Abdullah Ocalan, the 75-year-old PKK leader, has urged the disarmament and dissolution of his group while in prison, potentially ending a 40-year conflict with Turkey. His call for peace follows a suggestion from a political ally of President Erdogan, drawing support from various Turkish political factions. Ocalan’s influence persists despite his incarceration, marking a pivotal opportunity for peace in the region.
Abdullah Ocalan, a 75-year-old Kurdish militant leader and founder of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), has been imprisoned for 25 years after leading a campaign against the Turkish state for Kurdish autonomy. Recently, from his prison cell in Imrali Island, he has called for the PKK to disarm and dissolve, potentially ending a 40-year insurgency that has resulted in over 40,000 deaths and significant political upheaval in Turkey.
Ocalan’s appeal came four months after a request from a political ally of President Erdogan, receiving support from both Erdogan and the pro-Kurdish opposition. He has emerged as a controversial figure, revered in Kurdish circles yet despised by many Turks, due to his role in igniting conflict in 1984. “I am making a call for the laying down of arms, and I take on the historical responsibility for this call,” he expressed in a letter released by pro-Kurdish DEM party members following their visit to him.
In his address, Ocalan emphasized the need for the PKK to hold a congress to formalize its dissolution. This renewed engagement with Ocalan, initially suggested by nationalist leader Devlet Bahceli, raises questions about his current influence over the PKK, as most fighters are stationed in northern Iraq. Ocalan gained prominence during a brief peace process between 2013 and 2015 but has since seen that effort collapse into renewed conflict.
Born into a peasant family in southeastern Turkey, Ocalan founded the PKK amidst political turmoil in the 1970s. The group has been classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union. Ocalan was captured in 1999 following his exile from Syria and has remained in prison, where he continues to advocate for peace despite the challenges ahead.
Today, while the conflict centers on northern Iraq, Ocalan’s historical perspective and calls for peace may profoundly influence Kurdish political dynamics in the future.
Abdullah Ocalan’s recent call for peace marks a significant moment in the long-standing conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state. His proposal for the PKK to disband reflects a potential shift in the dynamics of Kurdish nationalism and politics. This development, supported by key political figures in Turkey, holds the promise of alleviating decades of violence and fostering dialogue in a region marked by struggle.
Original Source: indianexpress.com
