Latest news with #PKK
Arab News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Turkiye's Kurdish region finds it difficult to accept peace is at hand
HAKKARI, Turkiye: Southeast Turkiye, where the army has battled Kurdish militants for decades, is not yet convinced that lasting peace is at hand. In a slickly managed ceremony recently held across the border in Iraq, members of the Kurdish rebel group PKK destroyed their weapons as part of a peace process underway with the Turkish state. But on the streets and in the tea houses of Hakkari, a Kurdish-majority town some 50 kilometers from the Iraqi border, few people express much hope that the deadly conflict is over. One tea drinker who was willing to speak asked not to be filmed. 'We don't talk about it,' he said. We know what we are doing. No one should worry, be afraid, or question anything. Everything we are doing is for Turkiye, for our future and our independence. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkiye's president The conflict has caused 50,000 deaths among civilians and 2,000 among soldiers, according to Turkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Mehmet Duman, a local, said: 'The state must take a step' to match the symbolic operation to destroy PKK weapons in Iraq. 'Turkiye has won,' Erdogan said Saturday, a day after the PKK's symbolic destruction of weapons signaling the start of the disarmament process. 'Eighty-six million citizens have won,' he added. While he has opened a peace process with the PKK, or Kurdistan Workers' Party, he has also continued his crackdown on opposition parties. The government has arrested hundreds of members of the CHP, a social-democratic, secular party. The main opposition force to Erdogan, it is rising in the polls. Those arrested include the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, the party's likely candidate in the next presidential elections, and the mayors of other major cities who took power when CHP made major gains in March 2024 local elections. Accused of 'corruption,' they deny the charges against them. The crackdown has also hit opposition media outlets, such as the Sozcu channel. On Saturday morning, before the plenary session of his AKP party, Erdogan sought to be reassuring. 'We know what we are doing. No one should worry, be afraid, or question anything. Everything we are doing is for Turkiye, for our future and our independence,' he insisted. The PKK announced in May that it would disband and renounce armed conflict. The move came after PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been imprisoned on an island near Istanbul since 1999, urged his group in February to convene a congress, and formally disband and disarm. Ocalan renewed his call in a video message broadcast on Wednesday, saying, 'I believe in the power of politics and social peace, not weapons.' The PKK issued a statement from the fighters who were laying down their weapons, saying that they had disarmed 'as a gesture of goodwill and a commitment to the practical success' of the peace process. 'We will henceforth continue our struggle for freedom, democracy, and socialism through democratic politics and legal means,' the statement said. Turkish parliamentary Speaker Numan Kurtulmus said that the initial disarmament step had proceeded 'as planned,' but cautioned that the process was far from complete. 'There's still a long way to go in collecting many more weapons,' Kurtulmus said. 'What matters is ending the armed era in a way that ensures weapons are never taken up again.' The official noted that the Turkish parliament was close to setting up a commission to oversee the peace process. Devlet Bahceli, Erdogan's nationalist ally who initiated the peace process, welcomed the ceremony, saying it marks 'historic developments that signal the end of a dark era.'
Shafaq News
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraqi official: PKK disarmament must cover Sinjar
Shafaq News – Sinjar The disarmament agreement between the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and Turkiye should extend to Sinjar, an Iraqi military commander noted on Sunday, pointing to the presence of armed factions operating under the group's authority in the district. The PKK, classified as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, established a foothold in Sinjar after assisting the Yazidi community during ISIS's 2014 assault. Its presence remains a persistent source of friction between Baghdad, Erbil, and Ankara. 'There are several groups here that take orders from the PKK and remain loyal to it,' the commander told Shafaq News, requesting anonymity. 'They must be included in any comprehensive agreement.' Although no terms have outlined Sinjar's status, the official anticipated that the ongoing demilitarization process—expected to last about three months—could eventually encompass the area. 'This could lead to the withdrawal of the PKK and its affiliated groups from the district, if both sides reach a full understanding,' he remarked. Backed by both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, the disarmament drive accelerated on May 12, when the PKK dissolved and renounced armed struggle after more than 40 years of conflict. Last Friday, fighters burned their weapons in a cave outside al-Sulaymaniyah, in the Kurdistan Region, marking the group's shift toward political engagement with Turkiye. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed it as 'the dawn of a new era' and announced a parliamentary committee to draft the legal framework for disarmament.
Al-Ahram Weekly
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Turkey's Kurdish regions not yet ready to believe in peace process - Region
Southeast Turkey, where the army has battled Kurdish militants for decades, is not yet convinced that lasting peace is at hand. In a slickly managed ceremony across the border in Iraq Friday, members of the Kurdish rebel group PKK destroyed their weapons as part of a peace process underway with the Turkish state. But on the streets and in the tea houses of Hakkari, a Kurdish-majority town some 50 kilometres (31 miles) from the Iraqi border, few people express much hope that the deadly conflict is over. Police, including undercover officers, patrol the streets of the small town and make their presence felt, an AFP team observed, which discouraged locals from wanting to talk to visiting reporters. One tea drinker who was willing to speak asked not to be filmed. "We don't talk about it because we never know what will happen tomorrow," he explained. "We can say something now and tomorrow be punished for it," he added, noting that previous peace attempts have failed. The conflict has caused 50,000 deaths among civilians and 2,000 among soldiers, according to Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 'All kinds of persecution' On the pavement in front of the restaurant where he works, Mehmet Duman raised his eyebrows. At 26, he's already seen enough to make him doubt. "They segregated us, beat us, simply because we're Kurdish," he said. "We witnessed all kinds of persecution. "So from now on, if the state wants a future for Turkey -- if they want Turkey to be a good environment for everyone -- they must stop all this," he said. "The state must also take a step" to match the symbolic operation to destroy PKK weapons in Iraq. "Turkey has won," Erdogan said Saturday, a day after the PKK's symbolic destruction of weapons signalling the start of the disarmament process. "Eighty-six million citizens have won," he added. While he has opened a peace process with the PKK, or Kurdistan Workers' Party, he has also continued his crackdown on opposition parties. The government has arrested hundreds of members of the CHP, a social-democratic, secular party descended from Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. The main opposition force to Erdogan, it is rising in the polls. "Since the beginning of the peace process, Turkey has become a much more authoritarian country," said political analyst Berk Esen. "The disarmament of a terrorist organization should, or could, lead to democratization and social peace, but it probably won't." Crackdown on opposition Those arrested include the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, the party's likely candidate in the next presidential elections, and the mayors of other major cities who took power when CHP made major gains in March 2024 local elections. Accused of "corruption", they deny the charges against them. The crackdown has also hit opposition media outlets, such as the Sozcu channel. It was forced into silence after 16 fines and suspensions since January -- "one every two weeks", its director, Ozgur Cakmakci, noted Tuesday evening as lights went out. "There is little doubt that there is an intention to liquidate opposition channels as part of an authoritarian project," said Erol Onderoglu, the Turkish representative of Reporters Without Borders. On Saturday morning, before the plenary session of his AKP party, Erdogan sought to be reassuring. "We know what we are doing. No one should worry, be afraid, or question anything. Everything we are doing is for Turkey, for our future and our independence," he insisted. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Shafaq News
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
PKK disarms in blaze of weapons: Region hails new path to peace
Shafaq News On Friday, July 11, a dramatic scene unfolded on a secluded hillside outside al-Sulaymaniyah, in Iraq's northern Kurdistan Region, where dozens of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fighters staged a rare public disarmament ceremony. Marching in silence, each guerrilla laid down an AK-47, sidearm, or bandolier into a grey iron cauldron before stepping back. As the pile of weapons grew shoulder-high, attendants doused it in fuel and set it ablaze, sending flames and thick black smoke skyward in a powerful symbolic act. Four senior PKK commanders watched from a raised platform, led by Bese Hozat, co-chair of the Kurdistan Community Union (KCK) and the group's most senior figure to appear publicly since its March truce declaration. Reading in Turkish, Hozat declared, 'The era of armed struggle is over,' and pledged to address the Kurdish question through 'democratic, civilian means,' calling for dialogue grounded in 'justice, freedom, and mutual respect.' The event's choreography reflected its political weight. Officials from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)'s Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs and al-Sulaymaniyah Province stood alongside delegates from Iraq's National Intelligence Service (INIS). Turkiye dispatched senior officers from the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and the General Directorate of Security. Three lawmakers from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, which has helped mediate between Ankara and the PKK, also attended. Yet, not all voices made it to the hillside. Originally open to civil society figures and local leaders, the invitation list was abruptly trimmed the night before due to 'deteriorating security conditions.' The ceremony ended with a moment of silence for 'all martyrs of the Kurdish struggle.' The fighters regrouped, saluted their commanders, and boarded unmarked buses headed for the Qandil Mountains, as Iraqi police secured the site. Soon after, Mola Nader of the Group for Peace and Democratic Society confirmed to Shafaq News that the fighters had returned to Jasana Mountain. He urged Turkiye to issue a general amnesty and embrace constitutional reforms ensuring inclusive citizenship. A statement from the group credited PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan and the party's 12th congress for guiding the shift, reaffirming a commitment to achieving 'freedom, democracy, and socialism' through peaceful means. It warned that the Middle East is descending into bloodshed and called on regional and global actors to respect Kurdish rights and support democratic transformation through education, grassroots organization, and political reform. This unprecedented event came just two months after the PKK officially announced its dissolution on May 12, ending a 47-year armed campaign that claimed more than 40,000 lives. Kurdistan Throws Weight Behind Peace Kurdistan's top political figures moved quickly to endorse the shift. Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Leader Masoud Barzani, meeting with a delegation from Turkiye's Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) at the Saladin Resort, described the disarmament as 'significant and moving in the right direction.' Stressing that 'ten years of dialogue outweigh one hour of war,' he urged all Kurdish parties to support the peace process and emphasized that political struggle, not violence, is the path forward. President Nechirvan Barzani echoed this support, calling the ceremony 'an encouraging step' and a meaningful show of political intent. While symbolic, he stressed, the gesture could open a new phase of dialogue and cooperation. He reaffirmed the Kurdistan Region's full commitment to supporting peace efforts and carrying any responsibilities required to sustain them. Amid regional volatility, Barzani offered a clear message: 'Peace makes us brothers,' he stated, affirming that success in the process would benefit Turkiye, Kurdistan, and the region at large. He also thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his leadership and extended respect to Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Leader Devlet Bahceli, Ocalan, and all individuals contributing to the process. Baghdad Welcomes 'Milestone' in PKK Disarmament From Baghdad, Iraq's Ministry of Foreign Affairs framed the ceremony as 'an important milestone' and 'a real opportunity' for reconciliation. It praised the move as a practical beginning to end decades of armed conflict and encouraged renewed efforts toward peaceful coexistence. Iraq emphasized that this step could reduce tensions, strengthen cooperation with Turkiye, and lay the groundwork for a wider regional dialogue—one that confronts the roots of conflict and builds long-term stability while respecting mutual sovereignty. A Greater Turkiye in Sight In Ankara, President Erdogan welcomed the PKK's disarmament as the dawn of a new era and thanked both Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region for their role in the process. Addressing supporters, he estimated that the conflict had claimed nearly 10,000 Turkish soldiers and cost Turkiye around $2 trillion. 'The 47-year plague of terrorism has entered its final stage,' he declared. 'Today marks a new beginning and opens the doors to a stronger, greater Turkiye.' The Turkish president further stressed that unity was key to progress: 'When hearts unite, borders disappear.' As part of the next steps, Erdogan announced plans to form a parliamentary committee to begin discussing the legal framework needed to advance the handover of weapons. 'This phase demands sensitivity, and we will closely monitor the process.' Others in Ankara echoed the sentiment. Bahceli called it a key moment in ending 'separatist violence.' Justice and Development Party (AKP) Spokesperson Omer Celik described the ceremony as the first step in a broader disarmament effort and called for rapid implementation to achieve a 'future free from terrorism.' Still, not everyone was convinced. Some voices warned the move might be largely symbolic, pointing to the possibility that the PKK still retains weapons in remote strongholds. Without transparency or independent oversight, they cautioned, the ceremony could fall short of a genuine end to military operations. Wave of Attacks Preceded PKK Peace Gesture In the weeks leading up to the al-Sulaymaniyah event, Turkish military operations across Iraqi Kurdistan showed no signs of slowing. According to the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), 550 Turkish attacks were recorded between June 1 and June 30, including 525 artillery shellings and 25 airstrikes. Operations were concentrated—98%—in Duhok province, particularly the Al-Amadiya district, with only nine shellings recorded in Sidakan, Erbil Province. Although the monthly increase in strikes was modest—up 8% from May—overall activity remains above pre-ceasefire levels. Analysts attribute the focus to Ankara's effort to establish a buffer zone devoid of PKK presence near the border. The PKK, for its part, launched four suicide drone attacks on Turkish bases in Sgire on June 16 and 24, describing them as defensive actions. Since January, 1,678 Turkish military strikes have been recorded across the Kurdistan Region: 1,484 in Duhok, 140 in Erbil, and 54 in al-Sulaymaniyah. The violence has claimed three civilian lives and left six others injured, casting a long shadow over the symbolic gestures unfolding just weeks later.
Qatar Tribune
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Amir, Turkish president discuss relations, regional and international developments
His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and President of the Republic of Turkiye HE Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the strategic relations between the two countries and ways to develop and strengthen them. They also touched on key regional and international developments of common concern, primarily the developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories. This came during a phone call HH the Amir received on Friday from the Turkish president. During the call, HH the Amir welcomed the commencement of the agreement to disarm the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), commending the constructive and impactful role of President Erdogan and Turkey's efforts in fostering civil peace and promoting regional stability.
