Establishing disarmament mechanism will move the process forward, says jailed PKK ringleader Abdullah Ocalan
Jailed PKK ringleader Abdullah Ocalan on Wednesday reiterated his call for the terrorist group to lay down its arms.
Ocalan, currently serving a life sentence in a prison on the island of Imrali, near Istanbul, said he maintains his stance on the call he made on Feb. 27, urging the terrorist group to disarm and dissolve itself.
Emphasizing that the current phase should be considered valuable and historic, Ocalan said these developments came about as a result of talks held on Imrali, adding that these discussions were held on the basis of free will.
Stating that the stage reached now necessitates concrete steps, Ocalan said voluntary disarmament and the establishment of a comprehensive parliamentary commission are essential for the overall process.
He also said the terror group PKK has abandoned its goal of establishing a nation-state and ended its existence.
This historic juncture is expected to advance further, he said. Disarmament should be ensured in a transparent manner that is meaningful both to parliament and the public, addresses existing doubts, and fulfills the responsibility of the commitments made, he added.
“Establishing a disarmament mechanism will move the process forward,” Ocalan said.
Saying that the details of disarmament will be outlined and swiftly implemented, he further said that the Peoples' Democratic Party (DEM Party), under the roof of parliament, along with other political parties, will fulfill its role to ensure the success of this process.
“I believe in the power of politics and social peace, not weapons, and I call on you to bring this principle into practice," he said.
He added that recent developments in the region clearly affirm the significance and urgency of the historic step being taken.
In May, the terror group PKK decided to dissolve and lay down its arms. The announcement followed a February statement by Ocalan, who called for the dissolution of the PKK and its affiliated groups, urging an end to the armed campaign that has lasted more than four decades.
In its 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, infants and the elderly.
