Highlights from the separatist organization's dissolution statement... What happens next? 'Öcalan will manage it directly'

Following the new reconciliation process initiated by the call from MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, the terrorist organization PKK announced that it has dissolved itself. The terrorist organization PKK, which announced the final declaration of its so-called congress held on May 5-7, declared that it has dissolved itself.

Despite the decision to dissolve, the terrorist organization's remarks regarding 'Lausanne' and the '1924 Constitution' drew significant backlash. Following these developments, Nefes newspaper columnist Deniz Zeyrek brought the separatist organization's dissolution declaration and the question of 'what happens next' to the agenda.

Here are the highlights from Deniz Zeyrek's column:

If you ask, “What is the main idea of the long declaration,” for me, only two sections are critical:

1 - The PKK Congress has transferred its authority to Öcalan: It decided to dissolve its organizational structure, end the method of armed struggle, and terminated all activities carried out under the name of the PKK. It transferred the duty of executing and managing the practice (the implementation process) of the decisions taken to Erdoğan.

2 - The PKK Congress requested a TBMM guarantee regarding the implementation of the decisions: “The implementation of the aforementioned decisions requires Leader Apo to lead and direct the process, the recognition of the right to democratic politics, and a solid, comprehensive legal guarantee. At this stage, it is important for the TBMM to play its role with historical responsibility.”

Looking at these two critical points, let me answer the question “what happens next?”:

1- Negotiations on behalf of the organization will now be conducted directly with Öcalan. The DEM Party side expects Öcalan's physical conditions in İmralı to be changed and his contact with the outside world to be increased. In the process that ended in 2015, it was envisioned that a house-type ward with a 25-square-meter garden would be prepared for Öcalan. This arrangement is back on the agenda. Meanwhile, the transfer of some PKK members currently in prisons, who will be named by Öcalan, to İmralı will be on the table. Öcalan is expected to use this team as a “secretariat.” The manner and location of the terrorist organization's laying down of arms, the return of organization members to Turkey, and the countries to which the organization's leaders will go will be addressed in this process. Öcalan will personally manage/lead the implementation of the decisions taken by the organization.

2 - There will be a “process-heavy schedule” in the TBMM, especially regarding execution regulations. In this context, Öcalan's execution conditions will be redefined. Issues such as the trial processes of PKK members who will surrender, the execution status of PKK members in prison, the renewal of the Anti-Terror Law, the release of political prisoners, and the return of municipalities where trustees were appointed to the DEM Party will come to the agenda, and the TBMM will be very busy with these.

In the process carried out from 2012 to 2015, there was a logic of “let the legal ground be prepared first, demands be met, and then the organization dissolve itself.” This time, the logic is “let the PKK dissolve itself first, then let the legal ground be prepared and demands be met.”

Therefore, the real work (or process) is just beginning now.

This situation lies behind the government not entering a “celebratory mode,” as seen in the cautious statements of Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, AK Party Deputy Chairman Efkan Ala, and Communications Director Fahrettin Altun.

Dozens of steps need to be taken that must be accepted by both the Turkish public and Öcalan at the same time.

In short, while I sincerely hope that May 12 turns into a historic day in terms of the fight against terrorism as stated and that the process is crowned with peace, I see that it will not be that easy.