Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of Turkey's banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has expressed his willingness to contribute to peace efforts between Turks and Kurds. In a statement released by the pro-Kurdish DEM party, Ocalan stated that he is prepared to play a positive role in the new peace paradigm supported by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and nationalist leader Devlet Bahceli.
Ocalan has been serving a life sentence on Imrali island near Istanbul since 1999, following his conviction for treason. The PKK, which has been fighting for an autonomous state in Turkey’s southeast since 1984, has been involved in a long-standing conflict that has resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of lives. The group is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies.
Devlet Bahceli, known for his tough stance against the PKK, surprised many in October when he suggested in parliament that Ocalan could be granted parole if he renounced violence and disbanded the PKK. Erdogan later expressed indirect support for Bahceli's proposal. Ocalan himself had previously indicated his readiness to work towards peace in a message conveyed by his nephew.
Two senior members of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM), Pervin Buldan and Sirri Sureyya Onder, held a closed-door meeting with Ocalan on his prison island. The details of the meeting were not disclosed until the following day, when a one-page statement was issued outlining the discussions, which primarily focused on a joint call for all parties to collaborate towards achieving peace.
The statement concluded with an optimistic outlook, stating, “This is an era of peace, democracy, and fraternity for Turkey and the region.” The potential for Ocalan's involvement in peace efforts marks a significant development in the longstanding conflict between the Turkish government and Kurdish separatists, raising hopes for a peaceful resolution to the decades-old conflict.
