Abdullah Ocalan, the founder of the PKK, called for disarmament to facilitate peace with Turkey. The PKK was established in 1974 and has engaged in decades of conflict with the Turkish state. Key events include Ocalan’s capture in 1999, various ceasefires, and ongoing violence, including recent attacks in 2024. The Iraqi government’s stance on the PKK has evolved, labeling it a banned organization.
Abdullah Ocalan, the founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), made a notable appeal for disarmament as part of a potential peace agreement with Turkey. After his capture in 1999, he expressed a commitment to serve Turkey, yet the PKK continues to be a significant national security concern for the state. The timeline of the conflict highlights key events over the past four decades.
In 1974, the PKK was established by leftist Kurdish students led by Ocalan as a clandestine Marxist-Leninist organization. By 1978, the group had convened its first congress in Diyarbakir, setting its sights on creating an independent Kurdistan within Turkey. In 1982, they founded their initial training camp in Lebanon with support from the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO).
The PKK launched its first attacks against Turkish soldiers in August 1984, marking the beginning of escalating violence. In September 1998, Ocalan fled to avoid Turkish pressure following Syria’s agreement to cease its support for the PKK. Consequently, the PKK relocated its headquarters to the Qandil mountains in northern Iraq.
On February 15, 1999, Turkish special forces captured Ocalan in Kenya, after which he was flown back to Turkey under harsh conditions. He was initially sentenced to death in June 1999, but this was commuted to life imprisonment in October 2002 when Turkey abolished capital punishment. Following his arrest, the PKK declared a unilateral ceasefire, which ended in 2004.
In 2003, in pursuit of European Union membership, Turkey enacted reforms to improve Kurdish language rights and political representation. By 2010, dialogue commenced between Turkish officials and PKK members, though it later fell apart. Tensions escalated in the summer of 2012 with increased clashes and arrests of Kurdish activists.
On March 21, 2013, Ocalan ordered a ceasefire, directing his fighters to pull out of Turkey. However, in 2015, with the emergence of ISIS, the situation worsened as hostilities resumed, particularly in July when a ceasefire failed, leading to severe destruction in southeastern Turkey.
In June 2020, Turkey initiated Operations Claw-Eagle and Claw-Tiger, directed against PKK positions in Iraq, inciting criticism from the Iraqi government. A failed Turkish rescue mission in February 2021 resulted in the deaths of hostages, further straining Ankara’s relations with Washington, as the U.S. did not attribute blame to the PKK.
In July 2024, the Iraqi government classified the PKK as a banned organization, mandating that all correspondence refer to it as such, though it has not labeled the group a terrorist entity. By October 2024, the PKK claimed responsibility for an attack near Ankara that resulted in multiple casualties, underscoring the ongoing volatility of the conflict.
The PKK’s decades-long conflict with Turkey is marked by significant political, military, and social developments. Abdullah Ocalan’s shift towards peace initiatives contrasts sharply with the group’s ongoing violence, including the recent attack in 2024. The regional and international implications of this insurgency continue to evolve, particularly concerning Iraq’s recent stance towards the PKK. The complex interplay between security concerns and political negotiations demonstrates the challenge of achieving lasting peace in the region.
Original Source: www.thenationalnews.com
