INTERVIEW ─ Al Riyadh Newspaper with KODAR’s Cawîd (Part 1)

Rêzan Cawîd, co-chair of the Free and Democratic Society of Eastern Kurdistan (KODAR) told at an interview for the Arabic newspaper Al Riyadh, that KODAR will remain the pioneer of the people of Rojhelat (Eastern Kurdistan) and Iran and will not cease its efforts for freedom and democracy. KODAR will be continuing its struggle in Rojhelat and Iran strongly, he added.

The interview / Part 1

Q: What are the Kurdish position and your colonized homeland in Iran?

As you know, the Kurdish people in whole of the Middle East following the conclusion of treaties of Zuhab (Qasr-e Shirin) 1639 and Lausanne 1923, were divided into two parts and then to four parts under the colony of Iran, Turkey, Iraq and Syria. The eastern homeland part was colonized and dominated by the Iranian regime. Over the past century, both the Pahlavi monarchy and the Islamic Republic, in line with the policies of assimilation through their own ideology and politics, performed severe attacks against the national and religious identities different from official, dominant ideology. Kurdish nation was like other nations and identities in Iran such as Azari, Arab, Baluch, Gilak, Mazani also religious identities such as Sunni, Christian, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Yarsan and Baha’i under heavy attack. Without doubt, Iran’s attacks against the Kurdish people and other nations were not only in the context of a political or military attack, but the attacks have been carried out on massive political, military, cultural, legal, economic, educational and social scales

With the rise of the Islamic Republic of Iran and its direction of strengthening ideological and political hegemony in the Middle East, within the context of ‘Safavid Shia Crescent’ project, this regime had a main role in deepening of the current crisis in the Middle East. In parallel with the extremes of the Iranian regime on gross regional level, their assault against the Iranian people was intensified inside Iran too.
During the period of Islamic regime despotism, they have started a full-scale war against Kurds with intensifying political and military escalation and created a background of fear in the society. Moreover, with economic blockade, poverty and using educational facilities to colonized thought, cultural assimilation with imposition of the dominant culture, as well as the incidence of ethical misalignment and extending development, ignorance and uncontrollable outbreaks of drugs. Next to this, they have continued with the destruction and plundering of natural resources of Kurdistan. The Iranian regimes approach is characterized by cracking down of those protesting against their politics in Kurdistan, which has brought about extensive carnage both in battleground and prisons. Any protest and defiance isw repressed under the name of enmity with God or separatism or spying for foreigners.

Q: Have you encountered the currently assimilation moved in Ahwaz? What are the types of assimilation in Kurdistan?

As I mentioned in the answer to the previous question, all identifications in Iran somehow are facing in a similar manner with a massive wave of social, cultural, political and ideological assimilation. Basically, with an overview of the structure of the state- provincial system which was formed during Reza Shah Pahlavi, it can be seen well that the structure is built entirely based on destroying identities.

For example, while the vast majority of Kurds live outside the Kurdistan province but in the name of Kurds and Kurdistan there is only one state to be named as symbolic manner. This type of policy can be seen against other nations of Arabs, Azaris, Baluchis and others too. We see this state-provincial system that has yet to be given the same ruling, not only has no connection with the reality of the Iranian people and identities but only known the people in Iran just in the symbolic form. The basic objective of this system is converting Iran into a museum of identities and nations different from the dominating nation – other religions have no real existence.

Q: When did your campaigns start and now at what level of political empowerment, media and military are you?

Since 1999, we have started our new campaign. As you know, in the 19th century in Iran there was opposing struggles scouted by students. The Iranian brutal onslaught against the students did almost disrupt the campaign. To continue this campaign widespread protests and demonstrations in Eastern Kurdistan against the intergovernmental conspiracy of 15th February 1999, that is the abduction of Abdullah Öcalan from Nairobi airport was the turning point of history. With scout of opposed students, hundreds of young people in the mountains of Kurdistan began a new campaign.

From that time, we began with the name of the Democratic Alliance Movement, and then in 2004 by establishing Free Life Party of Kurdistan it began with the name of PJAK. In comparison with the struggles in Kurdistan in the past, this was a very fast and impressive in all Eastern Kurdistan geographies. It widely started from the Mako city on the borders between Iran and Armenia toward the southernmost part of Kirmashan, Ilam, Lorestan and also Kurdish residence of Khorasan. So it aimed strictly to start a new phase of struggle. Wide level of Kurdish organization in this part of Kurdistan and the necessity of a system dedicated to this people, led us to establish a democratic system. Kurdish people can create their own management and rule and all community members will participate in their making their own destiny.

On this basis, we established and announced ‘Democratic and Free Society of Eastern Kurdistan’ in 5th May 2014 (KODAR). During more than 15 years of our straggle, relying on our sacrifices and martyrs, we could raise their competence level in political, organization, social, military and diplomatic sectors to play a vanguard role in the Eastern Kurdistan campaign. Also we were able to improve our defense capabilities to crush the military strikes by the Iran’s regime.

One of the things that was implemented for the first time in the history of the Eastern Kurdistan struggle was to establish the guerrilla forces in most areas of the mountainous geography on East. Despite attacks by the regime agents, our guerrillas not only were able to maintain their presence in the region but gradually they have become the most powerful guerrilla force in Iran.

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