Raperin Administration: No Official Notification Received on PKK Disarmament Initiative
Raperin awaits official PKK disarmament details as Turkey welcomes symbolic peace gesture. Up to 40 fighters may surrender arms with DEM Party/KRG oversight, but local authorities seek formal directives amid cautious optimism.
By Ahora Qadi
Erbil (Kurdistan24) – The local administration in Raperin has not yet received any formal notification or directives regarding the anticipated disarmament process of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) members within the region’s jurisdiction, according to Hiwa Qarni, head of the Raperin Independent Administration.
In a statement to Kurdistan24, Qarni clarified that both administrative and security entities in the Raperin area have not been officially informed of the timeline or procedural aspects of the expected disarmament initiative by the PKK.
He indicated that discussions suggest a delegation from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (DEM Party) may participate in the process, alongside official observers from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the federal government of Iraq, and a number of high-ranking PKK officials.
Up to 40 PKK Fighters Expected to Lay Down Arms
According to preliminary information, approximately 40 PKK members are expected to surrender their weapons as part of what is being described as a sincere and symbolic gesture toward peace. The initiative reportedly follows a renewed call from the party’s imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, and is viewed as the beginning of a new chapter in the broader peace process.
Ankara Welcomes Move as a Democratic Milestone
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in his first official response on Saturday, July 5, 2025, lauded the disarmament step by the PKK as a pivotal development on the path toward national reconciliation. He affirmed that Turkey sees the gesture as a positive contribution to democratic progress within the country.
Awaiting Clarity Amid Delicate Regional Dynamics
Despite Ankara’s optimistic tone and the apparent readiness of participating groups, local authorities in Raperin await formal communication to coordinate the implementation and ensure stability during the process. The potential presence of international and regional observers underlines the significance of the move and the hopes pinned on it as a landmark effort in resolving one of the region’s longest-standing conflicts.
