Press Release of the KCK 01.08.2011
Presidency of Executive Committee of People’s Union of Kurdistan (KCK)
We are approaching the Holy Month of Ramadan. We wish this Holy Month to be one of goodwill, peace, unity and solidarity amongst the Islamic world and Kurdish people.
As in all areas of life, the colonial laws implemented by the Turkish state in Kurdistan, continue to dominate and assimilate the religious sphere. The Turkish state, under the guise of secularism, continues to control religious affairs, and uses it as a tool of assimilation by preventing the Kurdish people from exercising their religious affairs in the Kurdish language. The resistance against this has led to the patriotic people of Kurdistan and religious circles to conduct their prayers away from state controlled mosques and in city and town centres. This is the Kurdish peoples’ and religious circles’ most effective stand against colonialism and assimilation. In this way they have prevented the misuse of their religious values and put true Islam into practice, while also showing their attachment to the patriotic struggle. The statements they have made shows that they will continue this meaningful and important stance through the month of Ramadan and beyond.
By conducting their religious affairs in the free centres they have created, the Islamic people of Kurdistan, will continue their fast and joint resistance against assimilation and denial. They must also strengthen their unity and solidarity, and share their economic opportunities and succeed in creating the free Kurd and Kurdistan by developing the values of true-cultural Islam. Once again we salute the stance of the religious-patriotic people of Kurdistan and call on all democratic-patriotic organisations to support this valuable and meaningful stance.
The Kurdistan Freedom Movement has, by waging a brave and decided struggle against the 12th September military-fascist regime, reached an important moment in its history. The honourable struggle and resistance in prisons, in the mountains, and all areas of life has created a democracy movement in not just Kurdistan, but also Turkey. The system created by the 12th September military-fascist regime has struggled against this resistance and has now become bankrupt. All the anti-democratic aspects and crimes of the 12th September regime have been uncovered by the struggle in Kurdistan. It can be said that as the oligarchic-fascist regime’s leaders and bureaucrats have run out of ideas, their defeats have deepened and hopelessness has set in. In the last instance the February 2008 Zap resistance was not just a military defeat, but the beginning of the end for the Turkish Army. It is evident that recent developments in Turkey are closely related to this period.
The weakening of military power over democratic politics is without a doubt a positive development and creates a promising foundation for democracy. However the bureaucratic-civil autocratic regime that is set to replace this will not lead to any democratic developments. These developments prove one thing; only power is changing hands in Turkey. However this period should be one of democratisation and the development of democratic politics. If the Turkish Armed Forces are no longer an obstacle in the way of a solution, then the AKP government should, without any excuses, declare to the public that they have the will and are ready for a solution to the Kurdish issue.
Otherwise it is evident that the replacement of Ergenekon, who inflicted great losses and suffering on our people, with Green (Islamic) Ergenekon will not bring about democracy. The daily practices (of the police force) is enough to prove this. Therefore it is imperative that all democracy forces support and develop the Democratic Republic – Democratic Autonomy Project. This is the only way that a true civil-democratic process can be developed and attained. If this does not happen then despite being a civil power, the fascistic policies of the bureaucratic autocratic regime will continue.
It is well known that the Kurdistan Freedom Movement has made an appeal for amnesty to all village guards and declared that they are not military targets. This appeal was met positively by many village guards and important steps have been taken in creating an environment of peace. However in certain areas there have been individuals who have intensified attacks against us and participated in the murder of their own people in return for money. Due to this we are once again calling on all village guards who are patriots and who no longer wish to spill Kurdish blood, to be aware and uncover such traitors and contras who are forming indecent relations with the fascist Turkish army.
One of the individuals who has been involved in contra-operations is Haci Alan. This person, who resides in Bingöl Karlıova, has taken part in the massacre of guerrillas in the past and was recently involved in the murder of our comrade Şoreş Kaşuri. He has now been punished because of his actions. Following his punishment the county was beseiged by state forces and village guards, led by Bingöl’s Governer they terrorised Kurdish patriots and burnt down their houses and shops. This is one example of the AKP’s chauvinist-fascist policies. The chauvinist-fascist attacks in the cities of Turkey is being duplicated by a handful of bandits in Kurdistan. However we are confident that the patriotic people of Bingöl and Karlıova will strengthen their stance against these traitors and raise the flag of freedom.
The democratic protests of our people has been met with the brutality of the AKP’s police force and resulted in the massacre of many protestors and patriots. However even this has been surpassed by the AKP’s chauvinist and racist police force, who have been given the initiative and right to exercise all types of force, leading to the killing of Kurdish civilians who have nothing to do with demonstrations or protests. The shooting of Mehmet Şirin Çiftçi in Amed (Diyarbakır) for no reason and then the prevention of him recieving medical treatment is an example of this. And again the murder of Ercan Uca, a shepherd who was tending his flock, for no reason is another example. This has become a daily occurrence in Kurdistan because members of the security forces are not being charged and tried for these crimes. Even the racist regime in South Africa was not as brutal and inhumane as this. However the AKP must know that the Kurdish people are not defenceless and that we will not remain silent in the face of these attacks. M. Şirin Çiftçi and Ercan Uca were killed because they were Kurdish. We send our condolences to their families and the people of Kurdistan.
At a time when the AKP has forsaken a solution and instead intends to annihilate and minimise the guerrilla forces, a new psychological war policy has been put into practice. Those who are returning to Turkey from Sweden and saying that ‘there is no reason to remain in the mountains and that guns are an obstacle in the way of a solution,’ or that the PKK should declare a unilateral ceasefire, should know that in this way they are not supporting the success and unity of the Kurdish people but instead the annihilation policies of the AKP government. Those who refuse to see the struggles of the Kurdish Peoples’ Leader Abdullah Ocalan and ignore the three protocols he has drawn up for a democratic solution and the appeals he has made to Prime Minister Erdoğan and his Ministers for an indefinite ceasefire, are doing nothing but sullying the waters. This is nothing but the denial of the steps our Leader and Movement have taken for a democratic solution.
Supporting a solution to this issue cannot be done by bad-mouthing and questioning the legitimacy of the just and sacred freedom struggle of the Kurdish people and praising the AKP. The Kurdish question is on the path to a solution. All the parties involved are in a struggle and this struggle is between those who want a solution and those who do not. To bad-mouth the Kurdistan Freedom Movement and call this criticism is to travel on parallel lines with the psychological war that is being implemented; and this cannot be patriotism. The people and democratic organisations of Kurdistan must be aware and careful of the strategy and tactics of the AKP government and not become a pawn in what Erdoğan has called ‘the plan to minimise the PKK.’
Kurdish youth Mehmet Ayık who set himself on fire as a protest against the treatment of the Kurdish people on July 14th, a day of resurrection for the Kurdish people, has like Evrim Demir, passed away. They are the spirit and honour of Kurdistan. We send our condolences to his family and the patriotic people of Kurdistan. However we would also like to reiterate once again that we do not condone these types of demonstrations. Although this form of protest carries a spirit of freedom within it, it is not the type of protest that is needed for this period. The period of mere protest has been surpassed and is now a period of success and victory. This is why the young people of Kurdistan must add their militant spirit to the struggle by joining the movement rather than setting themselves on fire. Therefore we are calling on all the patriot-militant youth of Kurdistan to join the guerrilla forces and develop a form of struggle that is fit for success and victory.
In particular our people should be aware that a new and political struggle and leap forward has commenced and thus should strengthen its organization and target success on the basis of a high level participation.
TO THE PRESS, OUR PEOPLE AND DEMOCRATIC PUBLIC OPINION
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...