Turkey’s Kurds Cautious Post-PKK Ceasefire Announcement

In the regions of southeast Turkey and northern Iraq, a major ceasefire declaration has generated mixed emotions among the locals who have long endured the four-decade-long conflict between Kurdish militants and the Turkish government. The Kurdish militant group’s announcement to cease hostilities could potentially be a significant advancement for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s administration, particularly after a call from their imprisoned leader urging disarmament.

In Diyarbakir, the largest city predominantly populated by Kurds in southeast Turkey, reactions were cautious, especially from those who have lost family members in the fighting. Confidence in the Turkish government’s intentions remains low as Turkey has yet to offer a detailed response to the ceasefire announcement. Turkan Duman, whose son is currently incarcerated for his PKK ties, expressed deep skepticism based on past experiences. She referenced a failed peace process from 2015 and emphasized the unchanged nature of the situation despite previous ceasefire proclamations.

Duman’s son is serving a 12-year prison sentence for PKK affiliation after engaging in combat against the Islamic State in 2014. She has also suffered the loss of two brothers in the conflict, heightening her distrust of long-term peace. Similarly, Kiymet Soresoglu, part of the Peace Mothers’ Association, shared her concerns regarding the notion of peace under current circumstances, emphasizing a lack of trust in government promises. Soresoglu’s son was likewise involved in the PKK and was injured during intense fighting when a former ceasefire unraveled.

Soresoglu stressed that asking the Kurds to disarm without reciprocation is unacceptable. Such demands would only drive the struggle to continue. Nonetheless, she, along with others, ultimately desires peace to end the cycle of violence. The prolonged conflict since the PKK’s inception in 1984 has claimed tens of thousands of lives, with thousands killed since violence reignited in 2015.

The call for disarmament was initiated by Abdullah Ocalan, the PKK’s incarcerated leader, signaling alignment within PKK ranks, even from prison. Vahap Coskun, an academic from Diyarbakir’s Dicle University, highlighted the apparent unity and urgency among PKK leaders to address disarmament. He anticipates a congress taking place to formalize the movement’s dissolution.

On the other side of the Iraqi border, in Sulaymaniyah, a city close to the PKK’s leadership hub, the ceasefire is met with cautious optimism. Najmadin Bahaadin hailed the ceasefire as a “historic moment,” distinguishing it from previous failed attempts at peace. He suggested a mutual realization of the need for peace by both the Kurdish militants and the Turkish administration.

However, skepticism persists among locals who question whether Ocalan was influenced by those detaining him to initiate his call for peace. Awat Rashid openly wondered if Ocalan’s decision would have been the same if he were free and leading from the PKK’s operational stronghold. Questions about the reliability and sincerity of the peace process remain, capturing the overall mood of cautious anticipation in the region.