IMRALI PRISON, Turkey, — Kurdish national leader Abdullah Ocalan says he is going to make a statement on the fate of the unilateral ceasefire declared by the Kurdistan Worker Party (PKK) last August.
Speaking with his lawyers during the weekly meeting in Imrali Island, Ocalan said he is going to make a statement on if there is hope for a democratic solution to the Kurdish Question.
“If there will be a development that we hope, I will say there is still hope for a democratic solution and we will continue our struggle. If there is none I will give up my role. Everybody will make their own decisions then”, he said.
After receiving a letter from Ocalan, PKK commanders declared a unilateral ceasefire until the general elections in Turkey. Elections are to be held on 12 June. As the Turkish government failed to take trust building steps as demanded by the PKK, Ocalan stated that he will make a decision about the fate of the ceasefire in March.
Ocalan also said they have no intention to separate Kurdish land from Turkey and he favours unity and democratic solution to the Kurdish Question. “We are trying to build a democratic nation”, he said.
“We will continue our struggle under the name of ‘Democratic Nation Constitution. We will organize a conference for this.”
He also called all Kurdish political powers to organize a national conference and create the national unity for Kurdish people.
Ocalan said if Turkey wants him to stop the armed struggle and take role to end the 30 year old conflict his conditions must be met. Kurdish national leader warned of a popular resistance like in Egypt and Tunisia if Turkey fails to take positive steps.
Ocalan also said there are significant political powers that are opposed to a solution to the Kurdish Question and counted governing Justice and Development Party and England among them.
The Kurdish national leader sent his condolences to the family of Mustafa Malchok who set his body on fire to protest the capture of Abdullah Ocalan 11 years ago from Nairobi, Kenya. “I don’t want such protests” he added.