Turkey's ruling coalition has submitted to parliament a bill aimed at ending the decades-long conflict with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The document provides for exempting some former members of the group from criminal prosecution and reducing the sentences of certain convicts. LRT reports this, citing Reuters, writes UNN.
Details
Parliament is expected to pass the bill as early as this week. Its aim is to create conditions for the return to Turkey of thousands of former PKK fighters and civilians who are currently staying at the group's bases in Iraq.
The conflict between Turkey and the PKK has continued since 1984 and, according to Reuters, has claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people.
What the bill provides for
The document provides for suspending the execution of sentences for some people convicted of membership in or aiding the PKK, as well as legal protection for militants who were not involved in killings and voluntarily return to the country.
At the same time, these provisions will not apply to the group's leaders convicted of serious crimes. In particular, PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, who is serving a life sentence, will remain in prison.
Today we are taking the first step. We hope that the entire process will be successful going forward