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Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
First group of Kurdish PKK members burns weapons as a symbol of peace with Turkey
July 11 (UPI) -- The Kurdish militant group PKK took its first step toward peace with Turkey as it burned weapons after 40 years of conflict. The group of 30 PKK members went to a cave near Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, and put their weapons into a fire. It was the first ceremony of its kind for the organization, and more are expected to happen all summer. The Turkish government has said the ceremony is crossing a "critical threshold" toward a "terror-free Turkey." PKK, or the Kurdistan Workers' Party, is considered a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and others. It formed as a response to poor treatment of Kurds in Turkey and demanded an independent Kurdistan, Kurdish language education and more. More than 40,000 people have died in the four decades-long conflict. "We voluntarily destroy our weapons, before your presence, as a step of goodwill and determination," the PKK said in a statement. The group included 15 men and 15 women. Witnesses included officials from Turkey's National Intelligence Organization, Iraqi officials, security forces and officials from Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government, members of the Turkish People's Democratic Party (Dem), and some from non-governmental organizations. PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, long imprisoned by Turkey, said it was "a voluntary transition from the phase of armed conflict to the phase of democratic politics and law." Ocalan has been imprisoned on the island of Imrali near Istanbul since 1999. He's been kept in solitary confinement. Devlet Bahceli, a nationalist leader in Turkey and ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, started working to create a "terror-free Turkey" in October 2024. He pushed Ocalan to call for the dissolution of the PKK. The Turkish government began negotiations with Ocalan with the help of the Dem party, which is pro-Kurd. In February, Ocalan appealed to the group to disband in a letter that two Dem MPs read out after visiting the prison. "All groups must lay their arms and the PKK must dissolve itself," Ocalan's letter said. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Daily Tribune
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Kurdish PKK says will disband and end armed struggle
The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announced Monday its dissolution and the end of more than four decades of armed struggle against the Turkish state, the pro-Kurd ANF news agency reported. "The 12th PKK Congress has decided to dissolve the PKK's organisational structure and end its method of armed struggle," the group announced in a statement after holding its congress last week. The PKK's announcement to dissolve itself heeds a call by its founder Abdullah Ocalan, jailed in an island off Istanbul since 1999, who urged his fighters in February to disarm and disband. In a letter, Ocalan urged the PKK to hold a congress to formalise the decision. Days later, the PKK's leadership accepted Ocalan's call, declaring a ceasefire. In a speech on Saturday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hinted that news about a dissolution could come at any moment, adding that his government was determined to "save our country from the scourge of terrorism". "We are advancing with firm steps on the path to the goal of a terror-free Turkey," he said. The PKK, designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, has waged an insurgency since 1984. Its original aim was to carve out a homeland for Kurds, who make up about 20 percent of Turkey's 85 million people. Since Ocalan was jailed there have been various attempts to end the bloodshed, which has cost more than 40,000 lives.
NZ Herald
12-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Kurdish PKK says it will disband and end armed struggle
The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announced its dissolution and conclusion of its armed struggle. The decision follows founder Abdullah Ocalan's call for the PKK to disarm and disband. The PKK's insurgency since 1984 has cost more than 40,000 lives. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has announced its dissolution and the end of more than four decades of armed struggle against the Turkish state, the pro-Kurd ANF news agency reported. 'The 12th PKK Congress has decided to dissolve the PKK's organisational structure and end its method of armed struggle,' the group announced on Monday in a statement, after holding its congress last week. The PKK's announcement to dissolve itself heeds a call by its founder Abdullah Ocalan, jailed in an island off Istanbul since 1999, who urged his fighters in February to disarm and disband. In a letter, Ocalan urged the PKK to hold a congress to formalise the decision.
Straits Times
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Kurdish PKK says will disband and end armed struggle
The PKK's announcement to dissolve itself heeds a call by its founder Abdullah Ocalan who urged his fighters in February to disarm and disband. PHOTO: REUTERS Kurdish PKK says will disband and end armed struggle ISTANBUL - The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announced on May 12 its dissolution and the end of more than four decades of armed struggle against the Turkish state, the pro-Kurd ANF news agency reported. 'The 12th PKK Congress has decided to dissolve the PKK's organisational structure and end its method of armed struggle,' the group announced in a statement after holding its congress last week. The PKK's announcement to dissolve itself heeds a call by its founder Abdullah Ocalan, jailed on an island off Istanbul since 1999, who urged his fighters in February to disarm and disband. In a letter, Ocalan urged the PKK to hold a congress to formalise the decision. Days later, the PKK's leadership accepted Ocalan's call, declaring a ceasefire. In a speech on May 10, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hinted that news about a dissolution could come at any moment, adding that his government was determined to 'save our country from the scourge of terrorism'. 'We are advancing with firm steps on the path to the goal of a terror-free Turkey,' he said. The PKK, designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, has waged an insurgency since 1984. Its original aim was to carve out a homeland for Kurds, who make up about 20 per cent of Turkey's 85 million people. Since Ocalan was jailed, there have been various attempts to end the bloodshed, which has cost more than 40,000 lives. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Veteran Turkish pro-Kurd MP Sirri Sureyya Onder dies
Veteran Turkish pro-Kurd MP Sirri Sureyya Onder dies (Photo: AP) Sirri Sureyya Onder , a veteran politician who won respect across Turkey's political spectrum for his efforts to end years of conflict with the country's Kurdish ethnic minority, has died aged 62, an Istanbul hospital said on Saturday. A lawmaker from the pro-Kurdish DEM party who served as parliament's deputy speaker, Onder died two and a half weeks after undergoing heart surgery following a cardiac arrest on April 15. The episode left him in critical condition, prompting an outpouring of concern including from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who accuses DEM of ties to the banned Kurdish militant group PKK. Erdogan had called Onder's daughter to say he was "closely" monitoring her father's health, and on Saturday expressed his "sadness" at the news of his death. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo "I sincerely believe that we will reach the goal of a Turkey without terrorism which the mourned Onder had worked for so much in recent times," the Turkish president said. Born in 1962 into a Turkish socialist family in Adiyaman, in the Kurdish-majority southeast, Onder grew up immersed in both cultures, and went on to play a key role in helping to facilitate peace talks that began in 2013. "His temperament and career path made him a real expert in talking with everyone," Ertugrul Kurkcu, former head of the now-defunct HDP party, DEM's predecessor, told AFP. His role as a peacemaker came to the fore in recent months when he travelled three times to Imrali island to meet Abdullah Ocalan , the jailed founder of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), as part of a small DEM delegation. The aim was to advance a fresh dialogue bid initiated by Ankara seeking to end the decades-long conflict with the PKK that has claimed over 40,000 lives. Postman of peace After his last visit on February 27, the delegation returned with a historic letter from Ocalan urging his militants to lay down their arms and disband. "I will be the postman of peace, if necessary. I'll give my life for that," Onder said. Known for his stubborn determination and irrepressible sense of humour, his efforts to promote peace won him widespread respect. "Events may seem depressing, but in reality, better days are just around the corner," he said with a smile in 2018, just before being jailed for a year on charges of spreading "terrorist propaganda". He was 16 when he first went to prison after joining a demonstration, and following a military coup in 1980 he was jailed again for joining a student protest, spending seven years behind bars and experiencing torture. Before entering politics, he had a varied career path, working as an apprentice photographer, lorry driver, builder and columnist. He also wrote and acted in the 2006 film "Beynelmilel" (The International) about repression after the 1980 coup. "While most Turkish films about the coup focus on the defeat and discouragement of the left, 'Beynelmilel' is one of the few films on the subject that offers hope," said Turkish cinema specialist Mazlum Vesek. I also represent the trees! After entering parliament in 2011, Onder became a prominent political figure during the 2013 Gezi Park protests that began in Istanbul over plans to raze a park. "I also represent the trees!" he shouted at police at the time. After Onder's hospitalisation in April, PKK founder Ocalan sent him a message of support, noting his "huge efforts for peace". "He is a person who was able to break down prejudices within society, within parliament and on the streets," he said. "His ability to cope with and manage adversity is important; he is able to turn negative situations into positive situations without making them worse."
