hatimogullari and Tuncer Bakirhan, will visit Ocalan, who has been imprisoned since 1999. Earlier visits by DEM lawmakers this year facilitated communication regarding Ocalan’s prospective messages and responses. The Turkish justice ministry approved this meeting, heightening expectations regarding the content of Ocalan’s imminent statement.
Despite the anticipation surrounding Ocalan’s declaration, its potential impact remains uncertain. The dialogue with Ocalan has recently gained momentum as part of a broader initiative led by political figures close to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Reports indicate that Ocalan might make a public call for peace to his supporters, but the logistics of relaying such a message from the mountains of Northern Turkey remain unclear.
The representatives in the delegation also include veteran politician Ahmet Turk and other DEM members who have previously participated in discussions about the Kurdish issue. The conflict between the PKK and Turkish authorities has lasted decades, resulting in significant loss of life and previous unsuccessful peace negotiations in 2015.
Turkey’s pro-Kurdish party is poised for significant engagement depending on the outcomes of the meeting with Ocalan.
In summary, the expected meeting between Turkey’s pro-Kurd party DEM and Abdullah Ocalan could lead to a pivotal declaration aimed at addressing the longstanding conflict with the PKK. While the anticipation surrounding Ocalan’s potential message is high, uncertainties about its execution and impact persist. The outcome may influence prospects for peace and resolution in this protracted conflict.
Original Source: www.france24.com
