The pro-Kurdish DEMP is expecting a “historic declaration” from Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned PKK leader, amidst renewed efforts to resolve the decades-long conflict with the Turkish state. A delegation is scheduled to visit Ocalan at prison, aiming for a significant peace appeal. This development signifies a potential shift in relations between the PKK and Ankara.
The pro-Kurdish Democratic Regions Party (DEMP) in Turkey has announced an anticipated “historic declaration” from Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). This statement is expected to be made public during a visit from a delegation to Ocalan’s prison, which is situated on an island near Istanbul. The meeting underscores ongoing efforts to address the longstanding conflict between the PKK and the Turkish government.
The delegation, consisting of seven members, including Ocalan’s lawyer, Faik Ozgur Erol, aims to facilitate Ocalan’s potential peace message through video rather than written format, although official permission remains pending. The Turkish Ministry of Justice has approved the visit as part of broader negotiations aimed at altering relations with the PKK following decades of violence.
Abdullah Ocalan, 75, has been incarcerated since 1999 and, after a long period of isolation, has begun to engage with selected lawmakers from the DEPM. This renewed dialogue may result in Ocalan urging PKK fighters to cease hostilities, addressing some of the issues faced by Turkey’s Kurdish community, potentially in exchange for certain concessions.
The delegation to visit Ocalan includes notable figures such as DEPM co-chairs Tulay Hatimogullari, Tuncer Bakirhan, and veteran politician Ahmet Turk. Their mission comes in light of the Turkish government’s previous cessation of contact after a series of violent escalations that interrupted past peace talks in 2015. The outcome of this latest initiative remains uncertain as it could influence the future of the Kurdish rights discourse in Turkey.
In summary, Turkey’s pro-Kurdish party anticipates a significant declaration from PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan during an upcoming prison visit. This declaration could potentially catalyze a pivotal shift in the ongoing conflict with the Turkish state. With key political figures involved, the situation remains dynamic, as hopes for a peace agreement resurface after years of tension and violence.
Original Source: www.albianews.com