DIYARBAKIR, Turkey - Kurds in Turkey expressed hope and joy after Abdullah Ocalan called on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to lay down arms and disband, in a historic move that could reshape the security and political landscape of the region.
"We hope that the call for peace by the leader of the Kurds, Mr Abdullah Ocalan, will become a beginning for a lasting peace deal, a prosperous life for all the people in Kurdistan and the Middle East," said a Kurd from Turkey's southern city of Diyarbakir.
Jailed Kurdish leader and PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan on Thursday called on the PKK to lay down arms and "dissolve itself" after more than four decades of war with Turkey. His statement was issued amid renewed peace efforts to end a conflict that broke out in 1984, has spilled over international borders, and claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people.
"We stand with peace and freedom. You see the power of people. We seek peace and freedom. We want it for all the people, not only ours. We believe that this peace will be achieved," said another Kurd in Diyarbakir.
The PKK is labeled a terrorist organisation by Turkey and its Western allies.
Over 40,000 lives have been lost since the PKK began its campaign against the Turkish state in 1984. The group's initial goal was to establish an independent Kurdish state, however, it later shifted its focus towards advocating for greater autonomy in southeastern Turkey and expanded rights for Kurds, who suffered under systemic discrimination.
A previous peace effort collapsed a decade ago.
Rekar Aziz contributed to this article.
