Zagros Renas
We are KURDS. We have lived in a mountainous, roughly 192,000-square-KM, region known as Kurdistan for the past two millennia. Throughout our history we have remained under the thumb of various conquerors and nations. Since the early 20th century, our region has been divided between Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria all of which have repressed, often brutally. We number 35-40 million people, the largest Nation in the world without our own state.
The Arabs conquered us in the 7th century then our land occupied by the Seljuk Turks, the Mongols, the Safavi dynasty, and, beginning in the late 13th century, the Ottomans.
1920
At the conclusion of World War I, the Ottomans collapse. The Treaty of Sevres proposes a division of the Ottoman Empire and its territory that includes an autonomous homeland for the Kurds. The treaty, however, is ultimately rejected.
1923
Turkey is recognized as an independent nation, and the Treaty of Lausanne is signed, replacing the Treaty of Sevres. Under its terms, Turkey is no longer obligated to grant Kurdish autonomy. The treaty divides the Kurdish region among Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria.
1925
A Kurdish uprising against the new Turkish Republic is suppressed.
1946
Kurds in Iran set up the short-lived Kurdistan Republic. It is swiftly crushed by Iran.
1961
The Kurds of northern Iraq, led by Mustafa Barzani, leader of the Kurdish Democratic Party, revolt against the government of Abdul karim qasem. Iraq puts down the Kurdish revolt, and fighting between the Iraqi government and the Kurds continues for decades.
1970
A peace agreement is signed between the Iraqi government and the Kurds of northern Iraq, granting them some self-rule.
1974
The KDP attacks Iraqi troops after the government refuses to give them control of the oil-rich province of Kirkuk, which was traditionally Kurdish territory. The government suppresses the crushes the revolt.
1975
Jalal Talabani, leader of the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP), leaves to found the
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). The two groups begin decades of conflict.
1978
In Turkey, Our National leader Abdullah Ojalan (APO) with helps of some of his university friends creates the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, to seek Kurdish independence.
1979
Iran’s Islamic revolution sparks a Kurdish revolt in Iran that is then quickly suppressed by Iran.
1984
On August 15, under Our National Leader direction, the PKK turns to armed defence struggle. Thousands of Kurds in southeast Turkey (North of Kurdistan) join the cause.
1988
Iraq retaliates against the Kurds for supporting their national movement and through the “al-Anfal” (“spoils of war”) campaign and chemical bombing of Halabja city slaughters thousands (estimated of 200000) of civilians and uproots 1.5 million from their homes. Thousands flee to other parts of Kurdistan.
1991
After the Persian Gulf War Kurds in South Kurdistan rise up against Saddam Hussein encouraged by the United States. Iraq quashes the rebellions, killing thousands. The U.N. coalition forces and USA do not come to the aid of the Kurds, but eventually establish a no-fly zone in the north of Iraq for their protection. Kurds now control a 15,000-square-mile autonomous region in Northern Iraq populated by 4 million Kurds.
1992
A large-scale Turkish military operation attacks PKK bases in South of Kurdistan.
1993
In Turkey, Kurdish political parties continue to be banned. Martial law is imposed to quell uprisings. Tens of thousands of security forces are sent to south-eastern Turkey (North of Kurdistan) as the struggle intensifies.
1994
The two main political groups of the Kurds in south of Kurdistan, Democratic Party (KDP), led by Masoud Barzani and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), headed by Jalal Talabani, begin fighting each other for control of the Kurdish autonomous region.
1995
In a military operation similar to the one in 1992, about 35,000 Turkish troops invade PKK bases in south Kurdistan but they were defeated.
1998
The PUK’s Talabani and the KDP’s Barzani sign a peace agreement because they pressured by USA ending the four-year war between rival Iraqi Kurd factions.
1999
The National Leader of Kurdistan APO is abducted by Israel, Turkey and USA and sentenced to death. Mr Ocalan urges Kurdish People and Defence Force (Guerrilla Movement) to pursue political rather than violent means and he announced “self declared peace initiative”
2000
The Turkish government under pressure of Kurdish National Movement announces that Kurdish Leader (APO) sentence would be suspended until the case is reviewed by a European court.
2003
The Kurds join U.S. and British forces in defeating Saddam Regime.
Four Kurds are appointed by the U.S. to the Iraqi Governing Council, including Barzani and Talabani.
2004
In March 2004, Kurds in Western Kurdistan (Syria) rioted and clashed with police for several days after a brawl at a soccer game. It was Syria’s worst unrest in decades.
In Eastern Kurdistan on the birth day (April 04) of Kurdish National Leader (APO) a new Party created by Kurdish National Movement as a Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK)
Preparation of Part One
Zagros Renas