Latest news with #Ocalan
Rudaw Net
14 minutes ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
DEM Party rebukes call by Erdogan's ally to dissolve
Also in Turkey Erdogan commends Ocalan's support for peace process Erdogan will not seek Turkey-Iraq oil export deal renewal: Gazette PKK says no more disarmament until Ankara enacts reforms Turkish parties discuss forming PKK peace commission in parliament A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) on Tuesday condemned a call from an ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urging the party to dissolve itself over alleged ties to Kurdish rebel groups. The DEM Party firmly rejected the demand, stating it has no intention of disbanding. The DEM Party is mediating peace talks between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The latter has decided to dissolve itself and lay down arms after decades of a devastating war with the Turkish state. A first group of PKK fighters burned their weapons earlier this month. Mustafa Destici, leader of the Great Unity Party (BBP), on Monday called on all alleged offshoots of the PKK to dissolve themselves, mentioning the DEM Party too. 'Even this DEM Party in Turkey will do so. Because it is also the PKK's party. It will dissolve itself, condemn terrorism, and establish a new party,' he told reporters. The BBP is part of the ruling People's Alliance, which includes Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP). The DEM Party rebuked the Turkish politician for his remarks late Tuesday. 'DEM Party is the name of the struggle for equality, freedom, democracy, justice, and peace of the peoples. It is the will of millions. It is not a mere signboard, nor is it temporary. It has reached this point by paying great costs and through an uninterrupted struggle,' stated the pro-Kurdish party. 'The purpose of the DEM Party is clear: to ensure peace and build democracy for 86 million people.' The party refused to dissolve itself. 'We are not dissolving our party. We are right where we stand, and our march continues with determination. We will never step back,' the party said, advising the BBP leader to be 'the voice of people and democracy, not of Kurdish hostility.' On May 12, the PKK announced its dissolution and intention to disarm after being urged to do so by its founder Abdullah Ocalan who said it was time to take the struggle for Kurdish rights into the political sphere. The PKK has declared a unilateral ceasefire and on July 11 held a disarmament ceremony had a ceremonial disarmament where 30 fighters, including commanders, burned their weapons. Erdogan on Monday praised Ocalan for his continued support for peace talks between the PKK and Ankara. 'We are determined to build a terrorism-free future. We are clear about what we will do to reach our goal, how we will achieve it, and where we will ultimately end up,' Erdogan told journalists. Erdogan also said that they are following the PKK disarmament process, adding that the negotiations to form a parliamentary commission to address the peace process, or what Ankara calls terror-free Turkey, have 'reached the final stage. You will soon see progress at the parliamentary level.' The peace process will be guided by the parliamentary commission. Representatives of the parliamentary bloc of Turkey's political parties met with the parliament speaker on Friday and the commission is set to be formed within days. The commission has broad political support, except from the ultranationalist Good Party (IYI). Sezai Temelli, a DEM Party lawmaker, told Rudaw on Tuesday that the parliamentary commission will consist of 35 members and may hold its first meeting in the coming days. 'There may be a meeting on Friday. Even if it is not Friday, it will definitely convene within the next week. Even if parliament goes on recess, the commission will continue its work and fulfill its legal preparation duty until October 1,' he said. He added that the commission's main task will be to ensure 'legal and political guarantees for the disarmament process.' Some PKK fighters based in Duhok province told Rudaw earlier this month that they fear reprisals if they return to Turkey, with many opting to remain in the mountains instead. "In the first phase, regulations will be made regarding the legal and political rights of those who lay down arms. After this stage is completed, new steps can be taken for the continuation of the process,' Temelli noted, adding that the DEM Party delegation, which has held several meetings with Ocalan in jail, will visit him again following the commission meeting. Ibrahim Kalin, Turkish intelligence chief, has held meetings with several Turkish political parties over the peace talks, including the DEM Party. Temelli said their meeting with Kalin was positive. "It was a sincere and important meeting. We won't make statements about its content, but it went positively. The resumption of dialogues is important for the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue,' the lawmaker said.
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
PKK's disarmament offers hope for Kurds, but regional concerns persist
The Partiya Karkari Kurdistan, or the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), has disbanded itself after defining the struggle of Turkish Kurds for autonomy with its guerrilla warfare for decades. The disbandment comes after a 'historic' decision taken during a congress held in northern Iraq in early May this year. The decision to disband was made following calls for peace and democratic process by Abdullah Ocalan, founder of the PKK, from the prison in Imrali island in the Sea of Marmara off the Turkiye coast, where he has been kept in solitary confinement since 1999. The move follows months of talks between the 'rebel' and representatives of the Turkish government, initiated by ultra-nationalist MP Devlet Bahceli of the Nationalist Movement Party and joined by pro-Kurdish MPs of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM). The public announcement made by Mr. Ocalan on February 27 culminated in 30 PKK members destroying their weapons at a ceremony in Iraqi Kurdistan, a semi-autonomous region, on July 11. Conflict in West Asia 'Given the rising fascist pressure and exploitation around the globe and current bloodbath in the Middle East, our people are more than ever in need of a peaceful, free, equal and democratic life. In such a context, we fully feel and comprehend the greatness, righteousness and urgency of the step we have taken,' the Group for Peace and Democratic Society, formed to accelerate the process of democratic change in place of the PKK, said in a statement following the ceremonial laying-down of weapons. 'The PKK was born in the 20th century, in the most violent epoch of the history of humanity, amidst the two world wars, under the shadow of the experience of real socialism and the cold war around the world,' Mr. Ocalan had said in his statement from prison. Mr. Ocalan, who had transitioned his ideology from Marxist-Leninism into 'democratic confederalism' during his imprisonment, alludes his decision to disarm to the democratic steps taken by the Turkish government on Kurdish issues, along with regional developments, which rendered armed resistance with no meaning. Democratic confederalism, for Mr. Ocalan, is the contrasting paradigm of the oppressed people. He describes it as a borderless, community-based democracy that promotes ecological living and radical gender equality. 'Respect for identities, free self-expression, democratic self-organisation of each segment of society based on their own socio-economic and political structures are only possible through the existence of a democratic society and political space,' he said in his call for disarmament. In his view, a separate nation-state, federation, administrative autonomy, or culturalist solution for the Kurds fail to answer Turkish society's needs. 'There is no alternative to democracy in the pursuit and realisation of a political system. Democratic consensus is the fundamental way.' Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a speech on July 12, acknowledged the burning of weapons and announced the establishment of a commission to talk about the legal needs in the Turkish Parliament for the path to peace. He also admitted that previous governments had pursued policies that contributed to conflict and said Turkiye had spent two trillion dollars on the war with the PKK, an important shift in tone. Persecuted minority Founded in 1978 by Mr. Ocalan, the PKK followed a Marxist-Leninist doctrine in response to persecution faced by stateless Kurdish people and to support their aspirations to establish an independent Kurdish state. Their main targets were the fascist right, Turkish left, state agents, and, above all, Kurdish landlords who worked in tandem with the state to exploit the Kurdish masses. The PKK launched its armed insurgency in Turkiye in 1984, following decisions made at its second party congress in Daraa of Syria in 1982. Led by Mahsum Korkmaz, also known as Agit, the first commander of the PKK's military forces, the group attacked a gendarmerie station in the Siirt province of Turkiye, killing a soldier. This was followed up by a raid on a police outpost in the same province and marked the start of the armed rebellion for Kurdistan. While the Kurdish masses were initially shocked by the PKK's violence, the increasingly degrading treatment they endured at the hands of the Turkish state, including military sweeps, arbitrary arrests, and widespread torture, made them receptive to the PKK. Regional ripples However, Mr. Ocalan's call for peace was not just for the PKK. 'All groups must lay their arms and the PKK must dissolve itself,' he said. 'All groups' indicate that he means all PKK offshoots in Syria and Iran. While the PKK has grown to be the face of the Kurdish cause, it is not the sole unit fighting for it. The Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Syria, the Free Life of Kurdistan Party (PJAK) in Iran, and the Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party (PCDK) in Iraq are all allied with the PKK. The Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) serves as an umbrella organisation for all the groups, and the People's Protection Units (YPG), formed in 2012 during the Syrian civil war, serves as the armed wing for the cause. While the PKK's disarmament and dispersal might accelerate the peace process in Turkiye, questions remain over the future of the Kurdish struggle for identity and autonomy. Oil fields in the Iraqi Kurdistan came under unclaimed attack by explosives-laden drones in the days following the dispersal of the PKK, according to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq. 'The suicide drones that targeted oil fields in the Kurdistan Region last week flew from Dibis, Kirkuk,' Aziz Ahmad, deputy chief of staff to Iraqi Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, said in a social media post. In Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), with links to the PKK, has been in negotiation with Turkiye regarding its future in the region following the fall of the Assad regime. The interim government in Syria, led by former jihadist Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, wants the SDF to lay down arms and integrate itself into the state. While the PKK's announcement to disarm was welcomed by SDF leader Mazloum Abdi, he said his group would not disarm and that Mr. Ocalan's decision did not extend to Syria. The PKK's disarmament has essentially brought the Kurdish struggle to a crossroads. If the democratic process in Turkiye proves successful, it could motivate Kurds in other countries in the Kurdish heartland, including Syria, Iraq and Iran, to facilitate a similar peaceful quest for autonomy. But the risk of the process going off track and pushing back their struggle by decades is something that keeps the fragmented Kurdish societies sceptical.
Rudaw Net
2 days ago
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Kurdistan Region's oil production before, after drone strikes
Also in Opinions Sarsang oil field attack and the Hamrin oil, gas contracts: five key questions Decoding Ocalan's message: The question of PKK disarmament and the future of Kurdish politics Kurdish intellectuals face challenges amid Turkey's Kurdish question The 12-day war and silent transformations of western Asia A+ A- Oil fields in Erbil and Duhok provinces were targeted by explosive-laden drones over two days last week. The attacks on various areas of these two provinces continue, and the number is increasing day by day, despite condemnations from the United States, Iraq, and demands from the Kurdistan Region to stop the attacks. Currently, two-thirds of oil production in the Kurdistan Region has been halted, and companies and the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) natural resources ministry indicate massive damage to oil production infrastructure in the Region. This has had a direct impact on the market, with each ton of oil products becoming approximately $30-40 more expensive. If the current situation continues, prices will rise even higher. Furthermore, total oil production in the Kurdistan Region has declined to 101,680 barrels per day, which is the lowest level of oil production in the Kurdistan Region oil fields since the second quarter of 2015. Before the drone strikes, oil production from 12 oil and gas fields in the Kurdistan Region was 328,000 barrels, including 15,819 barrels of Khor Mor condensate gas. Currently, oil production - excluding gas - has reached 101,680 barrels. These attacks have a very significant impact on the oil and gas sector in the Kurdistan Region, as they come at a time when, since March 2023, all development and new investments by international oil companies (IOCs) in the Kurdistan Region have stopped. Now these attacks have targeted the existing infrastructure of companies and caused reduced production and zero operations by IOCs in Erbil and Duhok. If the Khurmala oil field facilities are again targeted by drones, production levels will certainly reach near zero throughout the Kurdistan Region. The motives behind these attacks are complex and varied. Primarily, they have targeted the oil industry infrastructure of the Kurdistan Region, demonstrating the high technical capability of the attackers and their ability to strike anywhere and anytime, regardless of the consequences. Another point is that oil and gas fields in the Kurdistan Region still lack adequate protection systems, which is why the impact of these attacks has caused major economic consequences and significant damage to the industry. Even the Shekhan oil field, operated by the British company Gulf Keystone, decided to halt oil production due to security risks, though it has not yet been targeted. The 70 percent reduction in oil production not only harms oil companies and the Kurdistan Region's revenues from this sector, but also will directly impact oil refineries and prices of oil products, especially gasoline, in the coming days if a solution is not found quickly. Currently, except for Khurmala and Sarqala oil fields, oil production has been halted in all other oil fields in the Kurdistan Region, and it is unclear when companies will resume oil production. Mahmood Baban is a research fellow at the Rudaw Research Center. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rudaw.
Rudaw Net
2 days ago
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Sarsang oil field attack and the Hamrin oil, gas contracts: five key questions
Also in Opinions Kurdistan Region's oil production before, after drone strikes Decoding Ocalan's message: The question of PKK disarmament and the future of Kurdish politics Kurdish intellectuals face challenges amid Turkey's Kurdish question The 12-day war and silent transformations of western Asia A+ A- Early Tuesday, the Sarsang oil field was attacked by a drone. The American company HKN, which operates the field and owns 62 percent of its shares, is the main stakeholder. Hours later, the Iraqi ministry of oil announced the signing ceremony of the contract between the US-based HKN Energy and the North Oil Company for the development of the Hamrin oil field, with a daily production capacity of 60,000 barrels of oil and 45 to 50 million cubic feet of gas. 'The attack caused no casualties, but total production, which is 30,000 barrels of oil per day, has been halted until all assessments of the situation are completed,' HKN said on X. Drone attacks have become alarmingly routine in the Kurdistan Region. Two drones struck Khurmala on Monday, adding to a series of previous drone attacks that have targeted both civilian areas and political security sites across the Region. Notably, the recent targeting of the Sarsang field coincided with the presence of Matthew Zais, Deputy Director of HKN Energy, at the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, where he was working on finalizing a new contract for the company. Whatever the dimensions of these attacks may be, they highlight the weakness of the state and the dominance of political forces, as well as both legal and illegal groups in Iraq. These groups send three important signals through the attack on Sarsang. First, from a technical and security perspective, the attacks demonstrate the superiority of the aggressor. Second, from an economic standpoint, the objective appears to be the reduction of the Kurdistan Region's oil production capacity and disruption of its current sales method. Third - and perhaps most importantly - there is a political dimension that may be the primary motive behind the attack: to serve as a warning for the US not to penalize Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) for its oil sales. In recent days, following US President Donald Trump's letter to the Iraqi prime minister regarding the imposition of a 30 percent tariff on Iraqi goods starting August 1, there have also been indications that the United States has warned Iraq about the sale of Iranian oil. On July 3, the US Department of the Treasury added several individuals and companies to its sanctions list for selling Iranian oil under the guise of Iraqi oil. Previously, Iraq's Oil Minister, Hayyan Abdul Ghani, stated that 'Iran uses Iraqi documents to sell its oil.' This statement helps explain the longstanding discrepancy between the revenue data reported by Iraq's Oil Ministry and that of the Finance Ministry. Iran's total oil production is also higher than Iraq's. According to Energy data for 2024, Iran's daily oil production was 5.062 million barrels, while Iraq produced 4.398 million barrels per day. This means that, in terms of annual production growth, Iran increased its output by 10.6 percent, whereas Iraq's production rose by only one percent. Within the borders of Duhok province, there are several other oil fields where international companies, particularly British, Norwegian, and Canadian ones, are operating as production partners. These include the Tawke, Peshkabir, Shekhan, and Bashiqa oil fields, which are geographically more accessible and, in some cases, even closer than Sarsang, if the sole objective of the attackers had been economic disruption or security destabilization. However, the selection of Sarsang as the target appears clearly intentional. These attacks underscore the complexity of Iraq's political system and the capabilities of various armed actors within it. Currently, oil production in the Kurdistan Region ranges between 280,000 and 300,000 barrels per day. However, as of the morning of Tuesday, production dropped by nearly 30,000 barrels. According to the Iraqi oil minister, the remaining disagreement between Erbil and Baghdad over resuming oil exports through the Ceyhan port in Turkey amounts to a gap of just 19,000 barrels. We should not overlook the fact that the timing and targeting of the Sarsang field demonstrate the advanced and sophisticated capabilities of the attacking side from all angles. This poses a serious threat that must not be forgotten, especially if a new agreement comes into effect. Another important reality is that targeting the HKN company effectively means targeting the lobbying power of international oil companies within the US Congress and administration. Much of the US administration's statements and exerting pressure on Erbil and Baghdad to resume Kurdistan's oil exports via pipelines - and to reach a new agreement - was driven by the interests tied to this company. Finally, while it is true that the attack took place and the agreement was signed, several critical questions remain unanswered. First: If the US Treasury Department threatens to sanction SOMO, should the illegal groups in Iraq target part of the Iraqi state's territory and demand its surrender along with its revenues? Second: Is there division among the current rulers of the state administration in managing files, or are official institutions one thing and what actually happens another thing? Third: Does the signing of HKN company's contract with the Iraqi ministry of oil put an end to the repeated claims of unconstitutional and illegal contracts with the Kurdistan Region? Fourth: Why did Iraq choose the HKN company from among dozens of major American oil companies at this stage? What connection does this have to lobbying? Fifth: What will be the response of the US administration to harming American companies and investors? Mahmood Baban is a research fellow at the Rudaw Research Center. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rudaw.
Rudaw Net
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
PKK disarmament could be completed within four months: Kurdish lawmaker
Also in Middle East Sudani, Erdogan discuss Ankara-PKK peace talks President Barzani plays key role in PKK peace talks, says veteran politician Turkey continues to strike PKK ahead of disarmament: Watchdog France hails Iraq ties, stresses Kurdish inclusion in Syria's future A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The disarmament process of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) could be completed within four months if the Turkish government and all parties cooperate, a senior member of Turkey's pro-Kurdish party and part of the delegation involved in the peace process said. Mithat Sancar, Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) lawmaker and a member of the Imrali delegation that visited jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, told Rudaw on Friday that the recent 'historic' ceremony in Sulaimani province was a 'big step' in the right direction "This process has been ongoing for six or seven months, and now a big step has been taken," Sancar said. "Perhaps after another three to four months this issue will end,' he said. The PKK on Friday held a landmark ceremonial disarmament in Sulaimani province with 30 members and commanders - divided equally between men and women - burning their weapons before heading back to their hideouts. The decision to lay down arms was made following a call earlier this year by jailed leader Ocalan for the PKK to pursue politics instead of armed conflict. Sancar emphasized that new "peace laws" and integration measures will be needed to allow former fighters to re-enter civilian life and participate in democratic politics. He added that a parliamentary commission is expected to be formed within a week to prepare these proposals. While local leaders and the PKK have taken steps toward de-escalation, Sancar stressed that the Turkish state also needs to act. "This shouldn't be prolonged," he said. "A plan needs to be made, a mechanism established, and laws need to be passed." He noted that the decision to burn the weapons rather than surrender them was deeply symbolic. "They say, 'We are laying down arms by our own will … and we want peace, we want a democratic solution.'" Sancar, who visited Ocalan on Imrali island as part of the delegation, said the PKK leader appeared in good health and remained "prepared for this process," as he continues to draft ideas for politics and society and has called for broader engagement, including visits by journalists, academics, and politicians. The PKK, established in 1978, initially sought Kurdish independence before shifting its focus to securing political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey. It is designated as a terrorist organization by Ankara and its Western allies. Hevidar Zana contributed to this report.
