Kurdish militant group PKK declares ceasefire with Turkey
Ankara: The outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has declared a ceasefire with Turkey, ending over four decades of armed conflict. The announcement follows an appeal from the group’s jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan, urging the PKK to disband and abandon its insurgency.
The PKK’s executive committee confirmed the ceasefire in a statement released by the pro-PKK ANF news agency. "To facilitate the implementation of leader Apo’s call for peace and a democratic society, we are declaring a ceasefire effective immediately," the statement read, using a common reference for Ocalan. The group also expressed its commitment to following his directives.
The PKK, designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, has been engaged in an armed struggle since 1984, demanding greater autonomy for Turkey’s Kurdish population, which constitutes nearly 20% of the country’s 85 million people.
Ocalan, who has been imprisoned since 1999, has been involved in past peace efforts, but negotiations collapsed in 2015, leading to renewed violence. The latest development follows an unexpected peace initiative proposed in October by a nationalist ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, suggesting a resolution if Ocalan renounced violence.
While Erdogan supported the initiative, his government simultaneously intensified crackdowns on opposition figures, resulting in the arrests of several politicians, activists, and journalists.
Following meetings with Ocalan at his prison on Imrali Island, the pro-Kurdish DEM party conveyed his message on Thursday, calling for the PKK to lay down arms and dissolve.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Dr Boby Chemmanur felicitated at Vidhana Soudha by Speaker UT Khader for world record run
Bengaluru: Dr Boby Chemmanur was felicitated by Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader Fareed at a special function held at Vidhana Soudha.
Dr Chemmanur, popularly known as “BoChe”, was honoured for successfully completing an 812-kilometre run aimed at spreading the message of world peace. The achievement earned him recognition in the Unique World Records and the Guinness World Records.
Dr Chemmanur has also received several prestigious awards and honours, including the Mother Teresa Award, for his contributions to social service.
Speaker U.T. Khader also spoke about Dr Chemmanur’s achievement in the Legislative Assembly and congratulated him for the accomplishment.
Deputy Speaker Rudrappa Lamani, Agriculture Minister Cheluvarayaswamy and MLA and Chief Minister’s legal advisor Ponnanna were present on the occasion.
