Ankara, Turkey. Turkey’s ruling alliance submitted a draft law to parliament on Wednesday aimed at advancing peace with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) through legal protections for some former militants and suspended prison sentences for others.
The legislation seeks to support the return to Turkey of potentially thousands of former PKK militants and civilians from northern Iraq, as part of efforts to end a conflict that has killed more than 40,000 people since 1984.
Oversight and disarmament
Under the bill, Turkey’s national security council would verify the PKK’s disarmament. A committee comprising the vice president, ministers and the head of the MIT intelligence agency would oversee the surrender and disarmament process.
The committee would report on the process to a parliamentary commission.
The proposal is backed by a majority of lawmakers and is expected to pass parliament later this week, although opinion polls have indicated scepticism over whether it can secure lasting peace.
Legal provisions
The bill would suspend prison sentences for people convicted of PKK membership or aiding the group, according to the text seen by Reuters.
It would also provide legal protection to militants not involved in killings who return to Turkey within six months of the law’s passage.
PKK officials convicted of serious crimes, including leading a terrorist organisation, and those given aggravated life sentences before 2005 would not be eligible for legal protections or suspended sentences.
Political backing
The provisions mean PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been imprisoned since 1999 under an aggravated life sentence, would remain in prison. Ocalan called on the PKK to disarm and disband last year, and the group agreed.
President Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AK Party, its nationalist MHP allies and the pro-Kurdish DEM Party support the bill, titled “national solidarity and social integration”. Most other parties, including the main opposition, have also expressed support.
