We are in a self defence position, says Karayılan
“We are in a restricted self defence position and have not exercised our full power yet. It is a warning position where we are standing now. If the state launches an incursion on Medya Defence Territories or any other part of Kurdistan then we break the chain and the situation will be completely different.” said head of Kurdistan Democratic Confederation (KCK) Executive Council Murat Karayılan.
Karayılan further underlined that they are still supporting the line living with people of Turkey on an equal and free basis and said “We will continue resisting does not matter if it takes a century. We cannot accept such dishonour; we cannot accept the assimilation policies on the Kurdish people. They will never be able to make us Turk.”
Since 1 June 2010 Kurdish problem entered a new phase. KCK executive committee had declared it by a public release. Following this declaration the clashes in Northern Kurdistan (Turkey) increased and escalated to the Turkish regions such as Mediterranean, Black sea and the Marmara Regions. Turkish army has launched several air attacks on ‘Medya Defence Territories’, a region in northern Iraq controlled by PKK. With the raise in the number of clashes the number casualties has also increased.
All these recent developments brought the Kurdish problem on the top of the agenda, as the most crucial problem of Turkey and whole region. While some are suggesting a military-security solution for the problem some others are suggestion new approach such a holding the problem with its all dimensions. What about KCK? How does KCK see the recent developments and discussions?
ANF interview Murat Karayılan, the head of Kurdistan Democratic Confederation (KCK) Executive Council. Karayılan explained what “Democratic Autonomy Solution” means.
* How do you evaluate the developments after 1 June 2010? What are the characteristics of this new era?
- Our leadership and movement have put great efforts for 18 years to develop a democratic solution for the Kurdish issue. Most recently on 13 April 2009 we declared a ceasefire which was ended on 1 June 2010. However, what we have seen is that AKP government and the Turkish state have no intention to make peace with the Kurdish people. They insist on their assimilation policies on our people and they want the Kurds unconditionally surrender. Our leader Abdullah Ocalan has declared that he is still supporting a democratic solution and he let the initiative to us. The responsibility of this new phase belongs to us. Nobody can blame our leadership for this.
* Mr. Ocalan has said that he can be part of a solution if there are negotiations. For your movement what is the role of your leadership Ocalan? How do you see the discussions about this issue?
- The role of our leadership is clear not only for our movement but also for the Kurdish people. As we have already underlined numberless times he is the leader of a people, he is the leader of the Kurdish people. His role is decisive for us.
He said the 3rd phase is over and he will withdraw until he is recognised as an interlocutor and negotiations start. He did it in the face of denial and destruction policies of AKP and the Turkish state.
We are a movement. We have a council, executive board and administration. We have been discussing for the last 6- 7 months how we can develop our own solution. Therefore, we decided to start a new phase. It was a necessity for us. If the state does not want to find a solution by negotiating with you then you have to find your own solution with your own dynamics. That is what we are doing now. Because the state does not want to solve the Kurdish problem but destroy the Kurdish people. This is a danger for our people. AKP has rejected all our reasonable proposals. This means I do not want to make peace with you but destroy you. This is the danger.
We consider the phase as “protecting our existence as a nation and building a free life”. We are developing a solution and are ready to welcome the state if they want to be a part of the solution. If not, we will make it with our own dynamics.
* There are some calls from NGO’s and some business unions for a cease fire and stopping the military operations. How do you see these calls? Is a ceasefire possible in this phase? If yes, depending on what?
- First of all I should say that following the call from the NGO’s in Diyarbakir in which they asked for a cease fire from us and stopping the military operations from the state the Turkish media disseminated false, fabricated news. This is a big lie. We respect all the calls from the NGO’s both based in and out of Diyarbakir. They are coherent and balanced. However, making calls itself does not suffice. A greater effort is needed. The framework proposed by the NGO’s is acceptable. If the state agrees on it too then we can start negotiations.
On one hand the Turkish PM is calling NATO and waiting USA on hand and foot. Despite all the tension with Israel, he is still sending delegations to Israel to buy Herons. Same with Syria and Iran. In order to destroy us they are holding security meetings one after another. One the other hand they are calling for a unilateral ceasefire. It does not make any sense. It is not acceptable. We have the power to resist the Turkish state, to stand on our own feet. All should be aware of this fact.
We are at a restricted self defence position. That means we have not exercised our full power yet. Because we are still of view of living together with Turkey and we are struggling for it. However, if the state as a result of these security meetings launches an incursion on Medya Defence Territories or any other part of Kurdistan then we break the chain and the situation will be completely different. We are following a well planned and organised self defence strategy. We gained experience during these years fighting in the mountains. We are limiting ourselves. It should not be thought that we are using all of our power. No. This is not our full power. Nobody should wrong calculation. We are at a warning position. But if they insist on deadlock, if they insist on denial and destruction then the Kurdish people have right to head other options. We have the power to resist. The palavers from the politicians saying that they finished the PKK in 1999 are their false theories. That time, upon the request from our leadership we withdrew out of borders. It was a way of showing good faith. The Turkish state should not be deceived and think that it was something that they managed themselves.
Karayılan has also stated that democratic autonomy means democratisation of Turkey however; AKP government and the opposition party CHP are digging more frontiers to harden the war.
* What is Democratic Autonomy and when are you planning to declare it?
- Democratic Autonomy means respecting and promoting different cultures rather than subjecting them to assimilation and genocide policies. It is recognising the right to autonomy of different cultures living within the country. It does not mean secession or establishing a new state but enjoyment of full rights. Autonomy was promised to the Kurds by Mustafa Kemal who failed to keep his promise.
It is common system in the world. If the state does not accept it then the Kurdish people will realize it in their lives. And if the state tries to stop it then we have to tackle it in out way. Democratic Autonomy is the only possible solution for the Kurdish problem.
* How will you realise it?
- Democratic Confederalism is an alternative system to 5 thousand year-old state tradition. It is the unity of people living together without existence of a state.
If the state does not accept it then it will create danger for itself. We will realize it with our own dynamics. The Kurdish people are willing and capable of this. Hope the state act rationally. It will lead a permanent solution. Such a solution will bring an end to the war, deaths.
It is the time to see the realities. Otherwise Turkey will find itself in the middle of a chaos. They should stop using outdated arguments like “mother tongue will destroy the country”. Look at the world. Countries where different mother tongues are taught at school still exist. They are destroyed.
AKP is not sincere in the solution and using the opposition parties like CHP and MHP as an excuse not to take necessary step on the way to solution.
* And if the Turkish state does not accept it?
As I said Kurdish people are willing and capable of it. It is not only us declaring the autonomy but the Kurdish people. Political parties like BDP, NGO’s will all work together to realise this goal.
And if the state does not accept and allies with neighboring countries or international capital then the Kurds ally with the mountains of Kurdistan.
* This is an edited and shortened version of the original interview published today in Turkish – BAKI GÜL -ANF / KANDIL
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TO THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
1. On 10th of July, 2010, in between 03:00-04:00 hours, the war-planes belongs to the Turkish state army carried an air-raid attack against the areas of Mamreso and Avasin-Basya/Zagros/the Medya Defence Areas.
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TO THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
1. On 8th of July, 2010, in between 17:00-18:00 hours, the Turkish state army bombarded the areas of Seytan Kayasi, the Hills of Kartal and Sehit Firat, the village of Kiye and the Avasin-Basya/Zagros/the Medya Defence Areas, with obus and mortars. Afire has been started in those areas, which is still continuing.
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TO THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
1. In the morning hours of 7th of July, 2010, the Turkish state army launched a military operation in the area of Geliye Dize/Hakkari. The operation ended the same night with no result.
TO THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
1. On 6th of July, 2010, at around 07:00 hours, our Guerrilla Forces carried an action against a panzer in a row of an armoured military vehicles as a part of a military operation launcehed by the Turkish state army Lice-Kulp/Amed.
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TO THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
1. On 5th of July, 2010, at around 12:30 hours, our guerillas carried an action against an armoured military vehicle near by the village of Tevle/the border gate of Gurbulak/Dogubeyazit/Agri.
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TO THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
1. On 3rd of July, 2010, at around 23:00 hours, our Guerrilla Forces carried actions against four different enemy positions at Gire Sor, the Hill of Bayrak, Kucuk Kato and the Hill of Beyolke in Central Beytussebap/Sirnak.
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TO THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
1. On 3rd of July, 2010, at around 20:00 hours, our Guerrilla Forces carried an action against the Botas petrol pipe lines in the area of Qertmine/Midyat/Mardin. Afterwards of this sabotage action by our Guerrilla Forces, the firefighters from Mardin-Central, Midyat and Sirnak attended to the sceen of the area under the security of the military vehicles and soldiers of the Turkish state army.
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TO THE PUBLIC AND THE MEDIA
Tayyip Erdogan and his party’s mask has fallen as the historical and social crimes under the name of ‘opening’ committed by the Turkish state and AKP government have been exposed. In the past last week, they have met in sequence in order to be able to break the resistance of our people, leave them with no will power and to have them surrender. In these meetings they have decided on the continuation of an all out war. When AKP’s and Tayyip Erdoğan’s plans could not be realized and their masks fell they turned into the Tansu Çiller of the 1990’s. The recent security summits and National Security Council meetings have confirmed this clearly.
The fact that two villages in Hasankeyf have just been burnt down, reminded us of the Tansu Çiller’s period, murder of civillian people, victimization of poor peasents and the start to murder village guards who refuse to participate in military operations leave no doubt that the AKP government has began an all out war against our people’s freedom struggle.
Our one-sided quest for a resolution of the Kurdish question for the past 18 years, including efforts for dialogue and political means, have not been met. Instead, the Turkish state and AKP have insisted on policies of elimination and have continued with their policy of denial and annihilation. Despite all our efforts of good will, we had declared on 1 June 2010, that the unilateral ceasefire declared by the Kurdish freedom movement had become meaningless. From that date onwards, we entered the period of legitimate active defence in a controlled manner. The legitimate defence period is a manner of controlled defence based on the legitimate defence line. All the public should know that the struggle waged by us against the ruthless attacks of the Turkish state is nothing but a controlled resistance and the struggle to defend its freedom. In the case that the AKP government opts to implement its all out war decision the path before an uncontrolled warfare shall be paved. This is not our preference, but AKP’s push for such a period shall leave Turkey to face a great disaster. This is why AKP government should abandon implementations that include burning of villages as well as attacks that result in the death of civillian people and all the other implementations of an all out warfare.
The village guards, who take their place within the village guard system are the social and national wound that bleed in Kurdistan. They should immediately abandon such a position and should not take their place in this all out war planned by the Turkish state. Our movement does not target the village guards. The movement shall continue to abide with this stance of its. The AKP government and the Turkish state are totally responsible for the loss of lives of the villages guards in various places. All the village guards should be aware and know that the Turkish army is responsible for the present attacks on them. This is because the Turkish state has the aim of turning this warfare into a war between Kurds. Hence, the village guards are killed in various manners and the blame is put on our movement so that the conflict between Kurds is fueled. All patriotic Kurdish circles and village guards should be aware and not be deceived.
In the aftermath of exposing AKP government’s policies and the consequent development of tensions, once again, the Kurdish question and its resolution have come to be widely discussed. Tayyip Erdoğan sees the reasonable and realistic proposals for a resolution made by TÜSİAD and similar cirlces as well as some honest democratic intellectual circles to be nothing but ‘nonsense’. But, on the other hand he appraises those who call on our movement to call a unilateral ceasefire or lay down weapons. Hence, once again they have a policy to eliminate our movement and to both tear and silence our society apart.
At present, it is not realistic to expect our movement to call a unilateral ceasefire. A ceasefire can not just be declared as it is. There needs to be an environment of mutual trust created as well as concrete confidence raising steps. Therefore, when there is such a comprehensive attacks against our people and our movement as well as a decision for an all out war, the timing of such a call is neither appropriate nor realistic. There are no other decisions, but the decision for an all out war taken at the meetings realized by the state and the last meeting of the National Security Council meeting. It is quite sad that an all out war decision and the burning of villages as well as the military operations have not been questioned, but instead the actions of the guerrillas are shown to be the obstacle before a resolution. But, it is not these defensive actions that are an obstacle before a solution. It is the policies of the AKP government that have developed the state of stalemate to be its policy as well as the elimination of the freedom movement and not abandoning efforts to break the will power of our people. It is clear that the main reason for the present clashes is the AKP government and Turkish state that have arrested 1600 Kurdish politicians who have not had any illegal acitivies in order to leave our people with no will power on the basis of a political genocide.
It is now clear that for the past 18 years the unilateral ceasefires declared by our Leader and our movement have not produced the desired resolution. Therefore, it is clear that the question can not be resolved on the basis of unilateral ceasefires. It must be properly evaluated why we have had to resort to the usage of our legitimate defence right especially in the face of political and military operations that wishes to eliminate our movement and deepen the stalemate. It is not us that does not fulfill the requirements of the ceasefire, but the state and government. Therefore, it is the Turkish state and AKP government that should be convinced and called on. It shall only encourage the Turkish state and AKP government in their attacks if the position and acts of the Turkish state and AKP government are not evaluated and we are asked to lay down our weapons unilaterally and unconditionally. Such an approach shall not bring about a resolution but shall deepen the stalemate.
We call on all the circles who are pro-peace and pro-resolution to investigate why the last unilateral ceasefire that began on 13 April 2010 collapsed. If the implementations of the Turkish state, AKP government and us the Kurdish side is investigated and reported then one would be able to pin point who exactly that is against a resolution. We call on all the NGOs in Kurdistan and Turkey, especially those in Amed, to initiate such a research. Such an undertaking shall expose the truth and shall clarify how a permanent democratic resolution can be achieved. Tayyip Erdoğan is well aware of such a reality as he is trying very hard to guide such platforms, including the ones in Amed, to artificial agendas far from any solutions.
The problem is not for the PKK to declare yet, another unilateral ceasefire. This has been done so many times in the past. What is really important is that the other side too honors the requirements of a ceasefire and to take parallel steps. It is well known that neither our Leader, movement, nor people have found an addressee for steps taken and calls made to achieve a peaceful resolution. Despite this reality to yet again call for a unilateral ceasefire is nothing but to advice us to surrender to a merciless dominant power. It is hoped that pro-human rights and peace-loving circles shall not act in such a manner.
We would like all those concerned to know that both the guerrilla and soldier losses are due to the domineering and colonialist Turkish State’s desire to keep Kurdish people at a slave status as well its insistance on warfare
There is a need for seriousness in order to resolve the Kurdish question. This question is a continuation of how the Kurdish people were killed all throughout the history of the Republic and where her identity, culture and language have still not been guaranteed by the constitution and where the graves of those executed can still not be found.
Our people should own up to its rightful claim of freedom much more in unity and in an organized manner. Hence the national democratic resistance should be elevated in such a way that the necessary response is given to all the domineering approaches.
All the patriotic democratic institutions and establishments as well as NGOs from Kurdistan should be in solidarity with the freedom claim of our people and should be careful not to adopt a stance that shall damage it and should not encourage the colonialist and domineering powers. No matter what their axis of thought is we call on patriotic political organizations and NGOs to be highly sensitive when it comes to this and to reinforce our unity and solidarity and adopt a political stance to force the Turkish state and AKP government to a resolution.
Presidency of the KCK Executive Council
27 June 2010
(Translated by KCK-Info)
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TO THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
1. On 2rd of July, 2010, at around 15:00 hours, our Guerrilla Forces carried an action against enemy soldiers, whome were at the enterence of the station as a group of the Milikan Army station/Kulp/Amed.