TO THE PUBLIC AND THE MEDIA
Tayyip Erdogan and his party’s mask has fallen as the historical and social crimes under the name of ‘opening’ committed by the Turkish state and AKP government have been exposed. In the past last week, they have met in sequence in order to be able to break the resistance of our people, leave them with no will power and to have them surrender. In these meetings they have decided on the continuation of an all out war. When AKP’s and Tayyip Erdoğan’s plans could not be realized and their masks fell they turned into the Tansu Çiller of the 1990’s. The recent security summits and National Security Council meetings have confirmed this clearly.
The fact that two villages in Hasankeyf have just been burnt down, reminded us of the Tansu Çiller’s period, murder of civillian people, victimization of poor peasents and the start to murder village guards who refuse to participate in military operations leave no doubt that the AKP government has began an all out war against our people’s freedom struggle.
Our one-sided quest for a resolution of the Kurdish question for the past 18 years, including efforts for dialogue and political means, have not been met. Instead, the Turkish state and AKP have insisted on policies of elimination and have continued with their policy of denial and annihilation. Despite all our efforts of good will, we had declared on 1 June 2010, that the unilateral ceasefire declared by the Kurdish freedom movement had become meaningless. From that date onwards, we entered the period of legitimate active defence in a controlled manner. The legitimate defence period is a manner of controlled defence based on the legitimate defence line. All the public should know that the struggle waged by us against the ruthless attacks of the Turkish state is nothing but a controlled resistance and the struggle to defend its freedom. In the case that the AKP government opts to implement its all out war decision the path before an uncontrolled warfare shall be paved. This is not our preference, but AKP’s push for such a period shall leave Turkey to face a great disaster. This is why AKP government should abandon implementations that include burning of villages as well as attacks that result in the death of civillian people and all the other implementations of an all out warfare.
The village guards, who take their place within the village guard system are the social and national wound that bleed in Kurdistan. They should immediately abandon such a position and should not take their place in this all out war planned by the Turkish state. Our movement does not target the village guards. The movement shall continue to abide with this stance of its. The AKP government and the Turkish state are totally responsible for the loss of lives of the villages guards in various places. All the village guards should be aware and know that the Turkish army is responsible for the present attacks on them. This is because the Turkish state has the aim of turning this warfare into a war between Kurds. Hence, the village guards are killed in various manners and the blame is put on our movement so that the conflict between Kurds is fueled. All patriotic Kurdish circles and village guards should be aware and not be deceived.
In the aftermath of exposing AKP government’s policies and the consequent development of tensions, once again, the Kurdish question and its resolution have come to be widely discussed. Tayyip Erdoğan sees the reasonable and realistic proposals for a resolution made by TÜSİAD and similar cirlces as well as some honest democratic intellectual circles to be nothing but ‘nonsense’. But, on the other hand he appraises those who call on our movement to call a unilateral ceasefire or lay down weapons. Hence, once again they have a policy to eliminate our movement and to both tear and silence our society apart.
At present, it is not realistic to expect our movement to call a unilateral ceasefire. A ceasefire can not just be declared as it is. There needs to be an environment of mutual trust created as well as concrete confidence raising steps. Therefore, when there is such a comprehensive attacks against our people and our movement as well as a decision for an all out war, the timing of such a call is neither appropriate nor realistic. There are no other decisions, but the decision for an all out war taken at the meetings realized by the state and the last meeting of the National Security Council meeting. It is quite sad that an all out war decision and the burning of villages as well as the military operations have not been questioned, but instead the actions of the guerrillas are shown to be the obstacle before a resolution. But, it is not these defensive actions that are an obstacle before a solution. It is the policies of the AKP government that have developed the state of stalemate to be its policy as well as the elimination of the freedom movement and not abandoning efforts to break the will power of our people. It is clear that the main reason for the present clashes is the AKP government and Turkish state that have arrested 1600 Kurdish politicians who have not had any illegal acitivies in order to leave our people with no will power on the basis of a political genocide.
It is now clear that for the past 18 years the unilateral ceasefires declared by our Leader and our movement have not produced the desired resolution. Therefore, it is clear that the question can not be resolved on the basis of unilateral ceasefires. It must be properly evaluated why we have had to resort to the usage of our legitimate defence right especially in the face of political and military operations that wishes to eliminate our movement and deepen the stalemate. It is not us that does not fulfill the requirements of the ceasefire, but the state and government. Therefore, it is the Turkish state and AKP government that should be convinced and called on. It shall only encourage the Turkish state and AKP government in their attacks if the position and acts of the Turkish state and AKP government are not evaluated and we are asked to lay down our weapons unilaterally and unconditionally. Such an approach shall not bring about a resolution but shall deepen the stalemate.
We call on all the circles who are pro-peace and pro-resolution to investigate why the last unilateral ceasefire that began on 13 April 2010 collapsed. If the implementations of the Turkish state, AKP government and us the Kurdish side is investigated and reported then one would be able to pin point who exactly that is against a resolution. We call on all the NGOs in Kurdistan and Turkey, especially those in Amed, to initiate such a research. Such an undertaking shall expose the truth and shall clarify how a permanent democratic resolution can be achieved. Tayyip Erdoğan is well aware of such a reality as he is trying very hard to guide such platforms, including the ones in Amed, to artificial agendas far from any solutions.
The problem is not for the PKK to declare yet, another unilateral ceasefire. This has been done so many times in the past. What is really important is that the other side too honors the requirements of a ceasefire and to take parallel steps. It is well known that neither our Leader, movement, nor people have found an addressee for steps taken and calls made to achieve a peaceful resolution. Despite this reality to yet again call for a unilateral ceasefire is nothing but to advice us to surrender to a merciless dominant power. It is hoped that pro-human rights and peace-loving circles shall not act in such a manner.
We would like all those concerned to know that both the guerrilla and soldier losses are due to the domineering and colonialist Turkish State’s desire to keep Kurdish people at a slave status as well its insistance on warfare
There is a need for seriousness in order to resolve the Kurdish question. This question is a continuation of how the Kurdish people were killed all throughout the history of the Republic and where her identity, culture and language have still not been guaranteed by the constitution and where the graves of those executed can still not be found.
Our people should own up to its rightful claim of freedom much more in unity and in an organized manner. Hence the national democratic resistance should be elevated in such a way that the necessary response is given to all the domineering approaches.
All the patriotic democratic institutions and establishments as well as NGOs from Kurdistan should be in solidarity with the freedom claim of our people and should be careful not to adopt a stance that shall damage it and should not encourage the colonialist and domineering powers. No matter what their axis of thought is we call on patriotic political organizations and NGOs to be highly sensitive when it comes to this and to reinforce our unity and solidarity and adopt a political stance to force the Turkish state and AKP government to a resolution.
Presidency of the KCK Executive Council
27 June 2010
(Translated by KCK-Info)
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The resolution should be a matter of discussion, not the prevention of operations. KCK Executive Committee Deputy Chair Cemal Bayik spoke to Firat News Agency with regards to the policies that are preventing a resolution. He stated that although the issue has been discussed after the Semzinan operation, the discussion was carried out in the same mentality.
Bayik, asking all to seek a genuine answer to the question why the resistance is continuing without self deception, said that “everybody should know that the resistance of the Kurdish people will continue until the question is resolved. Nobody should underestimate the PKK’s experience of resistance”.
Bayik also emphasised that it will be difficult to formulate accurate policies as long as the issue is judged to be one of terrorism.
Bayik, explaining that annihilating a just struggle through efforts based on psychological war is an unscientific view, continued to say that “It should firstly be emphasised that it is impossible to prevent the operational capacity of the guerrilla. As long as Kurdish people demand freedom, the political and operational power of our movement will continue to exist. It is impossible to create a context in which the guerrilla cannot continue with its operations. Most probably, the capacity of intelligence and technology is not beyond that of the USA. It is known that the USA resorts to political and other methods instead of the military means when it encounters problems. The just cause of the Kurdish Liberation Struggle cannot be suppressed through psychological war”.
Nobody should underestimate PKK’s experience of resistance
Bayik explained that, according to recent discussions, Turkey is not drawing the lessons from the past. He said that “Everybody should know that the Kurdish people will continue to struggle as long as the question is not resolved. Nobody should underestimate the PKK’s political experience, and the multi-dimensional experience of resistance. It is a movement that knows how to continue to exist and struggle under great difficulties and discomfort. Nobody should delude themselves when trying to answer why the PKK cannot be destroyed and why resistance is continuing. It is impossible to bring an end to resistance as long as Kurdish question is not resolved. The reason for the Turkish state to deal with Leader Apo and the PKK is to incapacitate this will.
Cemil Bayik also replied to the defamation that the PKK is a subcontracting organisation. He characterised the statements of Erdogan, Turkish Prime Minister, as “amoral”. He continued to say that “the prime minister is deceiving the people of Turkey, instead of accepting that he carried out a failed annihilation policy. The real subcontractor is Turkey that frequents the USA and Israel. This approach is the expression of failure in resolution”.
Bayik gave various examples as to the subcontractor position of Turkey: Is it not this state and government, which are marketing them by mentioning their strategic importance everyday? Is it also not them who frequent the USA and Israel lobbies everyday instead of solving the Kurdish question with their own citizens? Is it also not them who fight against Kurdish Liberation Movement with technology borrowed from USA and Israel? Accusing the PKK of subcontracting in order to cover these realities is grossly amoral. The society is being deceived. There is no other power that fights as independently as the PKK. Everybody knows that its independent will is based on its society. One of those who know this best is MIT (National Intelligence Organisation).
Cemil Bayik also drew attention to the fact that the Turkish state is also sending messages to external powers through such statements. “The Turkish state wants everybody to support it and adopt its policies. It wants everybody to fight against Kurdish Liberation Movement for Turkey. It wants others to do what it has failed in. In fact, it is getting support. However, its war and policies are so unjust and ugly that other powers cannot openly be a party to this policy and war”.
Bayik also replied Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s statements. “On the other hand, Abdullah Gul says that our resistance against the system of denial and annihilation is a danger to the international and regional situation due to which they are conducting these operations in a hurry. Now we understand better what Gul meant when he said that good things will happen. He meant that the international and regional conditions are suitable for our annihilation as a result of which he said that good things will happen. It has also become clear that the policy named the democratic initiative was a disguise for the annihilation policy. When we said that there is an annihilation policy, the circles close to the AKP insisted that there is no such thing in order to distract the Kurdish Liberation Movement. This is what the president has now openly accepted”.
May God protect everybody against the democratic initiative of the AKP
Cemil Bayik characterised AKP’s discourse on democratic initiative as a method of psychological warfare. He explained that insisting that there is a democratic initiative while following a policy of political massacre means to insult the reason of the society. He also explained that the intensification of conflicts is due to lack of a genuine initiative.
“Turkey has again been drawn into a violent conflict as the AKP has not conducted a democratic initiative and deceived society. This situation has occurred because of the lack of a democratic initiative. The AKP has degenerated and exhausted the democratic initiative. Had there been a real initiative neither the MHP nor any other power could talk against it. The AKP carried out a psychological war under the cover of the initiative, turning it into a tactic to win the election. As a result, it has betrayed the people of Turkey by causing the conflicts. This reality, in relation to the AKP, has to be well understood in order to prevent any further deceptions of the society”.
Explaining that no democratic initiative can be worth anything from a government that did not accept education in the mother tongue, has taken politicians as hostages and imprisoned them, and arrested the peace delegates who were sent on the request of Mr Ocalan 9 months later, drew attention to following issues: “It is a sheer hypocrisy that the president still talks about democratic initiative. Even many of the people who supported him accepted that the initiative turned out to be hollow. What have you done in the last one and a half years to talk about a democratic initiative? This is the stage to which the prime minister drew Turkey while talking about democratic initiative. May God protect everybody against such initiatives of the AKP”.
Kurdish İnfo
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The Kurdish question, which has not yet been resolved as the most fundamental historical-social issues in the Middle East, plays a role that can cause important developments to determine the fate of the whole region. The resolution to Kurdish question will be an historical turning point in terms of the fraternity of peoples as well as the development of freedom and democracy. On the other hand, lack of a just resolution to the question will cause reaction, pressure and violence to be institutionalised in the region as well as strengthening of the status quo.
Our Movement, which leads our people to freedom and the democratisation process in the Middle East, has moved this question to the stage of resolution as a result of 37 years of struggle led by Leader Apo. However, the resolution has not taken place due to the policies based on massacre, denial and annihilation used against our people by Turkish state based on Lausanne Agreement, but has currently deteriorated.
Our people went through a process of resurrection led by PKK between 1984-93 through resistance based on armed struggle against the inhuman practices in Kurdistan and against the annihilation of Kurdish people. Leader APO has started a new process in March 1993 by deciding upon a unilateral ceasefire necessitated by his sense of responsibility for the mutual future and freedom of peoples, and in order to initiate the peaceful-democratic process against the policies of violence, war and lack of resolution.
The purpose of Kurdistan Liberation Movement has been to resolve the question through dialogue with the relevant authorities. In the last 18 years since the first ceasefire, our movement has declared six (6) unilateral ceasefires for the development of peaceful and democratic resolution. Upon leader APO’s call, which aimed at the creation of adequate terrain for a permanent resolution, armed struggle has been brought to an end in 1999 and guerrilla forces have been withdrawn beyond the borders of Turkey. This decision has not been changed during the withdrawal process despite the fact that three hundred (300) people have fallen martyrs as a result of the opportunist and malevolent policies of Turkish state.
During the 18 years of search for peaceful resolution, our Leader and Movement have made innumerable declarations and proposed resolution projects. The Kurdish Leader has sent letters to Turkish Republic with this purpose at different stages. Our leader has developed completely rational proposals, which have been communicated to the Turkish state for resolution and shared with the public opinion within the existing frameworks while also taking into consideration the sensitivity of Turkish people.
Nevertheless, all the steps taken by our Leader and Movement on the purpose of a peaceful and democratic resolution have been evaluated by Turkish state as a weakness and tried to be used as a basis for annihilation. For this reason, the process of dialogue and resolution have not developed, as a result of which comprehensive concepts of annihilation have been developed. In the face of all this, a resistance process has been developed on June 1st 2004 in accordance with the UN agreements for the purpose of self-defence, and defending our identity and values. This process has been carried out as a controlled active defence within the framework of completely legitimate right to self-defence.
During this period, Kurdish people and our Movement that came together around our leader against internal treason and annihilation have attained many accomplishments through defence practices and movement of uprisings. The meaningful attitude developed by Leader Apo at Imrali despite assaults that involved poisoning, physical torture and being thrown into a death pit, the social resistance carried out by our people through great sacrifices as well as the successful military performance demonstrated by the guerrilla on the basis of the strategy of legitimate defence managed to pre-empt the international plot and once more proved the invincibility of our liberation movement. The level of success attained by our peoples’ defence powers in February 2008 during the ZAP resistance, has become a striking example of the fact that the violence policies of Turkish state cannot succeed. Moreover, our people have attained a political triumph during the 29 March 2009 local elections that progressed as a referendum, despite all the efforts of AKP government and Turkish state.
Our movement, taking all these developments into consideration, has reached the conclusion that it is time to resolve the Kurdish question through peaceful and political methods instead of violence and military methods. This is the basis on which it has been decided to declare unilateral inactivity on 13 April 2009. Leader Apo has prepared and offered a 160 page long road map to the state in order to transform the process into a permanent peace. However, the resolution project prepared by our Leader has been confiscated and not been explained to the public opinion. Despite this, our sincerity has once more been proven through the peace groups, who have been sent from Maxmur and Kandil for the development of peace and context of trust.
Turkish state and AKP government, whose real intention has emerged as a result of all these concrete steps taken by our movement, have strengthened their annihilation policies through different tactics instead of the resolution. In order to pre-empt our move that has been taken in the name of peace, AKP government has introduced a new “democratic process”, which served as a guise of their annihilation policy, by creating a change in the their classical state policy. It has been well understood that the essence of this plan was to restore the denial-annihilation policy in accordance with the new conditions and pre-empt the resolution process that we have developed and continue to annihilate.
Moreover, military operations have not ceased during this year long process during which more than a hundred of our guerrillas have been martyred while the soldiers had casualties as well. AKP government, failing in digesting the newly appeared social will of our people, has initiated a series of new operations akin to massacres on 14 April 2009 against the legal and legitimate leaders of Kurdish people. More than 1500 politicians, human rights advocates, writers, artisans and leaders of civil society organisations have been arrested. Also as part of a practice that does not exist anywhere else around the world, around four thousand (4000) children have been taken to court, four hundred (400) of which are being kept in dungeons as an implementation aimed at breaking the personalities of Kurdish children. In fact, AKP government managed to render permanent the covert system of martial law in Kurdistan through the anti-terror law it has enacted, and subjected every individual from Kurdistan, who defended their identity, to legal proceedings. As well as the bans received by the institutions of Kurdish press, journalists have received inconceivably heavy terms of prosecutions. While extrajudicial killings have started to re-emerge, the massacre of Kurdish children and youth are also continuing.
Turkish state wants to annihilate the essence of Kurdish people, and destroy their honour in order to break their resistance. On this purpose, as well as condemning our people to hunger, special war methods are becoming much more prevalent such as assault and rape, prostitution, and drugs that specifically target Kurdish women. All these clearly prove what sort of insidious war the AKP government is waging.
On the other hand, AKP government has placed the isolation and terrorisation of our movement at the international level as the centre of its foreign policy. It is doing everything within its power to break the will of Kurdish people by marketing the geo-strategic position of Turkey that is a part of the regional equation while, on the one hand, forming a mutual concept with the Co-ordination of “Triad” that involves USA and Iraq, and, on the other, endeavouring to form a triple anti-Kurdish alliance with Iran and Syria.
The most recent incident that revealed the mentality of AKP in terms of Kurdish question is the package of constitutional change. The fact that none of the articles of 12th September constitution, which deem the denial and annihilation of Kurdish people proper, have been changed, demonstrated the real face of the government in terms of Kurdish politics. Turkish state and AKP government, which thereby formed their home and foreign concepts, have expanded their operations in Northern Kurdistan by spring, and are placing a great importance on developing relationships with the powers in the South, which had previously been regarded as a red line, on the purpose of enabling themselves to carry out operations in Southern Kurdistan as well. As well as carrying out political and diplomatic activities, it is also in the process of preparation for a comprehensive war that also targets Southern Kurdistan. While the Media Defence Areas are being bombarded almost every day, most recently, an air assault has occurred in Xakurke and Xinere on May 20th that lasted 7 hours. 4 of our guerrillas have fallen martyrs during this assault, while 5 guerrillas have been wounded.
AKP government and Turkish state have continued with their policy of political, social and cultural annihilation, while our movement continuously struggled for peace and democratic resolution and while our democratic circles staged demonstrations in the streets every day for the purpose of peace. Despite this, our movement has remained loyal to its ceasefire declared on 13 April 2009. Our movement has maintained its ceasefire position until a week ago apart from the occasional activities carried out by local powers on their own initiative and the uncontrolled skirmishes.
During this period, AKP government has not taken any convincing and serious steps in terms of resolution. It has demonstrated tactical approaches and a hypocritical policy that involves influencing the Kurdish people to disintegrate their unity and weakening our movement. It has been understood upon the attitudes and signals given through different channels that instead of engaging in a dialogue with various institutions, they insist on diversionary tactics.
On the other hand, our leader has frequently warned against such deceptive and diversionary tactics, and invited the state authorities to negotiate. However, AKP government has insulted by refusing to address anybody, making even the most strategic phenomenon casual and simple, and evaluating everything in accordance with the interests of its own power and position. AKP government, which is apparently capable of doing everything for the sake of power, is chiefly responsible for the bloodshed and darkening the democratic future of the peoples of Turkey. With this attitude, it has sabotaged and destroyed the terrain of peace and dialogue, which rendered meaninglessness and pre-empted the process of our unilateral inaction. It is not our movement, but the AKP government that is responsible for ending the 13 months of ceasefire.
Almost screaming, leader Apo has once more repeated his call for democratic and honourable resolution, and, as he received no response, declared to our people and public opinion that he ended his endeavours to negotiate as of May 31st. We would also like to emphasise that everybody should know that AKP government, which does not give up violence, is responsible for the war that will cause huge massacres, pain and tragedies.
As the movement, we understand and respect leader Apo’s decision to withdraw. We believe that our people and friends will also attribute a great meaning to his decision. The management of our movement will certainly be directly responsible for the next process of the struggle. In this sense, upon comprehensive evaluation, our movement have taken a decision and made a plan to protect our people and ensure their freedom together with our Leader. At this new stage, the struggle and resistance to protect our national existence in accordance with legitimate defence and construct our lives in liberty will take place with great determination.
Efficiently using our right to self-defence to protect our existence as a movement and people in the face of developing assaults is now an inviolable duty and historical responsibility. All patriotic institutions are face to face with the duty of defending their existence and raising the struggle to construct a life in freedom by taking their positions in defence and resistance.
The future of the people of Kurdistan is subject to great danger and threat. This danger is in question for all parts of Kurdistan as well as Northern Kurdistan. In this sense, the factors that will determine the existence and free future of our people are national unity, perspective of true resolution, and organised resistance based on the essence of its power. This period, that we characterise as the fourth, as well as being a strategic one, is also a process in which our people will establish their own democratic system and declare their democratic autonomy. Our struggle, which envisages a resolution on the basis of gender equality as well as a system of ecological, Democratic Confederation, will proceed in a tactical spirit in all areas and develop a resolution in accordance with democratic autonomy. Provided that the dominant system recognises the free will of our people, we will always be open to dialogue for resolution upon the formula of “state + democracy”. However, no diversionary tactics or a different annihilation tactics will be provided with an opening.
Despite the fact that the process of resistance, which started with June 1st 2004 move of which the 6th anniversary is approaching, and which developed through the heroic legends of our martyrs, resulted in important political developments, it has not been sufficient in terms of realising a deep-rooted democratic resolution. For this reason, the struggle of this new period should be able to capture a level of performance that reveals the will to formulate a resolution, instead of a repetition of the past. The system of defence that will be developed in all the areas of struggle; ideological, political, social, cultural and military areas must be absolutely realise a resolution by raising the intensity of struggle.
The regional status-quo of which the longevity is subject to endeavours for extension does not only threaten Turkey and Kurdistan, but also cause the Middle East to be open to many dangers. Most recently, the massacre that took place in the ship, which carried aid, as a result of the Israeli assault, indicates what kind of dangers can be caused by violence based policies. In order to make its influence in the region more effective, AKP government acts in alliance with Israel while also making an effort to resolve the Palestinian issue, which is a double standard and hypocritical policy. Apparently, this is also an act that will achieve nothing but intensify the problems.
We call upon all the international powers that prefer peace and stability in the region to stop providing support to violent policies, which also disregard the Kurdish issue for the sake of their own political and economic interests and instead support the democratic and peaceful policies that based on dialogue to formulate resolutions to all the problems that relate to all the peoples in the region including the issues in Kurdistan and Palestine.
The workers intellectuals, democrats and revolutionaries in Turkey should raise their voices against the policies based on annihilation and denial, which are aiming at weakening and gradually annihilating the opportunity of our peoples to co-exist. For this reason, we call upon everybody to own their responsibilities for a struggle which is more important than ever.
The liberation issue of Kurdish people is the liberation and democracy issue of the region. The system that is imposed on our people is based on annihilation – denial and slavery. As a people, it is impossible for us to accept this. The alliances formed against the purpose of liberation of our people have reached a dangerous level. As a result, our people, livings in all parts of Kurdistan and abroad as well as the political powers have to come together on the basis of national unity in order to target the elimination of this dangerous situation. Under the current circumstances, although there is a danger of annihilation in question, the conditions that exist for its elimination and liberation are also strong. The struggle for liberation that depends on the attainments in all four parts is strong enough and has the opportunity to realise the dream of hundreds of years through the accumulated experience. In this sense, the period that we are in is the expression of an historical turning point. The success of Kurdish Liberation Movement will mean the fraternity of all the peoples in the region including the Turkish, Persian and Arabic peoples, as well as the democratisation of the region.
In this sense, we call upon all the pro-liberation powers and patriotic peoples of Kurdistan, and democratic and patriotic institutions to resist the fascistic system imposed by the status-quo in the region for the creation of a free and democratic future in the Middle East.
The Executive Council of the KCK
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A member of the Executuve Council of the KCK, Duran Kalkan, have said, "Until now, we have had give a struggle in every field of political, military and ideological areas in order find a solution only through ' a political dialogue'. This was our only goal and now this is changing. Now, we, ourselves will build our own democracy by organize and develop a democratic society in relevancy to develop our own solution with our own self-power."
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KCK Executive Council Member Cemil Bayik stressed that the ‘dirty war’ of the 1990s had been put back into practise but using different methods. He said, ‘‘there is a campaign to exterminate the Democratic Kurdish Movement,’’ and added that those fighting against this would need to be patient and resolute. Bayik stressed that the Kurdish Freedom Movement had begun the process for a solution to the Kurdish issue beginning with the March 29th local elections. Against this the Turkish State had continued its policy of denial and extermination by adopting new methods, he emphasised.
All the developments following that time had been the result of a struggle between these two policies, indicated Bayik. It was the Kurdish Freedom Movement that began the democratic resolution process and the Turkish State which has obstructed it, he stated. ‘‘The democratic resolution process began with the Kurdish Movement’s unilateral ceasefire of April 13th. It has been the Turkish State’s policy of extermination and its confiscation of (Leader Apo’s) Road Map that has obstructed this process. If this period is to be understood then it is the Kurdish Freedom Movement that began it and the Turkish State that blocked it.’’
Bayik stated that the (AKP) government’s policy of extermination, codenamed ‘the democratic initiative’ had baulked at the reality of a people who want an equal and resolute resolution and that this had become evident with the arrival of the peace groups.
According to Bayik, the attacks against the democratic Kurdish politics deepened and turned into a political lynching against the DTP following this. With these attacks they wanted to intimidate and suppress the Kurdish people to the point where they would accept the policy of extermination, he added.
The banning of the DTP has shown once again that it is impossible to practise free democratic politics in Turkey, said Bayik. ‘‘The threat of closure will continue until everyone toes the line of the State. It must be understood that there is great pressure on democratic politics. Those involved in democratic politics must be aware of this, be patient, controlled, principled and resolute in struggling against this.’’
Bayik assessed and defined the December 24th operation against Kurdish politicians as being the result of this policy of extermination and an operation to uproot democratic Kurdish politics. ‘‘The operations begun on April 14th continued on December 24th, these are political operations and are aimed at uprooting and exterminating the strong and free Kurdish political movement. This is simply a political genocide. In the 1990s political genocide was mainly implemented with extrajudicial killings. Political Kurds were being killed daily. The KCK operations are targeting the same thing that the policies of the 1990s were targeting. The methods are different but the aim is the same.’’
KCK Executive Council Member Cemil Bayik objected to the association made between the KCK and arrested Kurdish politicians and said, ‘‘in a normal country the KCK would be legal and legitimate.’’ Bayik went on to summarise the form and structure of the KCK.
He said that the KCK was the Kurdish people’s democratic political institution and summarised it by saying, ‘‘the KCK has an annual general assembly which is attended by delegates from all parts of Kurdistan, and this is where the KCK Executive Council is chosen. The KCK aims for a complete democratic system. It is an organisation outside and beyond the State. It organises from below and aims to solve society’s problems within society’s means. It organises from society’s foundations and aims to make the whole of society a democratic force. The KCK ensures that the economic, cultural and social problems of society are resolved with society’s own organisations and the power these organisations create. The KCK is a model that overcomes the mentality of awaiting solutions from the State and creates a system outside and beyond the State that addresses the problems and needs of humanity. There are many communities in all the parts of Kurdistan that believe in this system and the freedom and democracy it is going to create. There are many people who are working amongst the people to create this system by raising awareness regarding organisation and its importance. Those people who are working in society to organise and raise awareness regarding organisation are assisting the KCK system whether they are part of it or not. The essence of the KCK system is the creation of a democratic consciousness and the democratic organisation of society.’’
Cemil Bayik also responded to those still voicing the ‘democratic initiative’ following so many operations against Kurdish politics. ‘‘Those who are saying that this initiative will get better following the KCK operation are ridiculing the Kurds,’’ said Bayik, and added that Turkey was trying to create a new Kurdish organisation. Bayik also warned intellectuals who were presenting the AKP’s extermination plan as a solution.
Bayik drew attention to the attempts by the Turkish State and government in trying to form a new Kurdish organisation to divide the Kurdish Freedom Movement. He emphasised that the Turkish State was pressuring the democratic Kurdish political movement to distance itself from the PKK and brand guerrilla activity as terrorist activity. Bayik added that Kurds would not be fooled by this.
Cemil Bayik also highlighted the efforts by the AKP government to install itself into the depths of the Deep State. ‘‘Political Islamists know that without settling into the Deep State they cannot be influential within the State,’’ said Bayik, and attributed the search in the Special Warfare Department to this.
KCK Executive Council member Cemil Bayik assessed the searches in the Special Warfare Department. ‘‘We (the PKK) are the movement that has suffered the most from this war department. Of course we want things to be revealed; however it is impossible for the AKP to expose the crimes of this department.’’ Bayik added that political Islamists had been accepted within the State and that the AKP’s 7 years in government was proof of this. Bayik also underlined that the AKP was waging a psychological war using the media and that it was not believable that a party like the AKP would ‘clean up’ the Special Warfare Department.
In his interview, Bayik also attracted attention to the conditions of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan and said that the policies of isolation and intimidation implemented could not be seen anywhere else in the world. Bayik added that Öcalan’s involvement with the outside world had been reduced to a minimum, ‘‘if the political climate permitted they would exert more pressure and restrictions. The only prisoner in Turkey who cannot watch television and read the newspapers he wants, is the Leader of the Kurdish People. The radio that has been given to him only has one channel. Just this example is enough to portray the reality of his conditions,’’ he added.
Bayik also said, ‘‘the Road Map was going to be the key that would undo the lock that was put on the Kurdish issue. Those who are asking what the Kurds want should know that the demands of the Kurdish people are embodied in the Road Map and that it is in the hands of the Turkish State.’’
In the event that the AKP insists on extermination, the year 2010 will be full of conflict on all fronts, warned Bayik, before adding that the Kurds had explicit demands. Bayik indicated that there could be no negotiations regarding the demands of the Kurdish people and guerrilla. ‘‘Nobody should expect us to act like sacrificial lambs. Our guerrillas are ready, plans to delay or crush us will be met with great resistance.’’
Cemil Bayik also indicated that speculations regarding the Tokat attack were the propaganda of the psychological warfare department. He added that those who were continually voicing the Tokat attack were turning a blind eye to the hundreds of military operations and attacks that had taken place in the past months.
KCK Executive Council member Cemil Bayik ended his interview by underlining that if the Turkish State did not take the necessary steps for a democratic resolution and insisted on extermination and killing then they would be met by a great resistance in all areas.
Bayik invoked the responsibilities of democratic forces in 2010 and said that the delay tactics and damaging policies of the AKP government needed to be brought to an end. ‘‘Democratic forces must declare their programme for democracy in a clear and strong manner to expose the real face of the AKP and bury them in the election box in the next elections,’’ he said.
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KCK Executive Council Member Mustafa Karasu analysed the closure of the DTP to the 'Roj Aktüel' programme on Roj TV. Condemning the decision fiercely, Karasu said ''they cannot even tolerate a legal party defending the rights of Kurds in the democratic political domain, a long term genocide plan is in practise. Turkey has no intention of solving the Kurdish issue within democratic means.
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