Talks to end Turkey-PKK war see Kurdish politicians meet Öcalan and other jailed leaders

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Talks between politicians from Turkey’s pro-Kurdish party and imprisoned Kurdish leaders are gaining momentum as they try to end 40 years of fighting between the state and the Kurdish Party. workers of Kurdistan, or PKK.

The latest peace effort comes at a time of heightened instability and fundamental changes that are reshaping the region. These include the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the weakening of the militant Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, and the reconfiguration of power in Syria after the overthrow of President Bashar Assad.

The careful process was initiated in October by Devlet Bahceli, an incendiary ultranationalist who generally opposes any concessions to Kurdish identity or rights.

Since then, the fall of Assad in a lightning rebel offensive has triggered intensified fighting between groups supported by Turkey and Kurdish groups in northern Syria.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which have controlled northeastern Syria for a decade, are under attack from the Syrian National Army, a militia group fighting on behalf of Turkey, which views the SDF as an extension of the PKK and wants to neutralize it as an independent fighting force.

Recently, senior officials of the Party for People’s Equality and Democracy (DEM) met with the imprisoned PKK leader. Abdallah Öcalan And Selahattin Demirtasanother incarcerated leading figure of the Kurdish movement. They also met with leaders of other political parties to explain their discussions.

What is the PKK?

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, has waged an armed insurgency against Turkey since 1984, initially with the aim of establishing a Kurdish state in the southeast of the country. Over time, the goal evolved into a campaign for autonomy and rights for Kurds in Türkiye.

The conflict between militants and state forces, which has spread beyond Turkey’s borders into Iraq and Syria, has killed tens of thousands of people. The PKK is considered a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

Who is Öcalan?

Abdullah Öcalan, who while a political science student in Ankara became deeply involved in left-wing movements, founded the PKK in 1978 as a Marxist organization. He fled to Syria in 1979, along with other PKK members, where he remained until 1998, when Syria expelled him under intense pressure from Turkey.

Öcalan was captured in Kenya in 1999 and imprisoned on the island of Imrali in the Sea of ​​Marmara, where he remains today. His death sentence for treason was commuted to life in prison after Turkey abolished the death penalty.

This 75-year-old remains a symbol of Kurdish independence and rights and continues to exert influence on the Kurdish movement, his past messages relayed by members of his family or lawyers having an echo beyond the Turkey, Iraq and Syria.

In a message relayed by his nephew in December, Öcalan said he has the power end the conflict if the conditions are met.

Renewed effort for peace

In October, Bahceli, a close ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, suggested that Öcalan could be paroled if he renounced violence and dissolved the PKK. It is a major shift for the radical politician who previously strongly supported state military action against the militant group and its affiliates in neighboring Syria and rejected any idea of ​​negotiation.

Erdogan appears to have approved Bahceli’s position.

Reactions from politicians and analysts to suggestions for a new peace effort have been mixed. Some describe it as a historic opportunity, while others strongly oppose any idea of ​​leniency towards Öcalan or the PKK.

A recent attack on Turkey’s main aerospace company near Ankara, which killed several people, was claimed by the PKK, complicating the debate.

Past peace efforts

There have been several peace efforts between the Turkish state and the PKK over the years, including secret negotiations held in Oslo, Norway, from 2009 to 2011. However, none have yielded results.

The last attempt to reach a peace deal took place between 2013 and 2015 with a series of talks between Turkish officials and Öcalan, who declared a ceasefire and withdrew his fighters to bases in northern Turkey. ‘Iraq.

Turkish authorities have taken steps to improve the rights of Kurds, including authorizing broadcasts in the Kurdish language. The process collapsed in July 2015, after a series of violent attacks, including one by the Islamic State group that killed 33 pro-Kurdish militants.

Turkey has since cracked down on its pro-Kurdish movement and imprisoned thousands of people, including the former leader of the main pro-Kurdish political party, Selahattin Demirtason alleged links with the PKK.

Why now?

This latest peace effort comes at a time when Turkey and the Kurds are both seeking security to face challenges in the Middle East.

However, some believe the main goal of the reconciliation effort is to enable Erdogan’s government to gain Kurdish support for a new constitution that would allow it to remain in power beyond 2028, date on which his mandate will end.

Bahceli has openly called for a new constitution, saying it is essential to keeping Erdogan in power for Turkey’s future. Erdogan and Bahceli are reportedly seeking parliamentary support from the DEM.