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| Scepticism and cautious hope as PKK takes historic step to disband | Scepticism and cautious hope as PKK takes historic step to disband |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the PKK, called on the group to disarm in February. | Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the PKK, called on the group to disarm in February. |
| After 40 years, with 40,000 people killed, and without securing a Kurdish homeland, the banned Kurdistan Workers Party, the PKK, is ending its war against the Turkish state. | After 40 years, with 40,000 people killed, and without securing a Kurdish homeland, the banned Kurdistan Workers Party, the PKK, is ending its war against the Turkish state. |
| This signals the end of one of the longest conflicts in the world - a historic moment for Turkey, its Kurdish minority, and neighbouring countries into which the conflict has spilled over. | This signals the end of one of the longest conflicts in the world - a historic moment for Turkey, its Kurdish minority, and neighbouring countries into which the conflict has spilled over. |
| A spokesman for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party said it was an important step towards a country free of terror. | A spokesman for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party said it was an important step towards a country free of terror. |
| But what will the PKK get for disarming and disbanding? So far the government has made no promises – publicly at least. | But what will the PKK get for disarming and disbanding? So far the government has made no promises – publicly at least. |
| Sheltering inside a tea shop from a sudden violent hail storm that battered the ancient city of Diyabakir, Necmettin Bilmez, 65, a driver, was sceptical about what might follow. | Sheltering inside a tea shop from a sudden violent hail storm that battered the ancient city of Diyabakir, Necmettin Bilmez, 65, a driver, was sceptical about what might follow. |
| "They [the government] have been tricking us for thousands of years," he said. | "They [the government] have been tricking us for thousands of years," he said. |
| "When I get an ID card in my pocket saying I am Kurdish, I will believe everything will be solved. Otherwise, I don't believe in this." | "When I get an ID card in my pocket saying I am Kurdish, I will believe everything will be solved. Otherwise, I don't believe in this." |
| Sitting nearby on a small woven stool, Mehmet Ek, 80, had a different view. | Sitting nearby on a small woven stool, Mehmet Ek, 80, had a different view. |
| "This has come late," he said. | "This has come late," he said. |
| "I wish it had happened ten years ago. But still anyone from any side who will stop this bloodshed, I salute them," he said, tipping the top of his flat cap. | "I wish it had happened ten years ago. But still anyone from any side who will stop this bloodshed, I salute them," he said, tipping the top of his flat cap. |
| "This conflict is brother on brother. The one who dies in the mountains [PKK] is ours and the soldier [from the government] is ours. | "This conflict is brother on brother. The one who dies in the mountains [PKK] is ours and the soldier [from the government] is ours. |
| "We are all losing, Turks and Kurds." | "We are all losing, Turks and Kurds." |
| He wants an amnesty for PKK fighters – like many here - and the release of jailed Kurdish politicians. | He wants an amnesty for PKK fighters – like many here - and the release of jailed Kurdish politicians. |
| "If all that happens it will be a beautiful peace," he said. | "If all that happens it will be a beautiful peace," he said. |
| Mehmet Ek told the BBC the move should have been taken earlier as he called for jailed Kurdish politicians to be released. | Mehmet Ek told the BBC the move should have been taken earlier as he called for jailed Kurdish politicians to be released. |
| In this majority Kurdish city in south-eastern Turkey - the de facto Kurdish capital - we found a muted response to PKK's announcement. | In this majority Kurdish city in south-eastern Turkey - the de facto Kurdish capital - we found a muted response to PKK's announcement. |
| The city has been scarred and reshaped by the conflict. | The city has been scarred and reshaped by the conflict. |
| Turkish forces and the PKK battled in the heart of Diyarbakir in 2015. You can still see the rubble of buildings flattened by the Turkish army. | Turkish forces and the PKK battled in the heart of Diyarbakir in 2015. You can still see the rubble of buildings flattened by the Turkish army. |
| Many local people told us they welcomed peace, or the idea of it, and wanted no more deaths - Turkish or Kurdish. | Many local people told us they welcomed peace, or the idea of it, and wanted no more deaths - Turkish or Kurdish. |
| "No one has achieved anything," said Ibrahim Nazlican, 63, drinking tea in the shade of the towering city walls, which have guarded Diyarbakir since Roman times. | "No one has achieved anything," said Ibrahim Nazlican, 63, drinking tea in the shade of the towering city walls, which have guarded Diyarbakir since Roman times. |
| "There is nothing but harm and loss, on this side and on that side. There are no winners." | "There is nothing but harm and loss, on this side and on that side. There are no winners." |
| The conflict has ranged from the mountains of northern Iraq – which became PKK headquarters in recent years - to Turkey's biggest cities. | The conflict has ranged from the mountains of northern Iraq – which became PKK headquarters in recent years - to Turkey's biggest cities. |
| Outside an Istanbul football stadium in 2016, a PKK affiliate carried out a double bombing killing 38 police officers and 8 civilians. Many Kurds and Turks are hoping this is the end of a dark chapter, which has claimed 40,000 lives | Outside an Istanbul football stadium in 2016, a PKK affiliate carried out a double bombing killing 38 police officers and 8 civilians. Many Kurds and Turks are hoping this is the end of a dark chapter, which has claimed 40,000 lives |
| Some have called for the release of PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan who is currently imprisoned on an island off of Istanbul. | Some have called for the release of PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan who is currently imprisoned on an island off of Istanbul. |
| The PKK decision lay down its arms followed a call in February by its jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who said there was "no alternative to democracy". | The PKK decision lay down its arms followed a call in February by its jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who said there was "no alternative to democracy". |
| For now, the 76-year-old remains in his cell in an island prison off of Istanbul, where he has been held since 1999. | For now, the 76-year-old remains in his cell in an island prison off of Istanbul, where he has been held since 1999. |
| To his supporters, he remains a heroic figure who has put their cause on a global agenda. They want him released. | To his supporters, he remains a heroic figure who has put their cause on a global agenda. They want him released. |
| LISTEN: The Global Jigsaw on The Kurdish issue | |
| Menice, 47, is among them. She insisted his release was the key to a new dawn for the Kurds, who account for up to 20% of the Turkish population. | Menice, 47, is among them. She insisted his release was the key to a new dawn for the Kurds, who account for up to 20% of the Turkish population. |
| "We want peace, but if our leader is not free, we will never be free," she said. | "We want peace, but if our leader is not free, we will never be free," she said. |
| "If he is free, we will all be free and the Kurdish problem will be solved." | "If he is free, we will all be free and the Kurdish problem will be solved." |
| Menice lost her eldest son during a Turkish airstrike after he joined the PKK. | Menice lost her eldest son during a Turkish airstrike after he joined the PKK. |
| She is surrounded by family photos of loved ones who have died fighting for the PKK - which is classed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the UK, the US and the EU. | She is surrounded by family photos of loved ones who have died fighting for the PKK - which is classed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the UK, the US and the EU. |
| She has lost five relatives including her brother and her oldest son Zindan. | She has lost five relatives including her brother and her oldest son Zindan. |
| He joined the PKK at 17, and was dead at 25, killed in a Turkish airstrike three years ago. | He joined the PKK at 17, and was dead at 25, killed in a Turkish airstrike three years ago. |
| Menice's eyes fill with tears as she tells us how he used to help her with the housework. | Menice's eyes fill with tears as she tells us how he used to help her with the housework. |
| His path may have been mapped out from birth. | His path may have been mapped out from birth. |
| "We named him Zindan [meaning cell] because his father was in prison when he was born," she told us. | "We named him Zindan [meaning cell] because his father was in prison when he was born," she told us. |
| One large photograph hangs on the wall shows Zindan alongside his brother, Berxwendan, who followed his footsteps "up the mountain" to the PKK, when he reached the age of 17. | One large photograph hangs on the wall shows Zindan alongside his brother, Berxwendan, who followed his footsteps "up the mountain" to the PKK, when he reached the age of 17. |
| Berxwenden is now 23. His mother did not know if he was alive or dead until he sent his family a photo of himself during Ramadan in March. | Berxwenden is now 23. His mother did not know if he was alive or dead until he sent his family a photo of himself during Ramadan in March. |
| Menice is hoping her surviving son may now come back. | Menice is hoping her surviving son may now come back. |
| "I hope Berxwendan and his friends will come home. As a mother, I want peace. Let there be no killings. Hasn't there been enough suffering for everyone?" | "I hope Berxwendan and his friends will come home. As a mother, I want peace. Let there be no killings. Hasn't there been enough suffering for everyone?" |
| But does she believe that there can be peace between Turkey and the Kurds? | But does she believe that there can be peace between Turkey and the Kurds? |
| "I believe in us, in Ocalan, and our nation [the Kurds]," she said firmly. | "I believe in us, in Ocalan, and our nation [the Kurds]," she said firmly. |
| "The enemy [the Turkish authorities] has forced us not to believe in them." | "The enemy [the Turkish authorities] has forced us not to believe in them." |
| However, pro-Kurdish political parties have some leverage. | However, pro-Kurdish political parties have some leverage. |
| Erdogan needs their support to enable him to run for a third term as president in elections due in 2028. | Erdogan needs their support to enable him to run for a third term as president in elections due in 2028. |
| For its part, the PKK has been hit hard by the Turkish military in recent years with leaders and fighters hunted down in drone warfare. | For its part, the PKK has been hit hard by the Turkish military in recent years with leaders and fighters hunted down in drone warfare. |
| And regional change, in Iran and Syria, means the militant group and its affiliates have less freedom to operate. | And regional change, in Iran and Syria, means the militant group and its affiliates have less freedom to operate. |
| Both sides have their reasons for doing a deal now. That may be grounds for hope. | Both sides have their reasons for doing a deal now. That may be grounds for hope. |