In the first footage of him to be released publicly since 1999, Abdullah Ocalan declared that the PKK’s armed struggle against Turkey was over.
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The jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) on Wednesday again urged his fighters to lay down their arms, days before a symbolic disarmament ceremony is set to take place as a first concrete step in a peace process with the Turkish state.
In a rare video message broadcast on media close to the militant groups, Abdullah Ocalan said the peace initiative had reached a stage that required practical steps.
“It should be considered natural for you to publicly ensure the disarmament of the relevant groups in a way that addresses the expectations of the (Turkish parliament) and its commission, dispels public doubts, and fulfills our commitments,” Ocalan said in the video message, which he delivered flanked by fellow jailed PKK members.
“I believe in the power of politics and social peace, not weapons. And I call on you to put this principle into practice.”
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In his seven-minute video message, Ocalan’s first public appearance since being seen during his trial more than two decades ago, the 76-year-old also expressed his support for the establishment of a parliamentary committee to help oversee the peace initiative.
The PKK leader — who has been imprisoned on an island near Istanbul since 1999 — first urged the militant group in February to convene a congress and formally dissolve itself. Responding to his call, the PKK announced in May that it would disband and renounce armed conflict, ending four decades of hostilities.
Ocalan’s call to end the fighting marked a pivotal step toward ending the decades-long conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives since the 1980s.
His video on Wednesday appeared to be aimed at convincing fighters who may still be hesitant about abandoning armed struggle.
“The phase of armed struggle has ended. This is not a loss, but a historic gain,” he said. “The armed struggle stage must now be voluntarily replaced by a phase of democratic politics and law.”
Erdogan expresses hope
President Erdogan Hypes Up Peace Talk, Says No Sabotage Needed
In a pep‑talk to his own party’s lawmakers, Turkey’s Tayyip Erdogan wrapped his speech with a hopeful note: once the peace plan finally takes off, it’ll give a facelift to the entire region—Turkey, the Kurds, the Arabs, all of them. He also made it clear that this should be a clean, drama‑free rollout.
He’s Got a Vision
“When the wall of terror comes down, God willing, we’ll finally stop the endless pain and tears,” Erdogan said, pacing at the podium while trying to keep the buzz of the room at bay. He talked about the future in bold terms: “The winners of this process will be the whole of Turkey—Turks, Kurds and Arabs alike. Then it will be our entire region.”
He added a hopeful call: “We hope this auspicious process will come to a successful close as soon as possible, without any road accidents, and without dark, corrupt circles sabotage it.”
First Step: PKK Arm‑Drop Ceremony in Iraq
- Later this week, a select group of PKK fighters plans to march from the mountains and symbolically drop their weapons in Sulaymaniyah, a semi‑autonomous Kurdish area in northern Iraq.
- Spokesman Zagros Hiwar said 20‑30 fighters would come down and destroy their arms in front of several NGO representatives and invited observers.
- Turkey’s forces have often hunted the PKK in Iraq with offensives and airstrikes, setting up bases in the region.
- Last year Baghdad officially banned the separatist group – a group that has been prohibited in Turkey for years.
Diplomacy on the Move
On Tuesday, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin hopped over to Baghdad to chat with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al‑Sudani and others about the peace plan and other security matters, as reported by the state‑run Anadolu Agency.
Bottom Line
From a grand, soul‑stirring vision at home to a symbolic weapons‑drop in Iraq, Erdogan’s message is clear: “It’s time to make peace work, and let’s do it clean.” The next chapters will tell if this rhetoric turns into real‑world action, but for now, the conversation is loud and hopeful.