If PKK Disarms, What Happens To Its Affiliates in Iran?

[Aslan]

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – If peace talks between Turkey and the militant Kurdistan Workers Party succeed, what will happen to other groups affiliated with the PKK, especially in Iran?

Tehran considers the PKK-affiliated Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK) in Iranian Kurdistan as an enemy of the state, and its members as conspirators against national security. Under Iranian law, PJAK members can face trial and execution if they return to Iran.

“A person considered a threat to the country’s interests in the past can be tried on charges of conspiracy against national security,” said Anwar Muci, an attorney from Iranian Kurdistan.

After several years of armed conflict, in the fall of 2011 the Iranian government and PJAK declared a ceasefire.

Over the past several weeks, Turkey has opened talks with the jailed leader of the PKK, Abdullah Ocalan, to push for the group to disarm and give up its decades-long armed struggle, according to officials and media reports.

One of the issues under discussion inside the PKK is the fate of PJAK and its members, according to Ziryan Rojhalati, a PJAK founder who said that Ankara was also involved in those discussions. He said that the future of PJAK could be decided in secret meetings between Iran and Turkey.
Rojhalati believes that the PKK can either continue to support the group, or come to an agreement with Iran and Turkey over the issue. He said other possibilities include PJAK taking over the PKK’s territories and supporting itself by imposing taxes, or disarming and moving to Iraqi Kurdistan to wage a political struggle.

But political analyst Hassan Mustafa said, “PJAK is not such a big organization to be able to organize itself without the PKK.” He said that PJAK could be supported and used against Iran.

Other PKK offshoots include the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which remains a potent force in Syria, and the Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party (PCDK), which is not licensed to operate in Iraqi Kurdistan.

“The PCDK has failed in the Kurdistan Region, but PYD has become the main force in Syrian Kurdistan,” said Rojhalati. “Iranian Kurdistan has a unique situation, so it remains to be seen where PJAK is heading,” he added.

[kurdistanis1]

They can give their weapons to PJAK.

[Anthea]

They can give their weapons to PJAK.

Good Thinking