Abdullah Ocalan, imprisoned founder of the Kurdistan Workers Party known as PKK, has called for the group to disarm and dissolve to make peace with Turkey. Ocalan is seen in custody on a jet after being captured in Kenya by Turkish special forces Feb. 17, 1999. File photo iw/ho/ UPI | License Photo
Feb. 27 (UPI) — Abdullah Ocalan, imprisoned founder of the Kurdistan Workers Party known as PKK, sent a letter calling for the group to disarm and dissolve to make peace with Turkey.
“I am making a call for the laying down of arms, and I take on the historical responsibility of this call. As in the case with any modern community and party whose existence has not been abolished by force, would voluntarily do, convene your congress and make a decision; all groups must lay their arms and the PKK must dissolve itself,” Ocalan’s letter said.
His letter said it was a call for peace and a Democratic society.
The lettre was read in an Istanbul conference room as Ocalan, 75, is serving a life sentence at a prison south of Istanbul. He was captured in 1999 in Kenya by Turkish special forces.
His letter was read with joy in an Istanbul conference room.
“This is the breaking point of history and it is a positive one. We are here with a compass to find a possible route out of these dark chaotic days,” Siri Sureyya Onder of the Kurdish-allied People’s Equality and Democracy party said.
The chances for an end to nearly five decades of war between Turkey and the PKK were enhanced when far-right Turkish lawmaker Devlet Bahceli invited Ocalan to come to Parliament and “declare that he has laid down his arms.”
Bahceli is allied politically with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
A PKK-affiliated Kurdish militia in Syria, the People’s Protection Units (YPG), is allied with the United States in the fight against ISIS.
“The message will for sure have significant effects, especially on the crises that are unresolved in the region. We hope that this message will be a guide for resolving the existing crises, especially in Syria where we have entered a new phase,” YPG spokesman Siyamend Ali said in a statement to CNN.
He added the YPG hopes conflicts will stop, democracy will rule and ongoing issues will be resolved through dialogue as people enjoy equal rights.
The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and by the United States.
In December 2024 the United States Director of national Intelligence said the PKK has conducted several terrorist attacks that have killed scores of people, including civilians.