Turkey’s Kurdish Leaders Engage in Peace Dialogues with Jailed Politicians

A delegation from the pro-Kurdish DEM party met jailed leader Selahattin Demirtas in Edirne, marking a vital step toward resolving Turkey’s prolonged conflict with Kurdish groups. Following recent interactions with imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, both leaders emphasize the need for collaboration and confidence-building measures. President Erdogan supports calls to disband the PKK, reflecting evolving dynamics in the peace process.

A delegation from Turkey’s leading pro-Kurdish political party, the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM), met with Selahattin Demirtas, the party’s former co-chairperson, currently imprisoned in Edirne. This meeting represents a significant step in ongoing efforts to resolve the 40-year conflict between the Turkish state and Kurdish groups.

Demirtas was jailed in 2016 under terrorism charges widely deemed politically motivated, and this meeting follows a recent encounter between DEM officials and Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned PKK leader. The PKK has waged an armed insurgency against Turkey since the 1980s, while DEM advocates for left-leaning Kurdish nationalism, often facing governmental repression.

Following the meeting, Demirtas urged for mutual focus on a future where all groups would prosper. He acknowledged Ocalan’s role in potentially facilitating a PKK ceasefire, despite being imprisoned since 1999. Demirtas, who led DEM from 2014 to 2018, called for urgent confidence-building measures to advance this dialogue.

Ahmet Turk, another DEM member, emphasized the interdependence of Turks and Kurds in building democracy within the region. The PKK-Turkey conflict, ongoing since 1984, has seen many unsuccessful peace efforts. Ocalan remains a crucial figure due to his enduring support among Kurds.

In a separate address, President Erdogan reiterated calls for disbanding the PKK, aligning with nationalist sentiments and underlining the need for Turkey to overcome historical separatism. Devlet Bahceli, the Nationalist Movement Party leader, recently suggested Ocalan might be released if he renounced violence. Erdogan’s tacit endorsement of this notion points towards potential shifts in peace negotiations, with Ocalan expressing readiness to contribute positively to future peace efforts.

The recent meeting between DEM leaders and Selahattin Demirtas marks a crucial step in Turkish-Kurdish peace efforts, following significant figures calling for dialogue and cooperation. Both Demirtas and Turk emphasize mutual benefit while President Erdogan’s stance reflects a potential shift towards reconciliation. The role of Ocalan remains pivotal for peace as ongoing discussions unfold.

Original Source: abcnews.go.com