QENDIL, Defence Regions of Medya, — In an interview with Alternative Newsletter, Rezan Cawid member of PJAK’s coordination shed lights on the Iranian military operations and the ceasefire they declared on 5 September. He evaluates the reason for the declaration of the ceasefire, its dimension and the outcomes. The interview is as follow:
Alternative: We recently witnessed a range of military operation on the Defence Regions of Medya; the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) launched such offensives with all their power. Although you inflicted a heavy suffering on the IRGC and neutralised their offensives, yet you declared ceasefire… why ceasefire and how would you account for that?
Rezan: As you know, the Iranian Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) launched extensive operations on the Defence Regions of Medya in two occasions. In both occasions, the IRGC suffered heavy losses. We also lost 20 comrades; our guerrillas destroyed the Iranian incursions heroically.
As PJAK, from the onset of our emergence, we have endeavoured to solve the Kurdish issue peacefully. In several important phases, we have taken the lead in this respect. Nevertheless the Iranian regime has pursued policies of denial and killings, and within this context; they have increased pressure on the Kurdish people – particularly from 2005 onward. Toward the end of the “reform phase” in Iran and at the beginning of the takeover by the conservatives, they initiated a range of operations on Asos region in Bane city, in which the first martyr of PJAK; Newzad Komar offered his life to the freedom movement of Kurdistan.
With the range of arbitrary arrests of political and civil activists, coercion of the youths and pressure on the political activists, they imposed a military atmosphere on the East of Kurdistan. Then, the policy of hidden denial and white massacre was substituted by military denial and annihilation. Hence the true face of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which represents savage slaughter of people, was laid naked. This was the true face of the Iranian regime.
We have always pressed for democratic and civil activities and tried to prevent violence. But wherever necessary, we have given priority to the strategy of legitimate self-defence. We avail of such a strategy in each field of politics or military. The allegation that PJAK had started the conflict is not true. By such allegation they want to represent our movement upside down. We have rejected violence as well as the method of armed struggle for national liberation. We have left behind such methods; based on our beliefs and ideological criteria, based on our ethical principles and contemporary standards of human rights we have opted for modern methods. Based on these principles we have been working and continue our struggles this way. The Kurdish nation is well able to confront any operation. By adopting guerrilla style activities in line with the legitimate self-preservation, we have the power to counter-act any sort of offensive launched by the Iranian Islamic regime.
Alternative: As you explained, by escalating coercion, oppression and execution, the Iranian regime has sought to weaken the Kurdish Freedom Movement and PJAK in several stages. The very recently, they launched an extensive military operation on the Defence Regions of Medya. What is their rationale for resorting to such method?
Rezan: At the outset, by torturing the political prisoners, execution of prisoners and the military operation, the Islamic Republic of Iran was hoping to liquidate PJAK. But through the outstanding resistance of our comrades and our nation, the movement was further empowered. Greater than before our movement extended its work and the Iranian regime had no way but to acknowledge the Kurdish issue. The Apoist Movement in East Kurdistan offered the Kurdish people the power to neutralise the regime’s denial and killing policies. Nevertheless, the acknowledgment of the Kurdish issue does not denote a solution. This is the initial step only. Iran should have acknowledged the Kurdish issue from the very beginning. Only after the observation of such an outstanding will-power of the Kurds, the regime gave in, though, it has not publicly conceded to such an issue, but it can’t survive this way.
The resistance of PJAK’s guerrillas in the recent war indicated that the will-power of the Kurdish nation must be recognised, and the policies of denial and eliminating rendered ineffective. The Islamic Regime has not been in favour of solution to the internal problem from the very onset of its foundation [in 1979], and it has often labelled our national struggle for a peaceful solution as separatist. The regime labels the opposition of the Iranian nations, as the element of foreign forces. Such a method has neither been able to eliminate the opposition, nor to solve the internal problems of the state apparatus. It has often led to deadlock. Iranian regime has no courage of facing its internal problems and seeks to conceal them instead. It either develops conspiracy or seeks to empower fascism. By playing with the national and religious beliefs of the people, they execute their wrong politics. One of the reasons for the external interference in the Iranian affairs stems from the pursuits of such wrong policies. The issue that some of the Iranian opposition groups have been supported by the outsiders could not be dismissed, but it’s not the case for all the groups. This is a conspiracy that the Islamic Republic wants to extend it among the people.
The Apoist Movement in East Kurdistan has shown that it is an independent movement. This is one of the reasons that concerns Iran in respect to PJAK. The recent incursions were launched with the hope of eliminating such will-power. Once again, it became clear that Iran made the same mistake it has been doing for the last few years. To eliminate the Kurdish issue, Iran entered a joint plot with Turkey, Syria and Iraq and it also sought to take advantage of such cooperation for the future anti-West block. With no doubt such a stratagem would not work, because there is fragile unity among the participants and each of these participants is reliant on the foreign powers. Such a trait is emanating from the retrogressive character of such states.
The Turkish state is the main ally of the US in the region. Syria is indulged in the internal conflicts. Iraqi state has not managed to provide security for its own people and is suffering from high level of insecurity. Iran is also facing internal problems as well as the external threats. Such a regional conspiracy is condemned to die, it has no life. Once again the Iranian regime made the same historic mistake and attacked the Kurdish resistance movement, while we have always sought to solve the problems with dialogue and other democratic means. They opted for war, while we wanted peaceful way, but the Kurds are not frail and responded to their offensives with a decisive resistance.
Alternative: You declared a ceasefire on 5 December. You also announced that there had been mediators among you. Can you flesh out about the mediators, is there a peace pact signed by both sides?
Rezan: At the initial stages of the war some circles and parties mediated to stop the war. Not from weakness position, but due to our belief in democracy and dialogue, we have always welcomed such initiatives. But despite declaring unilateral ceasefires in several occasions, the Iranian regime has constantly stressed on its policies of violence and hostility. They have regarded our unilateral ceasefire as sign of weakness and failed to realise our strengths. This is one of the peculiarities of the despots, who see such initiatives not as a sign of willingness for dialogue, but as of weakness. But everyone should notice that our liberation movement at the zenith of its power is willing for dialogue. This is a principle we always adhere to. In the paradigm of the classical movement or the states, there might not be a place for such pro-democracy initiative; but to achieve this we are always ready. Everyone should know such principle.
In the second round the Iranian regime launched large-scale operation, but such offensives were counter-acted with our comrades led by commander martyr Simko and crushed consequently. Through the violence, the Iranian Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) didn’t manage to conquer a single inch of Defence Regions of Medya. People and the journalists witnessed such facts. No one can distort this. The reality of this war is available visually, and many people witnessed that how the Islamic Regime came to their knees. Nevertheless, we as PJAK can’t claim that we have defeated the Islamic Regime; once we have achieved all rights of Kurdish people in East Kurdistan, we can claim victory.
Islamic Republic failed to liquidate or even weaken the Kurdish Freedom Movement; it also failed to take hold of a single inch of these regions. Prior to the ceasefire, a group had requested Murat Karayilan the president of KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) and the Kurdistan Regional Government to give a chance for dialogue. Consequently they had requested us as well as Iran to declare a ceasefire. We replied to such request and announced the ceasefire on 5 September. Iran also accepted the ceasefire after 24 hours. The ceasefire has been in place up till now. The continuation or the break of the ceasefire depends on Iran. We hope they would admit their mistake in relation to the Kurdish nation. They should take some practical steps to rectify their mistakes they have done to the Kurds, a people who have been the pioneers of the civilisation in Iran and with their unique culture, ideology and philosophy have served and protected Iran.
Up till now, we have not had any official negotiation or any official documents in this relation with Iran. We hope there will be some progress in this respect. The people who I mentioned try to find a peaceful solution in the East Kurdistan. Provided the Kurdish issue is solved in the East Kurdistan, we are ready to undertake any type of commitment and declare our readiness to take any practical step.
Alternative: Can you mention those who had role in the promotion of the ceasefire?
Rezan: His Excellency Mesud Barzani, the president of Kurdistan Regional Government, the Kurdistan Patriotic Union, and the consulate of Kurdistan Regional Government in Tehran as well as the Council of KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) had mediated among us. But there have not been direct negotiation between us and the Iranian regime until now. Only with the mediation of these groups and individuals the ceasefire had been reached.
Alternative: As PJAK what is your demand from Iran? What sort of approach should Iran take to continue the ceasefire? What steps Iran should take to solve the Kurdish issue?
Rezan: The demands of the Kurdish people are clear. We have formulated them periodically. Iran also is well aware of such demands. We have mentioned them in the media in myriad times. We outlined them in our declarations. In the future we will again reinstate them. As the initial step, the ceasefire should continue and develop to negotiation. In the case of negotiation, we as the Kurdish campaigners should act powerfully, and with the projection of our own projects we should be able to meet the needs and requirements of our people. Nonetheless, as long as the direct negotiations don’t initiate and the arms are not put asides from both sides, talking about the demands and requirement is meaningless.
A ceasefire has been declared, but it can’t solve the Kurdish issue alone; we should sit on the negotiation table to work out a solution. After the announcement of the ceasefire, however, we witnessed efforts being made from the Iranian Foreign Minister to blacklist our organisation. Such initiative was a threat to the ceasefire. We are an independent movement and it would not have negative repercussion for us. Such an issue denote the Iranian impotency, resorting to foreign powers to solve its internal issue. Their preference for negotiation with the powers, who consider attacking Iran, and hesitation to negotiate with us to find solution to the internal issues; this is a huge mistake. This is not a wise approach and we hope that Iran would change it.
Alternative: The Iranian regime and other states wanted to blacklist PJAK. Several groups have intentionally or inadvertently have taken some steps in this direction, too. In the midst of these efforts, the military operation against you began. Contrary to such claims you declared the ceasefire. At different stages you have also declared ceasefires. What is the goal of these efforts – that are designed and executed by a particular centre – to designate PJAK as terrorist?
Rezan: Unfortunately the Iranian state and some groups are not willing to face the reality. Such a reality is the power of the Apoist Movement in East Kurdistan. We have respect for all nations, states and parties. The Kurdish people have not been harmful to them, although some of the regional states have inflicted substantive suffering on the Kurdish people, have often contrived conspiracy against them and broke their agreements with them. Apoist Movement has initiated an all-inclusive campaign in East of Kurdistan and has special status. Everyone should be aware of the fact that the Kurdish people in East Kurdistan do trust us. Our movement is invincible. The Kurdish youths in East Kurdistan has initiated a new campaign applying new methods capable of acquiring freedom. Under the influence of Leader Apo’s philosophy, our youths have gained a power that must be recognised.
The Islamic Republic thought they could liquidate the movement by the application of violence and coercion. They thought they could crush our movement like the classical groups. But our movement is not dependent on the regional and the international powers, it’s not a classical or tribal group, it’s not a movement of preliminary nationalism. Our power is emanating from our people and we have taken roots in the heart of our people. We have independent ideology, programme and projects that we have adopted based upon the needs and the requirement of our people aiming at achieving freedom. From ideological, political and economic perspective, we take our people as our bases and with the help of our people we run our affairs. For this reason we have the power and ability to face our problems and develop solutions.
We have our own unique ethical and political criteria. We have the capability of observing and analysing the facts and the needs of our people. Our movement is emerged from our people and is formed from all walks of Kurdistan’s life. Due to its presence among the people, it’s well aware of society’s problems and is offering the mechanism to sort them out. It has an influential and inclusive charter. It highly values the century-long experiences of Kurdish struggle and the preceding political parties, and by evaluating such experience, it will develop the future plans.
We never experience problems such as individualism, power-seeking, egoism and unaccountability, because we have the mechanism of how to tackle them. Criticism and self-criticism is one of the main principles of our party. We have the courage of countering the problems and for this reason we can transcend them, develop solution and substitute them with alternatives. To find a solution to the Kurdish issue we always make progress and strengthen ourselves for the undertaking tasks. Hence each state and group should recognise this reality. We have always been ready to conduct negotiation with any state or party. We don’t see ourselves as an alternative or substitute for the other Kurdish groups. There is a Kurdish issue in Iran, which should be solved.
The Kurdish people like others in the world want to have a free life enjoying all ranges of their human rights. The Kurdish nation wants to have self-determination, its own political will, economic and social self-management, it wants to have its own place in the international equations. Such demands are the basic rights of Kurds and other Iranian nations. Not a single state, government or a group is able to deprive our people from such rights. By blacklisting the Kurdish Freedom Movement and by excluding the political will of the Kurdish nation, the problems would exacerbate. The futile efforts of Turkey and its resorting to the Western power are explicit for all. Turkey is knocking the doors of the Western powers like a beggar in keeping the PKK in their terror list. It’s also granting them huge yielding in exchange for armaments. With the help of NATO members it waged an all-out war against the PKK. But the PKK not defeated and increasingly becomes powerful. Such an issue also hold true for East Kurdistan.
Why after years of war and bloodshed, we should negotiate? We can start solving the issue from now before its getting deeper and hatred among people emerge. Let avoid bloodshed and initiate dialogue, let’s take some practical steps to solve the issue. By offering such initiatives, the Kurdish nation will not weaken, but will empower and continue its struggle stronger than before.
Alternative: What are the conditions for Iran to continue the ceasefire, and avoid another war?
Rezan: The criteria for legitimate self-preservation are explicit for all. If the Iranian regime doesn’t attack our people, don’t attack our guerrilla forces, put a stop on the execution of political prisoners, stop arbitrary arrest of civil and political activists, don’t follow the policies of coercion and suppression and put a halt on its policy of denial and killing of the Kurds, we won’t be in favour armed struggle, either. We don’t either accept this method for promoting our causes. Only in the case of the aforementioned instances, our people and our guerrillas have the right to defend themselves.
Alternative: If you have message at the end, would you like to convey it?
Rezan: Our message to the Kurdish nation is to advance their campaign in all fields. Until the moment freedom is achieved, the Kurdish nation should not give up struggle, even for a moment. To achieve freedom we should all be ready for any kind commitment and dedication. We are now witnessing the successive downfall of the Middle Eastern dictatorship regimes. A crisis has overwhelmed the region and if the Kurdish nation lacks an organisational power, vigorous struggle, and powerful will-power, it would be condemned to death. If we want to take an appropriate position in the world’ new designed order, we should organise ourselves well.
For the engagement of the others, each Kurds should see themselves responsible. The Kurdish youths should join the guerrilla ranks. Women should well play their pioneering role in the region. We are passing historic and very sensitive phase and we have to treat it very sensitively. The only way for the freedom of the Kurds is the fulfilment of these tasks.
The Kurdish nation should build up their struggle firmer than before. We as the Liberation Movement of East Kurdistan express our readiness for a successful performance in this stage. The Kurdish nation should trust the struggle of their youths and support them in their mission, and be well aware that until the achievement of freedom, their youths will not discontinue. We should trust our forces, our nation and guerrilla should trust one another respectively and by doing so we will reach freedom. Our ultimate goal is freedom and promotion of democracy in the entire Middle East.
