ISTANBUL (Reuters) – A delegation of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish DEM Party went on Thursday to visit jailed militant leader Abdullah Ocalan in his island prison, where he was expected to give them a statement that Ankara hopes will pave the way for his outlawed group to disarm.
The DEM Party said the seven-member delegation was heading to Imrali island, south of Istanbul, for what is its third visit since December to the leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, militant group.
The visit is seen as part of a government bid to have Ocalan call on the PKK to disarm, potentially ending the insurgency which it launched against the Turkish state in 1984 and in which more than 40,000 people have been killed.
Such a move would have major consequences for Turkey after four decades of conflict that have also caused major economic harm and fuelled social tensions. Attention would then turn to the PKK commanders’ response in the mountains of northern Iraq.
DEM was scheduled to hold a press conference in Istanbul at 1400 GMT to discuss the outcome of their talks with Ocalan and share the expected statement from him.
Ocalan has been held in near-total isolation on Imrali since 1999, with only rare communication with the outside world.
While the party hopes Ocalan’s message will be delivered in video format for greater impact, government and ruling party sources have voiced opposition to any video statement, citing sensitivities over the PKK, which is designated as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.
Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said on Wednesday that the party’s request for a video message from Ocalan was not possible, in line with previous government statements.
(Reporting by Daren Butler and Ece Toksabay; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
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