Senior PKK leader ties new peace process to Öcalan’s ‘physical freedom’

Duran Kalkan, a senior leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has said any potential peace negotiations aimed at resolving an ongoing conflict in Turkey depends on the “physical freedom” of the group’s imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan.

Kalkan commented Tuesday on Medya Haber TV on a recent statement by Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and a key ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who suggested that if Öcalan’s “isolation” were lifted, he could attend a meeting in parliament of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) to announce the dissolution of the PKK, potentially signaling an end to decades of violence.

The “isolation” of Öcalan, who has been jailed in a high-security prison on İmralı Island in the Sea of Marmara since 1999, refers to his inability to speak with his lawyers for years.

Kalkan said Öcalan has to work actively, get in touch with different groups in society and exchange views with them to achieve the end of the decades-long conflict between the Turkish state and the PKK, designated as a terrorist group by Turkey and its Western allies. He said Öcalan can’t achieve this under the circumstances of İmralı, where he is “isolated” from the world.

His remarks about Öcalan’s freedom came in the wake of Bahçeli’s recent implication that the jailed PKK leader might be released from prison under a special provision.

Bahçeli said that if Öcalan takes the step for the PKK’s laying down of arms, there could be legislative action to pave the way for his possible release.

“If he shows this resolve, the path to legislation regarding the use of his ‘right to hope’ should be opened wide,” he said.

The “right to hope” refers to the assessment of whether prisoners, based on good behavior, may be conditionally released after serving a portion of their sentence, as determined by law.

According to Kalkan, Bahçeli’s call has not instilled much confidence and has been met with skepticism.

“If Öcalan is to play a role [in the peace process,] appropriate conditions must be established,” Kalkan said, noting that no tangible progress can be made in the peace negotiations until Öcalan’s “physical freedom” is achieved.

Kalkan also stated that the PKK has welcomed a recent message from Öcalan regarding the matter, saying, “He demonstrated his strength.” Kalkan expressed their support for the stance Öcalan will take moving forward.

Commenting on Turkey’s broader political situation during a face-to-face meeting with his nephew last week, Öcalan said: “My isolation is continuing. If conditions allow, I have the theoretical and practical power to move this process from a stage of conflict and violence to a legal and political ground.”

Meanwhile, DEM Party Co-chair Tuncer Bakırhan said on Wednesday in response to a journalist’s question following his party’s group meeting that DEM Party representatives had a meeting with the Justice Ministry regarding the lifting of Öcalan’s isolation.

“The lifting of isolation would benefit us all because Mr. Öcalan genuinely expresses his thoughts for a democratic ground. The ideas that come from him would enhance and contribute to the foundation of peace and democracy,” Bakırhan said.

Ankara appears to be reconsidering the resumption of dialogue with the PKK, after an almost 10-year freeze in peace efforts. The reason for the effort is to prevent Iran from reaching out to Kurdish fighters to destabilize Turkey during a possible escalation with Israel, according to a report by Al-Monitor earlier this month.

The PKK has waged a war against the Turkish state since 1984. Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the conflict so far.