ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A top commander of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) said that the group will not heed to a call for disarmament from its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan unless he physically meets with them and Kurds are guaranteed their rights in Turkey.
“They say let Ocalan call for disarmament. Let’s assume that he made the call. But this work cannot be done only through a call. We are a movement with tens of thousands of armed people. These fighters are not on a payroll to be sacked. These are ideological fighters. They have beliefs and are willing to sacrifice themselves. If the person who established the ideology, leader Apo, himself does not get involved physically or speak with the comrades, a call via video is not enough, he has to speak while free. If not, how can they [PKK fighters] be convinced to lay down arms?” Murat Karayilan said in an interview with the PKK-affiliated Sterk TV that was aired on Thursday.
Ocalan is also known as Apo, which means “uncle” in Kurdish.
Amid renewed efforts to end four decades of conflict, Turkish officials and politicians have intensified their demands on the PKK to lay down arms. Media reports indicate that Ocalan is expected to make that call.
Karayilan, however, urged caution.
“Kurdish society has been tricked many times. They do not trust the Turkish state in terms of its policy. First of all, trust must be established. Steps have to be taken in this regard. There will be no [peace] process unless they change their language, actions and attempts,” he said.
He was apparently referring to the short-lived peace process between the PKK and Ankara in 2013. Both sides blamed the other when it failed in 2015.
While expectations for peace are high, regular clashes continue. Turkey has intensified its attacks on alleged positions of the PKK in the Kurdistan Region and Karayilan said that a peace process cannot begin until the fighting ceases.
“There must be a ceasefire. How can we discuss the disarmament issue without a ceasefire?... There must be a bilateral ceasefire.… We are not lovers of weapons, but freedom and democracy and a just life. If this happens there will be no need for weapons,” he said.
A major decision like disarmament requires the approval of the party leadership, not just Ocalan, the commander said.
“The PKK congress has to meet and make such a decision. Who can do this all? Leader Apo. He can call for a congress meeting and speak with them physically several times. This is not a normal issue,” he said.
Ocalan has been kept in Imrali island prison since his arrest in 1999. Karayilan said he should be released.
“Our comrades will not be convinced to lay down arms unless Leader Apo is released. Some say that the lifting of isolation is a solution. But this is not enough. Leader Apo has to be released. This stage has arrived. He has to be released so that this process can proceed,” he said.
After being denied visits for years, Ocalan has recently been allowed to meet with family and lawmakers from the main pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) who are mediating talks between the PKK and the state.
