Community columnist: Hopes of a peaceful new year in Turkey

By LAYLA YOUNIS

Imprisoned founder and leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party Abdullah Ocalan outlined a plan for party members to halt attacks in Turkey on March 21, the Kurdish and Persian new year celebration, according to The Associated Press. Ocalan’s proposal further would have his fighters withdraw from Turkey later this summer to their bases in northern Iraq.

Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) have been fighting for about 30 years, fighting that has led to the deaths of 40,000 people. However, the recent discussions between Turkey and Ocalan can lead to a peaceful Nowroz, as the new year celebration is called.

Nowroz has usually led to conflict between Turks and Kurds. Such was the case last year, but this year, peace may finally come.

Ocalan, even though in prison, still has authority over the PKK. In November, Ocalan asked political prisoners who were thought to be involved with PKK in Turkey to end a hunger strike. They ended their strike after the 68th day.

The prisoners were asking for the right to speak Kurdish in the Turkish school system, the authorization of the Kurdish language in Turkish legal courts and an end to the solitary confinement of Ocalan.

Ocalan reportedly demands that in exchange for withdrawal that Turkey would release hundreds of party activists from prison. He did not demand autonomy or a federation for Kurds.

While Ocalan and Turkey have been considering peace talks for months, PKK co-founder Sakine Cansiz, along with two other women, was shot dead Jan. 10 in Paris. Fidan Dogan, a Kurdistan National Congress member, and Leyla Soylemez, a Kurdish activist, also were killed.

The PKK is considered a terrorist organization to the United States and European Union, but Kurds living in France demonstrated against the killings when news of the three women’s death came out.

Peace talks were thought to be derailed because of the situation in France, but Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc told NTV television that Ocalan sent letters to Kurdish political parties.

Kurdish legislator Nazmi Gur confirmed to The Associated Press that legislators received Ocalan’s proposal but said this is just a draft of the peace proposal.

“The ultimate version will take shape after input and proposals from the (Kurdish) party and others involved,” Gur said.

As someone who was born in Kurdistan, the region in Iraq, and understands the Kurdish culture, I find the peace talks between Kurdistan and Turkey to be hopeful. But how long will this supposed peace actually last?

The Turkish government or prime minister has not said anything about stopping Turkish attacks on the PKK, even though Ocalan has asked the PKK, in writing, to come to some sort of peace agreement.

These peace talks might settle disputes during Nowroz, but relations between Turkey and Kurdistan might go straight back to how they were.

Layla Younis, who was born in Kurdistan, Iraq, but raised in the United States, is an undergraduate student studying journalism and English.

via Community columnist: Hopes of a peaceful new year in Turkey : Opinion.