ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) top commander announced on Sunday that the group has extended its unilateral ceasefire, introduced in February due to deadly quakes in Turkey, to after the upcoming elections in the country. PKK announced a unilateral truce on February 10, days after strong quakes hit over 10 provinces in Turkey. The purpose of the ceasefire, according to the group, was to allow all resources to be focused on rescue efforts. Bese Hozat, a senior commander of the PKK, told the party’s media on Sunday that they have decided to extend the ceasefire to after Turkey’s parliamentary and presidential elections which are to be held on May 14. “We re-evaluated our ceasefire decision… We have decided to extend it to after elections because this vote is a historic one. We will revise the decision after the elections,” said Hozat. She added that Turkey has increased attacks against them since the ceasefire was initially announced in February. The PKK is a Kurdish armed group struggling for the increased rights of Kurds in Turkey. It is designated a terrorist organization by Ankara.
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