Conflict resolution, Kurdish community, Peace process

New international initiative calls for peace talks

A new initiative was launched at a press conference on Monday with a call for the reopening of dialogue between the Turkish government and the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. The call, made by Archbishop Emeritus and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Desmond Tutu, has the support of a number of world leaders.

The International Peace and Reconciliation Initiative  was launched with statements from South African Judge Essa Moosa and Ngodup Dorjee, representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and the joint call was signed by such prominent dignitaries as former President of the USA Jimmy Carter and Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams. The joint appeal can be read in full below.

The IPRI will work towards finding a lasting and durable peace in Turkey through a process of dialogue and negotiations between the Turkish government and Abdullah Ocalan representing the Kurdish people. Its main objective is to facilitate a lasting peaceful solution to the Kurdish question by providing an international forum to highlight key issues in the Kurdish question and inform policy makers and the public of development on this issue. Continue reading “New international initiative calls for peace talks” →

Conflict resolution, Peace process

International Peace Initiative to be launched in Brussels

INTERNATIONAL PEACE INITIATIVE  (IPI)

PRESS CONFERENCE

Monday 3rd December , 10h30,  International Press Centre, Maelbeek Room

Résidence Palace, Rue de la Loi n.155, 1040 Brussels  (B)

Launch of the International Peace Initiative and call from  Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu for the Resumption of Dialogue on the Kurdish question in  Turkey
The  Secretariat of the IPI invites you attend a press  conference to launch The International  Peace Initiative on Monday  3rd December 2012 @10h30 at the Residence Palace in  Brussels.

This  initiative is launched with the support of Archbishop  Emeritus Desmond Tutu. To mark the occasion, he and a list of eminent  signatories including Nobel Peace Prize recipients and former heads of state  and of government from the United States, Europe and Asia, including East  Timor and Tibet, have issued a joint call for a Resumption of Dialogue  between Turkey and the PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, for a  lasting and peaceful settlement of the Kurdish issue in Turkey. This statement  will be read out and distributed at the press  conference. Continue reading “International Peace Initiative to be launched in Brussels” →

Conflict resolution, KCK trials, Kurdish language rights, Political prisoners

MPs, academics and many more sign PiK open letter to Erdogan

A list of prominent members of parliament, members of European parliament, academic, trade unionists, political commentators and friends and supporters of the Peace in Kurdistan campaign have signed an open letter to PM Erdogan, in support of demands being made by the political prisoners on hunger strike:

Peace in Kurdistan  Campaign

OPEN LETTER TO TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TAYYIP ERDOGAN

PM Erdogan Must Respond to the Demands of the Kurdish Hunger Strikers

Hundreds of Kurdish prisoners are now taking part in a hunger strike which they have declared is to be indefinite.

This hunger strike began on 12 September, a not insignificant date in Turkey’s political history, with 63 people, including 13 women, in seven prisons. The numbers have grown rapidly with hundreds more Kurdish political prisoners joining the action and it is reported that 600 prisoners are currently on indefinite hunger strike. Continue reading “MPs, academics and many more sign PiK open letter to Erdogan” →