Key facts
- Turkey's parliament passed a law to facilitate the return and reintegration of PKK militants.
- The legislation aims to end the decades-old insurgency which has killed 40,000 people.
- Mothers of PKK recruits expressed hope for their sons' return, while veterans voiced anger.
- The law provides a framework for the PKK's disbandment and suspension of some prison sentences.
- The PKK has been designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU.
Turkey's parliament has passed a new law designed to facilitate the return and reintegration of militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a move intended to end a decades-long insurgency that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
The legislation, passed late on Monday, establishes a framework for the PKK's disbandment and allows for the suspension of some prison sentences for militants returning from hideouts in northern Iraq. This development is seen as a significant step towards resolving one of the world's most enduring conflicts, which has also fueled social division and incurred substantial economic costs.
For mothers like Ayten Elhaman, who have been holding a vigil for seven years in Diyarbakir, the law brings a glimmer of hope for reunification with sons who joined the PKK. Elhaman expressed a plea for peace, questioning the continued necessity of the war and urging an end to the loss of young lives.
However, the prospect of reintegrating former militants has ignited anger and anguish among military veterans and families of security personnel who lost loved ones fighting the PKK. Ibrahim Colakoglu, a veteran bearing scars from clashes with the group, voiced his disillusionment, questioning the purpose of the sacrifices made by soldiers if those they fought against are now to be welcomed back into society. A protest in Ankara saw the head of a veterans' association condemn the law as a "disgrace" and a "pardoning" of those they consider "baby killers."
Experts note the societal difficulty in digesting the peace process, given the decades-long portrayal of PKK members as terrorists. Aydin Erdem of KONDA Research and Consultancy highlighted the challenge of convincing the public, while also acknowledging the distrust that Kurdish society holds towards the government, stemming from historical grievances.
While welcoming the prospect of peace, some, like Hatice Yasar, whose two sons joined the PKK, remain wary, emphasizing the need for an "honourable peace" and expressing a deep-seated distrust of the state's historical dealings with the Kurdish population.
The new law does not address broader Kurdish demands concerning political and cultural rights, changes to anti-terrorism legislation, or the status of imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. Reintegration, according to some, hinges on sincerity and remorse from the returning militants.