|
International Initiative
Freedom for Ocalan – Peace in Kurdistan
P.O. Box 100511, D-50445 Koeln
E-Mail: info@freedom-for-ocalan.com
Url: www.freedom-for-ocalan.com
Cologne, 16 April 2003
INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE BRIEFINGS:
The aim is a democratic Middle East!
We document an interview with Duran Kalkan, KADEK Presidential
Council published in the latest issue of the Kurdish monthly magazine
'Serxwebun' (http://www.serxwebun.com):
The coalition forces in Iraq aim to build up a northern front
by landing American troops in Northern Iraq. Kurdish peshmergas
are marching with American support on Kirkuk and Mosul. This is
confirmed by the first engagements with Iraqi forces. What is KADEK's
assessment of the latest events in Northern Iraq?
This information has been confirmed for us by several sources.
According to these sources American troops landed from the air in
regions that are under the control of the KDP and PUK. Turkish airspace
was also used for this operation. On the other hand in the areas
controlled by KADEK there are no other military forces operating
except our own. It is the case that the forces of the KDP and PUK
are about to advance on Kirkuk and Mosul. But we do not think this
will take place without complications arising. As KADEK we reject
any Kurdish participation in the war and we are very strongly object
to the use of Kurdish soil for any such aims.
How strong is KADEK today in Northern Iraq? People talk of 5.000
fighters. How does KADEK propose to use these forces?
KADEK¹s armed forces are present in Northern Iraq and also
in the Kurdish areas of Turkey. There are more than 5000. The main
force is stationed in the strategically important mountainous region
of Northern Iraq. In addition to this the PCDK, which supports KADEK,
organises amongst the civilian population in the villages and towns.
The PCDK is active both above and below the 36 parallel. KADEK's
political and military forces are not dependent on any side and
therefore free to make their own decisions. KADEK's power is based
exclusively on their own people. KADEK is pursuing a peaceful solution
of the Kurdish question by democratic means, and within retains
the right to self-defence. KADEK feels itself to be bound in this
only to the values of democracy, freedom and friendship between
peoples. In this way KADEK represents the free will of the Kurdish
people in the democratic arena. In conformity with this it uses
its forces exclusively in support of the above mentioned values,
and it will continue to act in this way in the future. In pursuit
of these aims KADEK will not allow itself to be turned into an instrument
of outside interventions or of the forces that support the status
quo.
Some Kurdish groups maintain that Turkey harbours a desire to
expand its territory, while Turkey says that the map of Kurdistan
includes part of the territory of the Turkish state. What do you
think about this?
Kurdistan is a geographical concept, and describes an area inhabited
by a majority of Kurds. The concept of history was used for the
first time by the Seljuk Sultan Sandjar. So in fact it was first
used by the Turks. The area designated as Kurdistan was divided
by the state boundaries of Iran,Iraq,Syria and Turkey. The Kurdish
areas of Iraq, Syria and Turkey were in the past part of the Ottoman
Empire, which after World War I Turkey was obliged to surrender
to Iraq and Syria upon the insistence of France and Great Britain.
Against this background you cannot speak definitely of a desire
on the part of Turkey to expand. But we cannot understand why Turkey
is frightened by a concept that was used by the Seljuks and the
Ottomans, and tries to suppress it. The only reason why the empire
of the Seljuks and Ottomans did not fall apart was because it did
indeed employ the concept of Kurdistan. On the contrary they united
the Middle East and turned themselves into a power to be reckoned
with. The use of the concept Kurdistan is one thing, and the establishment
of a state another. The mere use of the concept does not imply the
establishment of a state. We think that the Kurdish question can
be solved without the establishment of a state, if democracy can
be pushed forward within the boundaries of the existing states.
What is KADEK's view of an independent Kurdish state?
I have already dealt with this point briefly. KADEK's view is that
the Kurdish people and indeed the other peoples of the region should
be able to exercise the right to independent self-determination
of their fate. But it will not be possible to achieve this with
the politically motivated establishment of more states. We believe
that this is only possible through the creation of democratic structures
in which freedom of conscience and expression is respected and in
which people's general political and social rights are guaranteed.
This is relevant not just for Kurdish society and for Turkey but
for the whole of the Middle East. KADEK considers that the unity
and democratisation of the region on the basis of the peoples¹freedoms
to be more important than the establishment of our own state. Given
the realities of the region this position seems more practicable
and will serve the interests of the peoples of the region much better.
What are the relations between KADEK and the units of Barzani
and Talabani? Can you see them ever uniting?
The relations between KADEK and the KDP and PUK are complex. We
are all part of the same nation . But of course we also have conflicts
as as result of different political and ideological positions. This
conflict also expresses the specific problems and experiences of
Kurdish society. At the present time there is no collaboration nor
is there any particular conflict. Unity between all these forces
is possible if common political interests demand it. We will see
if such conditions arise in future.
Even if the United States denies that American emissaries have
met the leaders of KADEK, how should this report be viewed within
the context of current developments? Mustafa Karasu who is a member
of the presidency of KADEK, has apparently had talks about the establishment
of federal structures. How do these talks effect the current war?
We do not believe that any serious talks or negotiations between
KADEK and the United States of America have been held. Whether talks
will take place in future we will have to see. It would be too early
to make any concrete statements at this stage. However, we have
to stress the fact that it was the USA who undertook the biggest
attacks on our nation and our movement after the Gulf War in 1991,
and kidnapped our leader as part of an international plot of intelligence
services and handed him over to Turkey. We believe talks and negotiations
with regard to us have taken place between Turkey and the US. A
constructive outcome would be positive. There are no contacts and
negotiations between KADEK and the USA that would effect the process
of the current war. But there is also no particular conflict at
this stage.
What role do you think KADEK will play in the current war or
in the aftermath? What does KADEK want?
This is an important question. In the past four years KADEK has
worked towards avoiding a war through mass actions called 'Serhildan'
(uprising). This democratic mass movement has not only supported
the process of democracy of the Kurdish society and Turkey, but
also fought for democracy in the whole Middle East. In this way
we wanted to stop the regional war and establish peace in the whole
region. Unfortunately we have to realize that we were not strong
enough to succeed. The beginning of the Iraq war must also be seen
in this context. From this perspective the attitude of KADEK has
not changed. KADEK continues to fighting for peace and against the
war. We believe that this can be achieved through democratic struggles.
Therefore we continue to use the democratic 'Serhildan' as a method
to fight against the war. The main arena of the struggle lies in
Turkey. We believe that the solution of the Kurdish question and
the establishment of a strategic unity between Turks and Kurds are
central for achieving peace and the democracy in the Middle East.
The fight of Kurdish society for peace and democracy can play a
leading role in this process . The probability for success would
increase with the establishment of a strategic unity between the
Turks and the Kurds. For this reason KADEK supports a strategic
unity between Turkey and all democratic forces and it appeals to
all political parties and civil society organisations in Turkey
to work together and build a democratic alliance with the aim of
establishing a democratic Turkey where we all can live.
Translation from German by Campaign 'Peace in Kurdistan' (U.K.),
12 April 2003
|