Erdogan takes another step toward peace - and staying in power: thousands of Kurdish fighters to receive amnesty
The Turkish parliament approved a historic law granting conditional amnesty to thousands of PKK fighters as part of the peace process. The law, passed by a vote of 468 to 88, will only take effect after the PKK disarms. The move is seen as the most tangible yet, and increases Erdogan's chances of staying in power through the support of the pro-Kurdish party in snap elections.
The Turkish parliament approved a historic law this evening granting conditional amnesty to thousands of fighters of the Kurdish underground PKK, as part of the peace process promoted by the government in Ankara. The law passed with a majority of 468 supporters against 88 opponents, but will only take effect after authorities verify that the PKK has indeed completely disarmed. The law includes 12 articles outlining procedures for the organization's disarmament, rehabilitation of its members, and their integration into civilian life. It will suspend prison sentences and defer investigations and trials for 5 or 10 years, depending on the severity of the offenses. Activists convicted of premeditated murder or sentenced to life imprisonment before 2005 were excluded. The move is seen as the most tangible yet in the peace process, and increases Erdogan's chances of winning the support of the pro-Kurdish DEM party for snap elections that would keep him in power. However, the PKK issued a statement through ANF media saying the legislation has "serious flaws and deficiencies," and called for the release of the organization's leader Abdullah Ocalan. The organization stressed that its fighters will not hand over their weapons if they cannot engage in democratic politics after their return.