In a video message broadcast during the Newroz celebrations in the German city of Bonn on Saturday, Kurdish Communities Union (KCK) Executive Council President Murat Karayılan said that the KCK, PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) and HPG (People’s Defense Forces) have called a ceasefire as of 23 March in response to the peace declaration Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan made at the historic Newroz meeting on 21 March in Amed.
“The decision of leader Apo is our decision. We accept and agree with his decision”, said Karayılan saying Öcalan’s call and 2013’s Newroz were a new day and a new beginning on the way to the liberation and democratization of peoples in Kurdistan, Turkey and the Middle East.
Karayılan pointed out that Kurdish guerrillas would not carry out any military actions and will plan their military activities within the Turkish borders within the framework of the ceasefire. However – he underlined – “our guerrilla forces will defend themselves and will mantain the right to reprisal, which is a legitimate right, in the event of being attacked”.
Referring to the question of PKK’s withdrawing its forces outside Turkish borders, Karayılan said that they would counsider withdrawing if the Turkish state, government and parliament provided a basis for it by fulfilling their responsibilities and making the necessary decisions on the issue, beginning with the establishment of the required commissions and bodies.
“We, the PKK, are ready for this historic period, and we are ready for war or for peace. Our movement is ready to make further moves in line with the development it recorded in the armed fight 2012. However, we prefer the democratic solution which has been defined by leader Apo who, once again, showed the determination to fulfill our responsibilities and to take necessary steps to ensure the brotherhood of peoples and a democratic solution. It should be known that we see this process as a strategical but not a tactical move. This is not an end but the beginning of the struggle for democracy and freedom”, said Karayılan.
KCK Executive Council President called on the Kurdish people in Europe to initiate a political and diplomatic action in Europe and to enhance the Freedom for Öcalan campaign. It is time for the liberation of leader Apo, he underlined.
Karayılan noted that Kurds in Europe should also work in political, diplomatic and legal areas to make sure that light is shed on the execution of Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez in Pairs on 9 January 2013.
Karayılan added that ; “The Kurdish revolution has entered a significant phase today. Despite the fact that we have dangers ahead of us, we need to enhance our struggle and ensure a national unity stronger than ever in order to act in line with the perspective of leader Apo”.
Firat News Agency
(en.firatajans.com)