Iraq, Iran, Syria and Türkiye are the world’s largest stateless ethnic group, with an estimated 25 to 30 million people with an estimated 25 to 30 million people living as minorities. Fundament and complex regional interests have always made Kurdish issues highly sensitive in the Middle East. But a potential gymnasium point emerged.
After more than four decades of the anti-armed struggle for self-determination against the Turkish government, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has ended the struggle and has initiated a disarmament process. On Friday, 30 PKK fighter Ceremonly destroyed his weapons in Dukan in Sulemaniah Government, Iraqi Kurdistan.
The Turkish government has called the disintegration of PKK for an opportunity for a peaceful future and promised to work in the direction of stability and harmony. In February, PKK leader Abdullah Oklan, who has been imprisoned since 1999, called the followers to end the separatist rebellion.
This is the first step towards achieving a permanent peace in a long -standing struggle.
Demand and obstacles
In a statement released on Thursday, PKK emphasized that the success of the peace process would depend a large extent on the concessions by the Turkish government. The statement called the symbolic act a clear indication of PKK’s will for peace. However, complete disarmament and disintegration of PKK will require political, legal and social steps by the Turkish government, stated in the statement.
The PKK is demanding the release of Ocalan as part of the process. Therefore, the group has called for a change in the Turkish Penal Code that will enable the release of thousands of other Kurdish political prisoners, especially the elderly and sick people. PKK So is apologizing to fighters who hand over opportunities for their weapons and infections to their legal politics.
The Turkish government has not yet taken any concrete steps. Officials are waiting to determine whether the organization’s search is in Bayana. Turkish President Recep Taip Erdogan, who leads the Religious Orthodox Justice and Development Party (AKP), and his colleagues, Devlet Bahli, the Dharma Bahli, the leader of the Dharma Movement Party (MHP), need to secure support against their supporters and population. Since 1984, more than 40,000 people are estimated to be killed in conflict – most of them were killed by the Turkish government by the alignment forces – later can be very challenging.
For political and social research, Diyarbakir Institute Director Vahp Coscun said what vigilance is common. In hard peace processes, the mutual trust usually develops only over time because parties come together, they said. But the first obstacle, the beginning of laying weapons, has now removed the bee, he said.
‘Democratic social process’
Turk, the European Union, the US and their colleagues would interact with the organization nominating a terrorist group by the government, will be exceptionally difficult for the government, which has long depicted PKK as the major enemy of the state. Erdogan said that Ankara would not take any other step before PKK destroyed all its structures.
For the equality of the people and the democracy party, which advocates Kurdish and other minorities in Turkey, a commission should be set up in the National Legislature in July, which is to make proposals for “peace and a democratic social process” starting in October. The Commission will address Oklan’s future and PKK’s estimated 2,500 to 5,000 fighters. The correct size of the organization’s arsenal is unknown.
Coscun said he hoped that PKK expected to emerge from mountains in groups of 40 to 50 fighters in the next few months to surrender his weapons. The government reports close to the government that handover places will be jointly defined and monitored by the central government of Iraq and the administration of the autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq. Weapons have to be registered and destroy them to prevent them from finishing with other Kurdish groups. The regional Kurdistan administration in Iraq supports the synergy between the Turkish government and the PKK.
Although PKK has agreed to the plan, it cannot desire to abandon control so soon. Some fighters may join the search of organizations as Kurdish Military of Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) or People’s Defense Units (YPG) in Syria. The Turkish government considers YPG as the Syrian hand of PKK and has initiated attacks on the border on the group in recent years.
A productive process
The Turkish government and PKK have learned from previous, unsuccessful efforts, Koskun is optimistic about the peace process. Those dialogues were often spread, but this time the government wants to move forward quickly. Work on a political solution is scheduled to begin in October, when the Turkish Parliament calls after a summer break.
“This will require a change in the Turkish Dancing Code, especially the law on anti -terrorism law and enforcement,” said Coscun.
The equality of the people for more rights for the Kurds and the recognition of demand and Kurdish identity by the democracy party will require a change in the Turkish Constitution, Coscun said.
Koskun said the peace process can help improve the Turkish government’s relations with the Kurds in Iraq and Syria. Although Turkey typically has a good relationship with Kurds in Iraq, PKK activities in Kurdistan have often made relations between governments tense. Turkey has always seen Kurdish self-administration in northern Syria as a major threat due to close ties with PKK.
If the Turkish government can solve its domestic and border conflict with Kurdish, Coscun said, its relations with the Middle Eastern countries may be interrupted.
On Saturday, Erdogan praised the beginning of the peace process, called it the end of a “painful chapter” in the history of Türkiye, which was characterized by the “crisis of terrorism”.
“Today a great turkey, a strong turkey, a Turkish century doors are widely opened,” Erodon said.
This article was original in German.
