Turkey’s pro-Kurd party, DEM, expects a “historic declaration” from PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who remains imprisoned. A delegation is set to meet with him amid efforts to resolve a lengthy conflict with Ankara. The anticipated announcement may involve calls for peace following discussions about concessions for the Kurdish minority.
The pro-Kurdish Democracy and Progress Party (DEM) in Turkey anticipates a momentous announcement from Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), as part of ongoing efforts to resolve a long-standing conflict with the Turkish state. A DEM delegation is scheduled to visit Ocalan at Imrali Prison, near Istanbul, with their meeting approved by the Justice Ministry.
This meeting marks the third visit in a few months, occurring amidst Ankara’s attempts to normalize relations with the PKK, which has been engaged in a violent insurgency since 1984, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. DEM expressed, “If everything goes smoothly, tomorrow, we expect Ocalan to make a historic declaration.”
Following the visit, a press statement is to be released around 5:00 PM local time. The seven-member delegation will include Ocalan’s lawyer, Faik Ozgur Erol, along with other prominent DEM officials who wish for Ocalan to deliver his peace message through video rather than writing, pending Ministry approval.
Ocalan, who was captured in 1999, has been serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. His recent interactions with DEM lawmakers have instigated speculation regarding a potential public call for peace aimed at PKK fighters, contingent on concessions to the Kurdish minority. Yet, the scope of such an appeal remains uncertain, as Ocalan’s messages may be funneled through PKK leaders in Northern Turkey.
The DEM delegation consists of co-chairs Tulay Hatimogullari and Tuncer Bakirhan, alongside Ahmet Turk, an 82-year-old veteran politician with considerable experience in seeking resolutions to the Kurdish issue. The historical context of the conflict highlights that it has claimed over 40,000 lives since its inception. Previous attempts at peace negotiations collapsed dramatically in 2015, leading to severed communications between the parties involved.
In summary, Turkey’s pro-Kurdish DEM party is poised for a potentially groundbreaking announcement from PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan as they seek to mediate an end to the longstanding conflict with the state. The meeting and its outcomes could shape the future of Kurdish-Turkish relations, but uncertainties remain regarding the exact nature of Ocalan’s planned declarations.
Original Source: www.albianews.com
