The Turkey-PKK conflict, initiated in the late 1970s under Abdullah Ocalan, has resulted in significant violence and political challenges. Key developments include Ocalan’s imprisonment, multiple peace attempts, and ongoing tensions following a breakdown in negotiations after 2015. Recent outreach from Turkey’s MHP party suggests a possibility for new dialogue amid a fraught history.
The ongoing conflict between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a militant organization founded by Abdullah Ocalan, has a significant history marked by violence and political strife. The PKK was established in 1978 by Kurdish university students who aimed for Kurdish liberation through strength. Ocalan, then a political science student, was chosen to lead this movement rooted in Marxist-Leninist ideology.
The Turkish military coup of 1980 compelled Ocalan and the PKK to seek refuge in Syria and Lebanon. In 1984, while based in Lebanon, the PKK initiated an armed struggle against the Turkish state, leading to violent clashes, particularly in Turkey’s Kurdish southeast, resembling a civil conflict.
In 1999, Ocalan was captured in Kenya and afterward sentenced to death; however, his sentence was converted to life imprisonment in 2002 amidst EU-supported reforms. On March 21, 2013, during Newroz, Ocalan encouraged PKK members to cease hostilities, coinciding with peace negotiations with the Turkish government and facilitated by the pro-Kurdish HDP party.
The peace process, however, disintegrated in July 2015 following a terrorist attack in Suruc. The HDP’s electoral successes prompted heightened anxieties within President Erdogan’s administration, leading Turkey to conduct military operations against PKK positions in Iraq and engaging in extensive domestic offensives.
The relationship between the Turkish government and Kurdistan’s political factions worsened after a failed coup in 2016, resulting in a crackdown on Kurdish political expression and the detention of numerous Kurdish leaders. Contrarily, recent overtures from Turkey’s nationalist MHP party have surprised many, advocating for Ocalan’s call for an end to violence. Delegations from the DEM party have visited Ocalan at Imrali prison for discussions in December and January.
In summary, the Turkey-PKK conflict represents a complex interplay of political maneuvers and armed struggle marked by significant milestones. The initial armed conflict began in the late 1970s, leading to Ocalan’s imprisonment and subsequent attempts at peace negotiation that have yet to yield sustainable results. The relationship continues to be fraught with tension, especially following failed peace efforts after 2015, although recent discussions indicate a potential shift in dynamics.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
