Monday, November 8, 2010

Karayilan: Ceasefire extended after a letter from Ocalan

08 November 2010


PKK's acting leader Murat Karayilan said they extended the unilateral ceasefire against Turkey after receiving a letter from Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan.

PKK's acting leader Murat Karayilan said they extended the unilateral ceasefire against Turkey after receiving a letter from Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan.

Karayilan said it was only possible to extend the ceasefire if Ocalan's power was brought into the process. And as soon as the leadership of the Kurdistan Worker's Party received the 5 page letter they decided to declare a ceasefire until the general elections in June 2011.

"Our leader Ocalan saw the positive attitude of the state or the negotiating team for a solution (for the Kurdish Question) (...) and sent us a letter which calls for extension of unilateral ceasefire" Karayılan said.

He also said that the five conditions should be met by the Turkish state for a peaceful solution to the Kurdish Question.

PKK demanded demanded to stop military and political operations and to release Kurdish politicians who are unjustly detained. The organization also requested to enable imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan's active participation in the process.

According to the PKK, the dialogues should go beyond negotiation. In order to advance the process, the organization suggested establishing an investigative commission into the constitution and to remove the second-to-none election threshold of 10 percent.

Karayilan said that these demands are just and could be met by the Turkish government in the current political climate.

The PKK's acting leader said they also have alternative plans if Turkish government fail to satisfy Kurds and met Kurdish demands.

He said firstly Turkey has to accept the unjust policies which are implemented against Kurdish minority since the creation of Turkish Republic.

"They have to tell Turkish people the reality. They have to tell about the atrocities against the Kurdish people" he said.

"They are calling our leader 'head of the seperatists'. Is this real? Do we want to be seperated from Turkey? No! Since 18 years we are struggling for cultural and identity rights of Kurdish people. (...) We want to solve the Kurdish Question by dialogue."

He called the Turkish government to seize the opportunity for peace and not underestimate the power of the PKK and Kurdish people. Karayilan said they have information about the level of negotiations with Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan and they will have a meeting to discuss about the negotiation points in two months with fellow PKK commanders.

He also added that Turkey did not respond the previous ceasefires declared by the PKK.

Karayilan also accused Turkish media for providing false information about the PKK and Kurdish Question.

ANF NEWS DESK /

ANF NEWS AGENCY