Monday, May 27, 2013

Kurdish Peace Process

The PKK withdrawal from Turkey is the first step of three in an aim to form a political solution for the Kurdish peace process. Yet, there are mothers and family members of those militants that would prefer to be with their children over seeing them leave - wanting peace to include the PKK instead of require it leave.

"The speed and nature of the process have puzzled many people, both inside and outside Turkey. That Turkey attempts to solve its most intractable issue through open political dialogue - and with no serious public backlash to date - has further surprised many."

The first step was a ceasefire between Turkey and the PKK, followed by PKK withdrawal. The third step is to move the "Kurdish issue" from military perspective into the political arena.

Overall, Turkey has banned over 27 political parties citing territorial integrity for those with Kurdish ties, but the bans also include religious Islamic parties as well. This transition has so far been filled with tension without dissolution into violence but progression does not mean that the tensions have lessened.

PKK Mothers
Kurdish Peace Process

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