Weapons burned in Casene Cave: Bese Hozat emphasizes legal regulations
The PKK, which dissolved itself upon the call of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, burned its weapons in a ceremony in the rural area of Swrdaş, a district of Dukan near Sulaymaniyah in the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (IKBY). At the ceremony in Jasana Cave, 30 guerrillas—15 women and 15 men—led by Bese Hozat , laid down their weapons.
The PKK's weapons laying down and burning ceremony at the entrance to the canyon, which holds symbolic significance in Kurdish history, was held under the supervision of representatives from the Iraqi Central Government and the Kurdish Administration. The serial numbers and lists of the burned weapons were given to the Human Rights Association, the Libertarian Lawyers Association, and the Human Rights Foundation (TIHV).
The PKK group then placed the weapons on a platform and set them alight, under the supervision of representatives of the Iraqi Central Government and the Kurdish Government. The fire that lit the weapons was lit by KCK Executive Council Co-chair Bese Hozat and PKK Central Committee Member Nedim Seven. The PKK members then laid down their weapons and returned to their headquarters.
HISTORICAL CEREMONYThe ceremony , to which journalists, party representatives, and mass organization officials were also invited, took place at 11:20 a.m. Strict security measures were in place, with cell phones, cameras, and camcorders prohibited, and only notebooks and pens were allowed into the ceremony area.
Bese Hozat and Nedim Seven, who laid down their arms in front of the platform where Abdullah Öcalan's photo was projected, read the text in Turkish and Kurdish on behalf of the Peace and Democratic Society Group.
Reading the Turkish text, Bese Hozat said that they came here upon Öcalan's call as the Peace and Democratic Society Group, which was formed to accelerate the process of democratic change and transformation.
Hozat said, "As a step of goodwill and determination for the practical success of the process of peace and a democratic society, and with the aim of continuing the struggle for freedom, democracy, and socialism through democratic political and legal methods, and on the basis of the enactment of democratic integration laws, we are destroying our weapons with our free will. We hope that this step we have taken will bring peace and freedom to all our people, the people of Türkiye and the Middle East, and all of humanity."
Hozat noted that they are aware that the future will be challenging, adding, “However, they wholeheartedly believe in Öcalan’s ideas and paradigm and trust in their own collective strength.”
Hozat stated that they see and feel the great importance, righteousness, and urgency of this historic step, taken at a time when fascist oppression and exploitation are increasing globally, and the people of the Middle East are turning into a bloodbath, and when they need a peaceful, equal, free, and democratic life more than ever, and continued: “We hope that everyone, all peoples, and humanity will see, understand, and appreciate this step towards peace and democracy that we have taken. We call on all regional and global powers responsible for the suffering experienced by our people to respect the legitimate national rights of our people and to support the peace and democratic solution process. We call on all peoples, especially women and youth, workers and laborers, and democratic and socialist forces to understand this historic step we have taken and to stand in solidarity with our people. We also call on them to fight more actively for Öcalan's physical freedom and a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue, and to develop and strengthen the democratic socialist international struggle and solidarity at the global level.” Following the reading of the text in Turkish and Kurdish, Bese Hozat made a brief statement emphasizing the urgent need for legal, judicial, and constitutional amendments. The ceremony was attended by more than 300 people, including prominent figures in the Kurdish movement, Ahmet Türk, Leyla Zana, Sırrı Sakık, Meral Danış Beştaş, and Tayyip Temel, along with DEM co-chairs Tuncer Bakırhan and Tülay Hatimoğulları, and officials from the KDP and PUK.
On the other hand, the DEM Party delegation met with KRG President Nechirvan Barzani in the evening following the ceremony.
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PEACE IS POSSIBLE WITH JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACYThe PKK's disarmament ceremony also garnered widespread coverage in Turkish politics. The DEM Party described July 11th as a historic step toward disarmament and transition to democratic politics, expressing its "heartfelt greetings" for this step. The statement concluded with a call, "Now is the time to take steps together for a democratic Turkey of the future by enacting democratic politics and legal regulations."
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel commented on the ceremony, saying, "We welcome today's symbolic step by the terrorist organization to lay down its arms." Özel stated, "Establishing a complete peace environment in Türkiye is only possible with justice and democracy," and continued, "Our country needs a terror-free and democratic Turkey. Peace is necessary for prosperity, unity for peace, and democracy and justice for unity."
The SOL Party released a statement saying, “The SOL Party supports a resolution of the Kurdish issue on unarmed and conflict-free ground. The PKK's disarmament is an important step toward peace and resolution. However, the Kurdish issue is an integral part of Türkiye's democratization and represents a broader social issue than simply disarmament. Therefore, the process we are embarking on should not be used as a tool of American policies in the Middle East, nor should it be treated as a prop for an oppressive regime that the AKP and MHP are attempting to establish in Türkiye. The forces that have been fighting for democratization and freedom for years will not and must not allow this. On this path, we will continue to struggle shoulder to shoulder as all working and oppressed peoples—Kurds, Turks, Alevis, Sunnis—to defeat reactionism and fascism, to win our rights and freedoms, and to build our fraternal and democratic future.”
Former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş, in his first statement, said, "There has been no loss, and there will be none. May it bring good luck." The DEM Party also appealed for the release of Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ.
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DEVLET BAHÇELİ THANKED BULDANIn his first statement, MHP leader Bahçeli said, "The PKK's founding leadership kept its word, stood by its commitments, and foresaw global and regional threats in a timely manner. Indeed, these are exceptionally important days for both Turkey and our region. Positive and heartwarming developments are a turning point, and in this context, the public conscience is pleased." Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç stated, "State institutions related to monitoring the disarmament process are meticulously following the issue. We still have much work to do in the coming period. This process will certainly be monitored. Because state institutions related to monitoring the disarmament process are meticulously following the issue."
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli spoke by phone. During the meeting, Bahçeli expressed his satisfaction with Erdoğan's destruction of the PKK group's weapons in line with the goals of a 'Terror-Free Turkey.' In his statement to the press, Erdoğan said, "I hope that today's important step toward our goal of a terror-free Türkiye will be beneficial."
Meanwhile, AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik, who had previously stated that AKP President Erdoğan would "deliver a historic speech" today, released a new statement . Çelik said, "If this disarmament process takes place, our President will deliver his first speech on Saturday morning (today) regarding the current situation and the future. It will be a comprehensive and in-depth speech." Finally, appearing as a guest on TV100's live broadcast, Ömer Çelik delivered the message of "no surprises."
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