BEHDINAN
The occupying Turkish army has recently launched attacks on the Xakurkê region of Southern Kurdistan. Over the last year, there have been intense attacks and conflicts in the region of Xakurkê, due to the proximity to the Turkey, Iraq, and Iran border. According to the information received from the region, the Turkish army is predominantly attacking via air strikes and at some points it even uses helicopters. The guerrilla forces, which are located on the steep terrain of the region, are conducting unremitting actions against the Turkish army.
The PKK Executive Committee and the People’s Defense Center Headquarters Murat Karayılan, whom we met in the Media Defense Areas, said that the Xakurkê attack was an invasion attempt and would cost the Turkish state dearly.
Mr. Karayilan also called on the people of Southern Kurdistan and political circles and emphasized that the Kurdish forces should unite around the common strategy; he disclosed that the Turkish army launched an offensive against the Xakurkê region and clashes continue in the region.
“First of all, I congratulate all the people of Kurdistan and the Islamic world. I hope that this blessed holiday process will lead to the development and consolidation of unity, brotherhood, and solidarity in Kurdistan.
As you know, the Turkish state has been threatening and promising to the highest level against Rojava for a year. It seems that they were unable to obtain the necessary permission from their masters to carry out any attack on Rojava. They headed their direction to Xakurkê. Because this racist, chauvinist and fascist mindset has indexed the future of its power to Kurdish opposition. He doesn’t want to leave any gaps.”
Didn’t they have plans to occupy Southern Kurdistan in advance?
“Of course, there were plans to invade Southern Kurdistan. When they could not get permission for the attack on Rojava, they decided to implement the occupation policy to Southern Kurdistan and have now attacked Xakurkê as a result. It needs to be underlined in particular; It is not an operation carried out by the Turkish state in Xakurkê, but an occupation. This occupation is not a temporary occupation. This is the truth and everyone should see it like this.”
Turkish officials are constantly saying “When the PKK ends, we will withdraw from South Kurdistan”
“But will the PKK end? Never. Is it possible to end the PKK, a reality which is based on such a mass force, which passes through the most difficult conditions and has an effective fighting power? This is impossible.”
Then what does Turkey mean in regards to this comment?
“The words of the Turkish state mean; ‘I am occupying Southern Kurdistan’. ’He expresses in these words that he wants to occupy, permanently.”
But what is the political authority in Southern Kurdistan and the attitude of the Iraqi administration against it?
“Yes, this is an important issue. The existing power structure of the organizations in South Kurdistan and even the Iraqi state, are silent against these invasion attacks. Some segments may have reacted, but in general, there is a general approach of silence. This is a very serious situation. Especially since the Southern power is silent, this means that it has either agreed or approved. Let us know this very well; The Turkish state has very serious plans regarding Southern Kurdistan. Approving the occupation of the Turkish state means to lose Kirkuk.”
How?
“Because one of the plans of the colonial Turkish state is to settle in Southern Kurdistan, there is an effective position by strengthening his hand and detaching Kirkuk from Southern Kurdistan. This is one of their goals. As the Turkish state settles in the South, its hand will be strengthened.
We say that the power of South Kurdistan should not strengthen the hand of the Turkish state in this regard. Strengthening the hand of the Turkish state means to cut off the branch under one’s foot. Rather, it should take responsibility for national interests. There is no doubt that the Turkish state is against the national interests of the Kurdish people and wants to eliminate all the gains of the people. Therefore, we think that there is a fault and we want to point out that this fault must be corrected.”
How do you assess the attıtude of the people of southern kurdıstan?
“Our people in Southern Kurdistan have paid a great price for their matriotic freedom. They passed through the infestations, the Haleps. Hundreds of thousands of people were martyred. Our respect for these people, our love, is endless. And, as in the case of Seladiz, our people in Southern Kurdistan have portrayed a great reaction to the invasion attacks. The political forces in the south, especially its potencies, should listen to the sensitivity of the people and should not remain silent against this occupation. We call on all circles to raise their voice and develop the struggle against the invasion of Kurdistan territory by the Turkish state; which is occupying step by step under the name of “I am against the PKK”.
What is the position of the guerrilla forces against the plans of attack and occupation you mentioned and how will the aftermath be?
“There is no doubt that the guerrilla will respond to this occupation and will show the necessary resistance. Against the attempts of the colonialist Turkish state to invade Southern Kurdistan, the Kurdistan liberation guerrilla will develop a historic resistance and demonstrate its full power to carry this resistance to success. The Kurdistan Freedom Guerillas are an experienced, effective force with a great deal of knowledge and practice, it will prove just as much as it has before.
See; The Turkish state has occupied the Lêlikan hill for a year. Hundreds of Turkish soldiers were killed by the guerrillas in Lêlikan. But the Turkish government hides this from the people of Turkey. The responsible for this is the enemy of the Kurd, and as we know very well, and Hulusi Akar, an atypical Circassian. And this person is lying every day to the people of Turkey. He’s not telling the truth.
Turkey has lost hundreds of people Lêlikan. We wouldn’t want that. But their colonialist, genocidal policy is the main reason for this. Now that they have tried to invade Xakurkê, the guerrilla will have a stronger stance and resistance against this occupation. This will develop not as a day, but as a resistance that will spread over time. The guerrilla is committed to this.”
Is the Turkish army committing these attacks on its own or is it receiving support from other forces?
“We know very well that the Turkish state or the Turkish army does not fight against us alone. They have always received NATO support in the massacres against the Kurdish people. Without their support, the Turkish state cannot do such a thing. Now he is attacking, relying on the same basis of support. We know well that the Turkish state cannot sustain its fascist and colonial practices against the Kurdish people without the support of NATO.”
Mr. Karayilan, the region at the same time the Iranian border. Does Iran have a role in these attacks? Or how much of these attacks are related to Iran?
“As will be recalled, a minister in the fascist AKP-MHP government announced in Sprıng, that ‘Erdogan himself [had] made an agreement with Iran for a joint operation against the PKK’. The Turkish state is carrying out the genocide policy against the Kurds; the mind that manages and directs the Turkish state at the moment is the mind of MHP. The only thing they think for the Kurdish people is death, destruction. Now they want to share this racist chauvinistic policy with Iran. But the leaders of Iran have too much experience to fall into this trap. Therefore, we do not think that the Islamic Republic of Iran will give a premium to the demands of the Turkish state.”
So why did Erdoğan make statements in this direction?
“As a matter of fact, Erdogan’s explanation of this issue was wasted. Because so far we have not seen a joint operation and then we do not think it will be. Actually, it was a provocation. That is to say, Erdogan has made directing statements to provoke Iran. His aim was to make Iran fall into difficulty. Anyone who knows about Erdogan’s policies, who has followed it, has seen this, and most of all, so have the authorities of the Iranian state.”
As a result of these hunger strikes and fasting actions carried out, Mr. Öcalan has seen his lawyers twice in Imrali. What kind of developments has it caused?
One of the most important actions of our history of struggle is the hunger strikes and death fasts actions, developed within the frame of the move called ‘Break the Isolation, Smash Fascism and Free Kurdistan’. This action, which lasted more than 200 days, in prisons, from Kurdistan to Europe and Canada, has been recorded as one of the major actions worldwide. It gained a very important level.
For this reason, I greet all of the hunger strikes and death fast actions with the most sincere revolutionary feelings, especially the dear revolutionary, Leyla Güven. It was also an important message for us, that they have carried the weight of our work on their shoulders.
These resistances have shown whole world that the Turkish state is holding our leadership and the leadership of our people in the unlawful, inhumane isolation and psychological torture. They moved to the international public; it has gained a significant level.
They also opened a gap in the isolation system on the leader APO. The Turkish state experienced a very serious struggle against the splendor and determination of this action. And they had to step back in the face of the activists’ determination.
As it is known, prior to developing many tactics, they actually wanted to sabotage the actions. The fact that the lawyers were taken to the interview after 8 years on 2 and 22 May was the result of the determined and persistent shouting of the activists. The Turkish state had to step back. They had to confess publicly that the violation was illegal.
Is there any guarantee that the negotiations will continue after this?
They have made public statements in this regard. No matter whether they want to make these explanations or not, this does not change one thing. There has been a successful resistance. Here are the determination of the resistance of the insurgents, 8 comrades such as Zülküf Gezen and Ayten Behçet, and the heroic action and the great sacrifices and roles of our hero mothers. Without these heroic uprisings and actions, it would not be possible to open a fault in the strict policies of the Turkish state.
I commemorate our precious martyrs who were martyred in this process with a great spirit of heroism and sacrifice. I repeat the promise we gave them. I kiss our devoted mothers’ hands and wish them great success. I would like to emphasize that we will be more determined in the struggle to be worthy of them. Our whole purpose is to be good children to our old mothers. We strive for this. Our walk on this road will be more determined.
After four years, Mr. Öcalan’s messages were publicized. What are your views on the framework of this message?
Yes, after a period of more than four years, the guidance of our leadership is very important. This description for us, it is very important for the peoples of Turkey and the Kurdistan region. The 7-point solution formulation of our leadership includes the solution framework of all problems. We will try to deepen our struggle to understand our leadership, to contribute to his efforts and thus to strengthen our hand.
These messages have revealed that the Leader Abdullah Ocalan is the key to all solutions in Turkey, Kurdistan and its surrounding areas. Now it is time to break the isolation completely, to free the Leader APO. Therefore, all the Kurdistan people, women and young people should now be spreading the message of the high morale and participation of death fast activists. Just as the action of July 14 led to great developments and became the foundation of the August 15 leap, this action must have a similar equivalent. We must understand the message given to us by this action, we must develop the Free Leadership and Free Kurdistan march with determined steps. It’s time for that. We are determined to make the period absolutely successful on this period of tasks. All our friends and our people must fulfill the requirements of the responsibility of the leader to realize the perspectives of APO and make sure to participate in this process. In particular, the youth of Kurdistan should see that it is up to itself and provide the necessary participation.
You have talked about invasion attacks and you have a public call. More specifically, what kind of a road map should the Kurdish people have?
At this stage of history, our people need unity and a common national strategy. It is known that there is an ongoing war in the region. And in the course of this war, everyone is making long-term accounts of the region; we are approaching long-term policies. It will be an unforgivable mistake of approaching Kurds with short term accounts and narrow approaches to this process. Certainly we should have long term accounts and policies considering our future. It is absolutely necessary for our people to live freely in this land, to win the future, to lead the rightful cause of our right to success. I’m not saying this based on a number of daily developments. I take this as a long-term process.
Winning is definitely a union and a common strategy. Therefore, no one who claims to be matriotic, conducting politics on these lands should be making small and narrow accounts. The period is not a period of narrow organization interests, but a period in which national interests must be maximized.
On the occasion of this blessed Eid, I call upon all the leaders of the organization, representatives of institutions and organizations in Kurdistan; in this important period of history we must show our ability to solve our internal problems through dialogue. And the great expectation of our people, at the same time, the only way to win the democratic national unity, even as a minimun, the common strategy of the merger to perform.
I draw the bottom of it again; As the PKK, we are ready to fulfill our responsibility. Again I congratulate the blessed Ramadan of all our people and political party representatives. I wish all our people success in freedom marches.
