Qendil Mountains- The Defence Regions of Medya: Murat Karayilan the president of Democratic Confederation of Kurdistan (KCK) stated that we are in a restricted self-defence position and have not exercised our full power yet.
Mr. Karayilan said that,” it is a warning position where we are standing now. If the state launches an incursion on the Defence Regions of Medya or any other part of Kurdistan then we break the chain and the situation will be completely different.”
Karayilan further underlined that they are still supporting the line living with the people of Turkey on an equal and free basis and said “We will continue resisting, no 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 1st 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 spread all over to the Turkish regions such as Mediterranean, Black sea and the Marmara Regions. Turkish army has launched several air attacks on ‘The Defence Regions of Medya’, a region in northern Iraq controlled by the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party). With the raise in the number of clashes the number of 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 the whole region. While some are suggesting a military-security solution to the problem some other suggestions are new approaches such as holding the problem with its all dimensions. What about the KCK? How does the KCK see the recent developments and discussions?
ANF interview Murat Karayilan, the head of Democratic Confederation of Kurdistan (KCK) Executive Council. Karayilan explained what “Democratic Autonomy Solution” means.
Interviewer: How do you evaluate the developments after 1st June 2010? What are the characteristics of this new era?
Karayilan: Our leadership and the movement have put great efforts for 18 years to develop a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue. Most recently on 13 April 2009 we declared a unilateral ceasefire which was ended on 1st June 2010. However, what we have seen is that the 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 passed the initiative to us. The responsibility of this new phase belongs to us. Nobody can blame our leadership for this.
Interviewer: 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?
Karayilan: 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 the 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. The AKP has rejected all our reasonable proposals. This means I do not want to make peace with you but to 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.
Interviewer: There are some calls from NGO’s and some business unions for a ceasefire and stopping the military operations. How do you see these calls? Is a ceasefire possible in this phase? If yes, depending on what?
Karayilan: First of all I should say that following the call from the NGO’s in Diyarbakir in which they asked for a ceasefire 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 the one hand, the Turkish PM is calling NATO and waiting the US and despite all the tension with Israel, he is still sending delegations to Israel to buy Herons; this is the 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 to the Defence Regions of Medya 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 miscalculate. We are at a warning position. But if they insist on the deadlock, if they insist on the denial and destruction then the Kurdish people have the right to head other options. We have the power to resist. The palavers from the politicians saying that they had liquidated the PKK in 1999; this is their false theory. That time, upon the request from our leadership we withdrew out of the 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.