“Don’t worry, the time will come for that, too.”
For almost 30 years, the PKK has been fighting the Turkish government for greater minority rights. The conflict has killed more than 30,000 people.
But on May 8th, the PKK began withdrawing its forces from Turkey as part of a peace process. The government has yet to say what it is prepared to offer the rebel group in return.Retired Turkish General Haldun Solmazturk says there is deep suspicion over the peace process.
“PKK will never disarm unless they achieve a greater Kurdistan within Turkey. An ambiguous understanding was just imposed on the Turkish state – so, in a sense, blackmailing the future of our coming generations. This is very disturbing. Turks are not aware of the final outcome because of the self-censorship imposed on the Turkish media.”
Cengiz Aktar is a political scientist in Istanbul. He says he believes that opposition to the peace efforts remains limited.
“I don’t think there is a nationalist backlash. I think there are minority groups who are very vocal (often heard) and who are against any deal which will include the Kurds. But there are not as many as they pretend. We see an overwhelming majority of the Turkish public (moving towards approving) the peace process.”
Opinion surveys point to conflicting ideas among the public. A strong majority supports a peaceful settlement to the conflict. But there are equally strong feelings against talks with PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who is in prison.
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2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25