The disarmament process will take place in the Kurdistan Region in the beginning of July to launch the practical steps of implementing the PKK’s decision to dissolve and end its armed struggle against Turkey, the informed sources told Rudaw, on the condition of anonymity.
“In the next few days, Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the PKK, will publish a new message about the process, and after that, the disarmament process will begin,” one source said.
The PKK announced its dissolution and an end to its four-decade armed struggle on May 12, responding to a call from Ocalan to end the conflict that has claimed around 40,000 lives and pursue a political and democratic path.
Ankara has welcomed the steps but wants the decision to materialize. The PKK expects democratic steps from Ankara.
The two source said that between July 3 and July 10, a number of PKK fighters - ranging between 20 to 30 - will lay down their arms in a ceremony in Sulaimani province.
“The guerrillas will lay down their weapons in the ceremony and return to where they currently live, meaning they will not return to the cities,” a source said.
But despite renewed efforts toward a peace process, Ankara has continued striking suspected PKK positions in the Kurdistan Region. A series of strikes in the vicinity of Duhok province’s Metina Mountain - a conflict hotspot - on Sunday sparked wildfires that have yet to be controlled.
On Saturday, Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) told Rudaw that it will soon submit a proposal to the parliament speaker for the formation of a commission to oversee the peace process with the PKK.
DEM Party is the main mediator of the talks, and its delegations have made several visits to Ocalan and relayed his messages.
Ozgur Ozel, the leader of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), told Rudaw in a recent interview that the commission was initially their idea. He recommended that it include representatives from all 16 political parties in the legislature and be chaired by the parliament speaker.
Zekeriya Yapicoglu, leader of Turkey’s Kurdish Islamist Free Cause Party (Huda Par), told Rudaw earlier in June that he expects the PKK to take “concrete steps” to lay down arms in the summer.
Founded in 1978, the PKK initially sought an independent Kurdish state but later shifted its focus toward achieving broader political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey.
The group has been labeled as a terrorist organization by Turkey and its allies.
