A seven-member delegation from the DEM Party visited İmralı Island today and held a meeting with Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the PKK terrorist organization. After the meeting, the DEM Party delegation in İstanbul announced Öcalan’s call. Öcalan stated, “All groups must lay down their arms, and PKK must dissolve itself.”
This is the third meeting between the DEM Party’s İmralı delegation and Öcalan. After the meeting, the delegation held a press conference in a hotel in Taksim, İstanbul. Öcalan’s written statement, along with photos, was read aloud in both Turkish and Kurdish. Pervin Buldan read the Turkish version, while Ahmet Türk read the Kurdish one. The statement was also distributed in Arabic and English.
Sırrı Süreyya Önder: “We Will Revive Hope” Before reading Öcalan’s statement, Sırrı Süreyya Önder, one of the members of the DEM Party delegation, made a brief speech. He said:
“I would like to begin by thanking all the people who have supported peace, paid a price for it, and prayed for it. As winter ends and spring begins, we went to revive hope, because a sapling is stronger than the trunk. We went with the will to give this breath to the entire country in a spirit of brotherhood. We will revive this hope. Our struggle will continue until this country turns into a rose garden. We thank President Erdoğan, Mr. Devlet Bahçeli, Mr. Özgür Özel, and all opposition parties who have contributed. We are at a historical turning point, but a positive one.”
Öcalan’s Historic Call: “I Take Responsibility for the Call to Lay Down Arms” Ahmet Türk read the Kurdish version of Öcalan’s call, followed by Pervin Buldan reading the Turkish version. In his statement, Öcalan called on all groups to lay down their arms and for PKK to dissolve itself.
Summary of Öcalan’s Statement
Öcalan evaluated the historical development and ideological transformation of PKK, stating that the organization has lost its meaning and must now lay down its arms. He mentioned that PKK emerged during the 20th century, shaped by the violence of two world wars, the Cold War, and the denial of the Kurdish reality. However, with the collapse of real socialism in the 1990s and the advancements in freedom of expression, PKK became disconnected from its original purpose. Öcalan emphasized the importance of historical alliances between the Kurdish and Turkish people, which were weakened in the last 200 years due to capitalist modernity.
Furthermore, Öcalan pointed out that PKK’s violent actions were a result of the closure of democratic political channels. He stressed that respect for identities, the right to express oneself freely, and the right to organize are essential. He stated that lasting peace can only be achieved with democracy and called for all groups to lay down their arms and for PKK to dissolve itself. Öcalan described this call as a historic responsibility.
Sırrı Süreyya Önder shared an additional note from Abdullah Öcalan that was not included in his formal call. After the call was read, Önder explained that, in practice, the laying down of arms and the dissolution of PKK would require the recognition of democratic politics and legal dimensions.
