ISTANBUL — A group from one of Turkey’s prominent pro-Kurdish political parties had a significant meeting with a key figure in the Kurdish movement on Saturday, marking a notable development in ongoing efforts to resolve the country’s prolonged conflict, as reported by the party.
Three high-ranking members of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) engaged in discussions with Selahattin Demirtas, the party’s former co-chairperson, during a visit to Edirne prison, which is situated near the Greek border.
Demirtas has been incarcerated since 2016 on terrorism accusations that many observers, including the European Court of Human Rights, have characterized as politically motivated. This meeting occurred two weeks after members of DEM had a conversation with Abdullah Ocalan, the detained leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The PKK has maintained an armed uprising against the Turkish government since the 1980s, while DEM serves as the latest political entity advocating left-leaning Kurdish nationalism. Both DEM and its predecessor parties have suffered state actions often seen as oppressive, including the imprisonment of elected representatives and the dissolution of political parties.
Following their meeting, Demirtas urged all parties involved to “focus on a common future where everyone, all of us, will win.” He acknowledged the potential role of Ocalan in the possibility that the PKK could disarm, considering Ocalan has been confined on Imrali island since 1999, sentenced for treason due to his leadership role in a group regarded by Turkey and many Western nations as a terrorist organization.
Demirtas, who led DEM from 2014 to 2018 when it was previously referred to as the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), continues to be held in high regard. He emphasized that although there are intentions for peace, “concrete steps that inspire confidence … must be taken quickly.”
Ahmet Turk, a member of the DEM delegation, expressed, “I believe that Turks need Kurds and Kurds need Turks. Our wish is for Turkey to progress towards democratic development in the Middle East.”
The armed struggle that has persisted between the PKK and Turkey, beginning in August 1984, has led to the loss of tens of thousands of lives and numerous unfruitful attempts at establishing peace.
Despite being imprisoned for 25 years, Ocalan remains pivotal in any potential progress towards resolution, owing to his lasting influence among many Kurds in Turkey. He has conveyed his willingness to “contribute positively” to renewed peace efforts in statements made public in December.
In contrast, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while addressing ruling party supporters in Diyarbakir on Saturday, advocated for the disbanding of the PKK and the surrender of its arms. He suggested that this would enable DEM to “develop itself, strengthening our internal front against the escalating conflicts in our region and effectively closing the long-standing separatist terror chapter for good.”
Recently, the push for peace gained momentum when Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party—who is a key ally of Erdogan—proposed the unexpected idea in October of potentially allowing Ocalan to receive parole if he abandoned violence and disbanded the PKK.
A week later, Erdogan subtly endorsed Bahceli’s proposal. Furthermore, Ocalan communicated through his nephew that he is prepared to pursue peaceful resolutions.
