PKK Announces End to Armed Struggle Against Turkey

Ankara: The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has announced its decision to disband and disarm, ending the four-decade long conflict with Turkey, local media reported on Monday.

The decision came after PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, in February urged the group to meet and formally decide to disband. The leader has been imprisoned on an island near Istanbul, Turkey, since 1999.

“The 12th PKK Congress has decided to dissolve the PKK’s organisational structure and end its method of armed struggle. The process initiated by Leader Abdullah Ocalan’s statement on February 27, and further shaped by his extensive work and multidimensional perspectives, culminated in the successful convening of our 12th Party Congress between May 5–7,” read a statement from the group which was carried by pro-Kurdish news agency ANF. “Despite ongoing clashes, aerial and ground attacks, continued siege of our regions, and the KDP embargo, our congress was held securely under challenging conditions. Due to security concerns, it was conducted simultaneously in two different locations,’’ the statement further said . (IANS)

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