The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has announced a ceasefire with Turkey today, ending a war that has lasted for 41 years.
The decision follows an appeal from the PKK’s founder and leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who has been held in near-total isolation since 1999.
In their statement, the PKK executive committee said, “In order to pave the way for the implementation of Apo’s call for peace and a democratic society, we declare a ceasefire as of today.”
The PKK expressed hope that Ankara would release Ocalan to lead the disarmament process. They emphasized the importance of easing his prison conditions, allowing him to live and work in physical freedom, and to establish unhindered relationships with anyone he wants, including his friends.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan responded to Ocalan’s appeal by stating that a new phase has begun in Turkey’s efforts to eradicate terrorism.
He noted that terrorism has been the main obstacle for the country over the past four decades. Erdogan emphasized that the terrorist organization no longer has excuses and assured that the government will remain vigilant, taking all necessary measures against any challenges during this process.
Erdogan acknowledged the significant difficulties Turkey faced during its 40-year ordeal with terrorism, adding that terrorism had been used as a means to shape policy in the country for many years.
Despite these challenges, Erdogan stressed that Turkey had always maintained a balance between security and freedom. He expressed hope that with the end of terrorism, Turkey has the opportunity to take a historic step toward unity and progress.
The PKK, which stands for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, has been waging an insurgency since 1984 with the aim of establishing a homeland for Kurds, who make up about 20% of Turkey’s population. The group is banned as a terrorist organization in Turkey, the EU, UK, and US. Since the insurgency began, around 40,000 people have died.
There was a spike in violence in southeastern Turkey from 2015 to 2017 when a two-and-a-half-year ceasefire broke down. More recently, in October, the PKK claimed responsibility for an attack on the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) headquarters near Ankara, which left five people dead.