Militant group disbands itself after more than four decades of violence

The group is considered a terrorist organization by several countries.

PKK disbanding

The militant group PKK (The Kurdistan Workers Party) is disbanding itself, according to the Firat news agency, which is known to be close to the group.

Here’s the reason

In February, the founder of the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, who is jailed in Turkey, argued that the group should lay down it’s weapons and stop the fighting for independence of regions with Kurdish population. He also invited the group to dispand itself.

Ending decades of violence

The PKK has been at conflict with the Turkish state for more than four decades. It is unknown if all factions of the group will follow the invitation to dispand and cease figthing.

More than 40,000 casualties

Since the launch of the PKK-insurgency, more than 40,000 people have been killed. Turkey and its Western allies has designated it as being a terrorist group.

Depopulation and burning of villages

In an attempt to root out the PKK militants of the Southeastern Turkey, government forces has depopulated an estimatet 3,000 Kurdish villages, according to several sources.