Key Historical Milestones in the Turkey-PKK Conflict

The Turkey-PKK conflict features critical milestones, beginning with the founding of the PKK in 1978 led by Abdullah Ocalan, and evolving through significant events such as his capture in 1999, calls for ceasefire in 2013, and the subsequent deterioration of peace agreements that resulted in intensified violence and military responses from Turkey. Recent meetings with Ocalan hint at possible negotiations for peace, but the conflict’s legacy remains severe.

The Turkey-PKK conflict has been marked by significant historical milestones. The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), founded in 1978 by students at Ankara University, aimed at liberating the Kurdish population through armed struggle. Abdullah Ocalan, a political science student, was appointed as its leader, laying the groundwork for a protracted conflict against the Turkish state.

A military coup in Turkey in 1980 compelled Ocalan and the PKK to seek refuge in Syria and Lebanon, from where they commenced an armed insurgency in 1984. Militants received military training in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley, targeting Turkish military installations, which prompted severe reprisals from Turkey. This conflict escalated to near civil war, particularly impacting the southeastern Kurdish-majority regions.

On February 15, 1999, Ocalan was captured in Kenya and subsequently sentenced to death by Turkey, later serving life imprisonment following a death penalty abolition in 2002 under EU reforms. In a significant development, Ocalan called for a ceasefire on March 21, 2013, during the Kurdish New Year, Newroz, as negotiations with the government of then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan were facilitated by the pro-Kurdish HDP party.

The peace process deteriorated dramatically in July 2015 after a terrorist attack in Suruc. Concurrently, the electoral success of the HDP raised concerns of political instability for Erdogan’s administration, leading to Turkish military operations against PKK targets in Iraq and internal offensives. This, in turn, prompted a response from the PKK, intensifying urban warfare in southeastern cities like Diyarbakir, leaving a lasting impact on local communities.

Relations between the Turkish government and the PKK further soured after a failed coup attempt in 2016, resulting in crackdowns on Kurdish political activities. The Turkish military then established a presence in northern Syria. Recently, there was an unexpected rapprochement from the nationalist MHP party towards Ocalan, advocating for peace, which Erdogan’s government endorsed. Meetings between DEM lawmakers and Ocalan took place on December 28, January 22, and February 27, suggesting a possible shift in the long-standing conflict dynamics.

The Turkey-PKK conflict has evolved through significant events, marked by the founding of the PKK, Ocalan’s capture, and efforts towards peace. While initial ceasefire initiatives offered hope, various escalations led to renewed violence. Recent attempts at dialogue signal a potential, albeit cautious, movement towards resolution in a conflict that has deeply affected both Kurdish and Turkish communities for decades.

Original Source: www.newarab.com