ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A group of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) fighters announced on Friday that they publicly disarmed in the Kurdistan Region in direct response to the call from their jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan and as a gesture of good will during peace negotiations with Ankara.
The group, identifying themselves as the Group for Peace and Democratic Society, “comprised around 30 fighters who laid down weapons including AK-47s, PKM machine guns, and sniper rifles,” well-informed sources told Rudaw.
Video of the ceremony showed the fighters, one-by-one, placing their weapons into a large white bowl where they were burned.
While laying down arms, they reaffirmed their commitment to democratic political engagement to secure Kurdish rights in Turkey.
The ceremonial disarmament took place in the historic Jasana Cave, west of Sulaimani.
In a statement, the group said they publicly disarmed in a direct response to Ocalan’s February “Call for Peace and Democratic Society” when he advised the PKK to disband, and his June 19 message that was published on Wednesday and urged the formation of a legislative commission to oversee the peace process.
They added that they fought to defend Kurdish existence and remain committed to a new phase in the struggle for Kurdish rights.
The core purpose of disarmament, according to the group, is to "ensure the practical success of 'Peace and Democratic Society' process, to wage our freedom, democracy and socialist struggle with methods of legal and democratic politics on the basis of enacting laws for democratic integration."
They described their voluntary destruction of their weapons as "a step of goodwill and determination."
Echoing Ocalan's Wednesday remarks, the group highlighted a fundamental belief in the power of politics over arms, adding, "We take great pride and honor in doing what is necessary for this historic principle."
The group expressed confidence that future progress would also require "compelling struggle," but now within a democratic framework and asserted the urgent need for a "peaceful, free, equal and democratic life" for their people.
The Group for Peace and Democratic Society further called upon various actors to recognize the significance of their step. They urged "regional and global forces responsible for the sufferings of our people, to respect the utmost legitimate democratic and national rights of our people and support the ‘Call for Peace and Democratic Society'."
They also called for more effort "in the struggle for the physical freedom of Leader Abdullah Ocalan and democratic solution of the Kurdish question,” concluding with an optimistic vision that “the Call of 'Peace and Democratic Society' will surely succeed."
