CENTRAL NEWS
In regard to the recent developments in Kurdistan and Turkey, Sawt
al-Watan (Dengê Welat) Radio held an interview with the PKK Executive
Committee Member Murat Karayilan.
At the beginning of his speech, Murat Karayilan who is both a member
of the PKK Executive Committee and the commander of the People’s Defense
Forces headquarters (the armed forces of the PKK) emphasized the
importance of the “It Is Time For Freedom” campaign which was launched
to establish the physical freedom of Leader Abdullah Ocalan. He said:
“Revolting against the isolation imposed on the Leader in Imrali, is a
struggle against fascism; without achieving the freedom of Leader
Ocalan, the conflict cannot end, nor will the Kurds achieve their
freedom or democracy prevail in Turkey.”
The commander continued: “The campaign that the resisters started in
the prisons of fascism is of great meaning and importance because the
freedom of leader Abdullah Ocalan means the freedom of all prisoners of
freedom, opinion and thought. In another sense, it means the freedom of
Kurdistan and the achievement of democratic transformation in Turkey.”
He said: “It is imperative for the families of the struggling
prisoners and detainees, the patriots of our country, as well as the
democratic institutions to support the resistance in prisons. Only so,
will the campaign be able to achieve its goals.”
The fifth anniversary of Autonomous Administration’s resistance
On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the
Autonomous Administration in Northern Kurdistan, the the PKK Executive
Committee Member Murat Karayilan said: “We commemorate all our martyrs
who signed a historic epic of heroism, in all regions and cities that
participated in the Autonomous Administration’s resistance against
Turkish fascism. We renew our pledge to follow their path of freedom and
victory, and to achieve their hopes and goals for which they
sacrificed.”
In his talk about the Autonomous Administration’s resistance, Murat
Karayilan shared the depth of the war by Kurds in northern Kurdistan to
establish an Autonomous Administration:
“60 brave young men resisted against fascism in Amed for 103 days,
led by Cîyager, and the same thing happened in Nesibin, Cizir, Şirnex,
Gever and Hezex. This legendary resistance was against the scheme of
destruction and elimination of Kurdish existence. The enemies aimed to
impose submission and surrender on our people, but thanks to that
historic resistance, they were unable to implement their agendas.” He
also made clear that there is no alternative other than resistance, to
secure the fate and future of the Kurdish people.
Not only political leaders, but Yazidi community elders and religious leaders must intensify their struggle
Murat Karayilan touched on the sinister agreement that the Iraqi
government concluded with the Kurdistan Democratic Party regarding
Şengal, and said: “The Turkish state responds to Autonomous
Administrations at the same rate, regardless of which part of Kurdistan.
It does not want the Yazidi community to enjoy its will and autonomy
even though the system of Autonomous Administration has legal basis in
the federal law of Iraq.
The Turkish state claims that it is hostile to the Autonomous
Administration in Şengal because of the PKK presence. The Yazidi
community seeks to maintain its existence as a society which has always
been subject to oppression and pressure by Islamists, being defended by
no one. Therefore, the society in Şengal has a natural right to
establish its own defense forces and an Autonomous Administration that
manages its affairs and respects its will and privacy.
The duty to defend this truth is not limited to the political leaders
only, but all personalities and notables from the Yazidi community, as
well as the religious leaders of the Yazidi community must intensify
their efforts and highlight their position regarding what is happening
in Şengal to express the will of their community. Şengal must enjoy an
autonomous administration in the Iraqi law and constitution, as well as
in the laws of the Kurdistan Regional Government in order for the Yazidi
community to protect its existence.”
The Şengal Agreement is not in favor of Kurds
Murat Karayilan stressed that the ominous agreement concluded between
the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (PDK) regarding
Şengal is not in the interest of Kurds, and stressed that Al-Kadhimi
government was not able to demonstrate an independent position that
expresses the will of Iraq and its people, but rather yielded to foreign
dictates, on top of which are Turkish state interferences.
He said: “Al-Kadhimi government faces many issues and problems in
Iraq. It should have directed towards solving those problems and issues
that determine the fate of Iraq, instead of moving towards concluding an
agreement against the people of Şengal and deploying 10 thousand
government forces, claiming a phantom victory over people who just
recently survived a genocide.”
He continued: “This agreement is not in the interest of the Kurdish
people, and it means aborting the Autonomous Administration of the
Yazidi people in Şengal. The Kurdistan Democratic Party wants, through
its accession to this agreement, to send a message that it will destroy
anything it has no interest in, whatever the price.
With this agreement, KDP will hand over Kurdish gains to the Iraqi
government, in an agreement that is hostile to the Autonomous
Administration of Şengal and the will of the Yazidi community.”
Enemies attack Kurdish society through special warfare methods
Commander Murat Karayilan continued: “The enemies do not only attack
the Guerrilla and political activists in Kurdistan, but they attack the
Kurdish society with various methods and special tools of war. They also
target women and youth in particular in the Kurdistan society. In
response to this, the Free Women Movement expressed its will by
launching a campaign named “We Will Defend Ourselves,” and this campaign
is of great significance.”
He added: “The brutal rape incident that took place in Gercus in
Batman became widespread in the press and media, and it is clear from
the merits of this crime that the perpetrators are Turkish officers, and
that the Turkish state does not pay salaries to these officers to fight
an honorable fight, but to desecrate honor and dignity of the Kurdish
community.
Therefore, I appeal to the Kurdish people in Northern Kurdistan, and
tell them to take caution towards these officers assigned by the Turkish
occupation state. If these officers are Kurds, they are traitors, and
if they are Turks, they are representatives of the occupation and
mercenaries.”
Murat Karayilan warned about the silence of the Kurdish community in
the face of such crimes, and said: “This deadly silence must be broken.
The Free Women Movement announced its position and it continues to
struggle to a certain degree, but the entire society of Kurdistan must
declare its position and struggle against these crimes and immoral
practices that want to undermine Kurdish dignity and honor.”
He continued: “Kurdistan today suffers from an apartheid system
wherever a Kurdish person is killed. The Turkish state seeks to mislead
the true racist cause, hide the crime, in addition to granting impunity
for the perpetrator. We have seen how they threw Kurdish citizens from a
helicopter, and in return the perpetrators of the crime were defended
and justified by government officials such as ministers. ”
They will pay for everything
Commander Murat Karayilan emphasized that the Turkish occupation
state is practicing a chauvinist racist policy in Kurdistan, and seeks
to conceal the truth of its crimes with different tools and methods. He
said: “We will hold all the perpetrators and criminals accountable, and
in order to hold the enemies and tyrants accountable and take revenge on
them and avenge the blood of the martyrs of the Kurdistan people, the
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) Movement was established, and our people
must trust this and realize well that we will not stand idly and silent
about all these brutal crimes. We will make them pay a high price.”