After PKK’s decision: confusion and skepticism

Kurdish PKK has proclaimed a ceasefire and its leaders downplay the requirements for self -government. At best, the concessions are part of a settlement, according to political scientist Paul Levin.

– But from Kurdish, I hear a pretty big confusion and skepticism.

PKK’s 75-year-old imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan urged the organization earlier this week to close down the weapons and dissolve. Thousands of people had gathered in front of big screens in cities with a large Kurdish population, and some confusion arose in the crowds after the message, various media reported.

Öcalan, who has been imprisoned and isolated for over 25 years, said that the Kurdish people should no longer strive for self -government.

“There were a lot of people who cried and wondered why Öcalan had given up so much without getting anything in return,” says Selim Kurt, journalist who attended a collection in the city of Diyarbakir, to the news site Al-Monitor.

Want to change the constitution

PKK has previously announced a ceasefire without counterclaim – but in the new statement it is emphasized that Öcalan must be present at the organization’s congress in March.

– It is a way of saying that “now is also required steps from the Turkish state,” says Paul Levin.

Translation should have been going on in the scenes for up to a year. According to unconfirmed media duties, Öcalan and other Kurdish representatives have been promised release or amnesty for imprisoned Kurds and former PKK connected. Erdogan, in turn, wants to change the constitution to be able to sit for a term of office in power.

– He needs more votes in Parliament, and then a candidate is the Procurdish party. So he can hit two flies in one bang, make a deal with them and at the same time potentially split the opposition for the next election, says Paul Levin.

The changed geopolitical situation also plays into, where Turkey wants to prevent rivals such as Iran and Israel to arm PKK and use the organization as an agent.

The repression is increasing

But at the same time as the Kurds now, according to Öcalan, should strive for “democratic consensus” instead of self -government, the Turkish regime increases the repression broadly against the opposition. Hundreds of Kurds have been arrested in recent weeks.

– So there are still many obstacles on the road to a solution, says Paul Levin.

Should PKK be dissolved, on the one hand, there is a risk that the Kurds’ foremost advocates are silent, according to Paul Levin. But on the other hand, it can lead to the Turkish state stopping to treat Kurdish rights as only a security issue.

– If the risk is reduced that other organizations working for Kurdish rights will be accused of supporting terror, it would be very large.