Turkey’s Kurds Mixed Reactions to PKK Ceasefire Announcement

Turkey’s Kurdish population expresses mixed feelings about the PKK’s recent ceasefire declaration following past unsuccessful peace attempts. Many residents in Diyarbakir remain skeptical of the Turkish government’s intentions, pointing to historical failures while desiring genuine reconciliation. The complexity of the ongoing conflict is further underscored by the PKK’s internal leadership dynamics and its implications for future relations between the Kurdish community and the Turkish state.

A recent ceasefire announcement by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has generated varied reactions in Turkey’s southeast and northern Iraq, regions most affected by the long-standing conflict with the Turkish state. This announcement could provide President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government a significant political advantage, following an appeal to disarm by the PKK’s jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan.

In Diyarbakir, Turkey’s largest Kurdish-majority city, residents expressed skepticism about the Turkish government’s commitment to peace. Many, including Turkan Duman, who lost family members in the conflict, remember past agreements that ultimately failed, stating, “We do not trust them; they said the same things before, nothing has changed.”

Duman’s personal experiences, including her son’s imprisonment and the deaths of her brothers in battles against Turkish forces, highlight the distrust felt by many in the region. Kiymet Soresoglu, also from the Peace Mothers’ Association, echoed similar concerns, stating, “We are afraid because they make plans or (could) play a trick.”

Both women emphasize their desire for peace but assert that any demands for disarmament without reciprocal actions would not be accepted. Duman expresses a longing for a bloodless resolution: “We want peace so that no more blood is shed, it is a sin.”

Since the PKK began its insurgency in 1984, fighting has led to tens of thousands of deaths, making gauging exact casualties challenging. The International Crisis Group estimates over 7,000 deaths since the conflict escalated again in 2015, including both combatants and civilians.

The ceasefire declaration aligns closely with Ocalan’s appeal, reflecting coordination within PKK leadership despite his incarceration. Vahap Coskun from Diyarbakir’s Dicle University notes the unexpected momentum towards disarmament, suggesting rapid preparations for a congress to consider dissolving the PKK.

In northern Iraq, Kurds in Sulaymaniyah reacted positively to the ceasefire, with Najmadin Bahaadin deeming it a “historical moment” compared to previous efforts. However, some, like Awat Rashid, question if Ocalan’s leadership decisions are being influenced by external pressures, raising issues of trust in the process.

The latest ceasefire declaration by the PKK raises both hope and skepticism among those affected by decades of violence between Kurdish militants and the Turkish government. While some view this as a potential turning point, trust remains a significant barrier due to past broken agreements. The success of the ceasefire and subsequent actions will depend on genuine commitments from both sides to make peace a reality. Overall, the situation illustrates the complex dynamics of the Kurdish issue in Turkey and influences from leadership both in Turkey and in Kurdish regions of Iraq.

Original Source: www.click2houston.com