Interview with Murat Karayilan.
We will participate in freedom
Interview with the Chair of the Kurdistan Democratic Confederation Executive Council, Murat Karayilan
Published in Yeniden Ozgur Politika, 27 December 2008
The Chair of the Kurdistan Democratic Confederation Executive Council, Murat Karayilan, spoke to ANF on recent debates in relation to the PKK.
Mr Karayilan highlighted the need for constitutional reform and added “unless concrete actions are taken to address the fundamental aspects of the Kurdish problem any effort for the disarmament of the Kurdish querrillas is futile.”
Mr Karayilan, who explained that the reason for the very existence of the querrillas was the need for freedom, added that “the issue for discussion is not how to disarm the guerrillas but it is the status or the recognition of the guerrilla forces.” “The truth of the matter is how to achieve reconciliation, equality between two nations, the Turks and the Kurds.
Disarmament is impossible without the freedom of Kurdish people,” Karayilan added.
Elaborating on the recent report on Kurdish question by the TESEV and statements made by both Talabani and Barzani, Mr Karayilan stated that the recognition of the Kurdish problem was an important development.
He said that the Kurdish question is one of the important issues in the Middle East that demands urgent resolution and that the KCK and the armed forces are both key counterparts in a process of resolution. “Even though our movement is sceptical about the purpose of the recent debates still we attach great importance to discussion of the Kurdish problem,” Karayilan stated.
“There have been various other reports in Turkey, but the TESEV report despite its shortcomings contains research that exposes the root causes of the Kurdish question. However, the key role of our leader Abdullah Ocalan in a peace process had been overlooked and the number of our armed forces has been underestimated in the report.
The guerrilla forces make up much more than couple of hundreds as claimed in the report. The guerrilla forces have established themselves and possess a structure that has been formed over the past 25 years.
Proposals to ‘disarm and rehabilitate’ the Kurdish querrillas are out of its context and not realistic. Solution does not lie within a new/revised amnesty but in meeting the demands of the Kurds for freedom.
Thus the report fails to propose a realistic solution by ignoring the fact that the Kurdish guerrillas and the Kurdish strug gle under an organised form constitute an important reality of the Kurdish people in Turkey.
Unless the rights and demands of the Kurds are recognised and secured any effort to dissolve Kurdish armed forces and its organisational form will be futile.
The fact that the report highlights the need for a political solution and identifies the social dimension of the Kurdish problem is important. The report concludes that the problem cannot be resolved through military means.
We have always believed in a dialogue like a civilised people. Even though the report contains valuable conclusions the TESEV somehow hesitates to puts its name under the proposals and instead announced the report as ‘the views of the Kurds.’
This report may carry a value as it could arguably offer a framework for public debate on the Kurdish issue.
The President of Iraq, Mr Jalal Talabani has also spoken to the CNN-Turk [Turkish TV channel] in line with the report. However, at the moment it is all words and we are yet to see any action.
In such matters it is practical steps that carry real value.
We do not seek a military solution. The Turkish state and the Turkish Army insist on military action.
We believe in a political solution and also argue that we [the Kurdish movement] have become a political, social and military reality.
It is important to reach an accord on the basis of both the Turks and the Kurds to live together in a democratic Turkey. Constitutional reforms are necessary which could lay the basis for a resolution.
Any proposal for disarmament of the guerrilla forces without addressing the fundamental roots of the Kurdish issue is futile. Kurdish guerrillas are not on mountains waiting for yet another Amnesty, they are on mountains to secure freedom.
The guerrilla members are not on mountains for personal gains they are fighting for freedom of our people. Therefore an Amnesty would not dissolve the Kurdish armed forces. First step is to provide constitutional safeguard to Kurdish cultural rights and Kurdish ethnic identity.
If such steps are taken then the issue of the armed forces can be discussed. The discussion should not only be focussed on disarmament, a legal status for the Kurdish guerrillas could also be discussed.
The cornerstone in any discussion should be the equality and reconciliation between the Kurds and the Turks. The TESEV report states that the PKK maintains its organisational strength.
The Kurdish question cannot be resolved by ignoring or disgarding the PKK and the guerrilla forces. However, the current Turkish government insists on a policy of denial and annihilation of the facts related to the Kurdish question.
They demand surrender. This political reality of the Turkish authorities cannot bring about any form of peace process. Denial and annihilation is the official policy for the Turkish state.
Today the annihilation and the denial policy are enshrined in Turkish law. Throughout history the Ottomans, the Republic of Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Iran have implemented violence and repression against the Kurds; however no solution was achieved.
We need to overcome the mentality of denial in order to take constructive steps towards a solution.
We believe in a peaceful solution but we are also obliged to defend the rights of our people, our dignity and our cause against the mentality of annihilation. Our armed forces are in defensive positions and contribute to the development of our political and social gains.
The guerrilla forces do not represent an obstacle to a solution. The fact that the Kurdish question is debated is due to the struggle and the organisational existence of our movement.
Although we attach importance to calls for a political solution we believe such calls should be directed to Turkish officials as our movement does not oppose a political solution.
The TESEV report claims that ‘the PKK maintains its power’. This is an insufficient statement. ;
Our leader has been in captivity for the last ten years.
Our movement has been attacked not only by Turkish forces but has also been subjected to all forms of political attacks at the international level. Despite all the attacks the PKK did not only maintain its organisational power but has grown in strength and numbers.
The past ten years are significant to establish that violence and the use of force will not succeed against our movement. The war of denial and annihilation had an impact on the Kurdish movement to further develop its ability of defence and organisational structure.
Sooner the relevant forces recognise this fact the closer we may get to the beginning of a peace process.
Upcoming local elections.
The TESEV report and the following debate coincided with the current local election campaigns. We are concerned and hope that these recents debates and the report are not a simple election tactic. That is why our movement insists on concrete and sincere practical steps along with discussion.
The Kurdish people and all concerned parties should be aware of the timing of the recent debate and demand action on the political solution of the Kurdish question. The DTP visit to South Kurdistan and proposals for a conference
We have always believed in dialogue between the Kurds.
The Kurds living in all parts of Kurdistan would benefit from unity between the Kurdish organisations. The Kurds living in all parts need to develop policies that would consider the Kurdish question as a whole.
We believe at this time a conference at a national level between the Kurds would be appropriate and is a necessity. In the light of developments in all parts of Kurdistan it is important to form a platform – which could be in the form of conference or a congress – where national policies and strategies could be designed. We attach importance to the DTP visit to South Kurdistan and declare our support for a national conference.
We will take an active part in the preparation of such a platform where all Kurdish organisations should have equal representation.
I would like to state our appreciation of t he recent statements made by the Massoud Barzani, Necirvan Barzani and the Iraqi President Jalal Talabani who have emphasised the need for a political solution and once more given assurances that the Kurds will not be fighting Kurds.
I would like to affirm our determination to keep peace between all Kurdish parties and call on all relevant forces, including the Kurdish parties, to take an active part in promoting a political solution to the Kurdish question in Turkey.
Recent Turkish air bombardments and deployment of forces along the border.
The Turkish Army continued its military operations throughout the winter season. This is the other side of the coin. The Turkish officials may hope to strike a military blow on our forces, cause demoralisation among our people and perhaps gain more credit for the upcoming local elections.
Iran has also taken part in the implementation of this concept. Turkey made every effort to obtain the active support of Syria and Iraq. They intend to gain a victory at the local elections and declare that there is no such thing as the Kurdish question.
During the same time last year Turkish Army attempted to launch a massive military operation against our forces in Zap area. They were defeated. We are prepared for every possibility and possess the necessary skills and experience to defeat similar attacks.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki visit to Turkey.
Turkey and Iran intend to gain the full support of Syria and Iraq to support all out war against our movement. Turkey has been invading Iraqi land and bombing Iraqi villages for years and Mr Maliki has not raised the issue of cross border operations or air bombardments.
We believe Iraqi officials should encourage a political solution to the Kurdish question in Turkey and should not be part of Turkey’s military campaigns. Iraq has a history and experience in dealing with its own Kurdish problem. Necessary lessons should be learnt.
At a time when peace in the Middle East is a key fundamental issue the Kurdish question cannot be avoided. Remaining silent against the Turkish military attacks and plans to form an alliance against the PKK is not the right way forward. Iraq should not engage in a war against the Kurds.
We would actively support any initiative that promotes a political and peaceful solution however we warn the regional powers to be aware of Turkey’s hidden agenda under the pretext of the war against ‘terorism’.
The PKK cannot be eradicated by military means. Our movement is politically and organisationally in a strong position.
Our armed forces have long been positioned to fight against any possible military operations at any level. The guerrillas are well equipped and able to use all parts of Kurdistan effectively.
We call on all forces not to adopt policies that would only prolong the war and cause more bloodshed but to engage in dialogue and seek a political solution.
ERDAL ERGİN/ ANF/BEHDİNAN
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