Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) Central Committee member Helin Ümit has said that the PKK aspires to a transformation in both its internal structure and its approach to the Kurdish issue. Speaking to Fırat News Agency (ANF), she suggested that the movement recognises the importance of evolving its methods in line with the long-standing political and philosophical outlook of its imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan.
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Ümit observed that the organisation’s decades-long struggle has brought Kurdish grievances to global attention, and that the time has now come to focus more on non-military avenues for resolving issues. She also stressed the need for the Turkish state and political actors to reciprocate such efforts with genuine steps towards conflict resolution.
“Yes, the PKK wants to undergo a process of change and transformation,” said Ümit. “We see this as a voluntary step. If we want to achieve a lasting solution to the Kurdish people’s struggle for existence and freedom, and also offer new possibilities to broader socialist or democratic movements, we need to transform ourselves.”
Ümit said that any meaningful solution will depend on the Turkish state, particularly the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), fully acknowledging the Kurdish question and taking responsibility for addressing it. She suggested that the state could establish clear political and legal frameworks that would allow the conflict to shift from a military confrontation to a political dialogue.
“We cannot just announce a ceasefire or stop armed activities without genuine steps from the other side. The Turkish state, particularly the AKP and MHP, must create a democratic, legal and political environment that will allow Kurdish voices to be heard and respected. That is our core demand,” she explained.
She expressed the view that simply halting armed activities on the PKK side would not suffice unless structural changes followed. Ümit also noted the importance of trust-building measures, suggesting that the state could foster a democratic environment where Kurdish voices could be heard, protected and represented.
A key element of Ümit’s remarks was the importance of facilitating greater communication between Öcalan, the PKK membership and other relevant stakeholders. She expressed her belief that Öcalan’s input and leadership are critical to guiding the transformation process, explaining that understanding his perspective requires active and consistent dialogue channels. She also expressed concern that restrictions on communication with Öcalan could hinder the PKK’s ability to accurately interpret his messages and to confidently pursue peace-oriented initiatives.
“We are a leadership movement ... We have followed Öcalan’s perspective for decades, but we still need proper communication channels to understand the transformation he envisions. Limiting our contact with Öcalan makes it difficult to interpret his calls correctly.”
Ümit also referred to the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Turkey’s main opposition party and a historically significant political force, calling on it to play a constructive role. She commended the possibility of renewed engagement from the CHP in potential democratic reforms, including changes to existing legislation related to political freedoms. She suggested that robust support from the CHP and other opposition factions could not only advance Kurdish rights but also promote a wider process of democratisation within Turkey.
