Turkey: What's behind Erdogan's outreach to Kurds?

Elmas Topcu 

DW

November 20, 2024

The Turkish government is sending ambiguous signals to the Kurds. Analysts believe it is hoping to garner some votes while also possibly splitting the opposition.

Political gestures of importance: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shakes the hand of Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Leader Devlet Bahceli (L)

Image: DHA

When Devlet Bahceli, chairman of the ultra-nationalist Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP party, shook hands with politicians from the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), the gesture marked a political U-turn.

Up until October, Bahceli had claimed that the left-wing, pro-Kurdish DEM Party, just like its predecessor, the HDP, was an extension of the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party ( PKK) and should, therefore, be banned.

Even more surprising was Bahceli's next suggestion that PKK head Abdullah Ocalan could be released in exchange for announcing the dissolution of his party. Bahceli's party is considered the parent organization of the right-wing extremist group Grey Wolves and is known for its anti-minority ideology.

In the following days, the 76-year-old Ocalan received a visit from his family for the first time in 43 months. He has been in solitary confinement in a high-security prison since 1999.

A peace process with the PKK was put in place a decade ago already, but President Recep Tayyip Erdogan terminated it a year later in 2015.

After a few non-violent years, the bloody conflict flared up once more.

The Turkish government cracked down on Kurdish politicians in Turkey and launched military operations in northern Iraq and northeastern Syria.

The PKK has its headquarters in Iraq's Qandil Mountains. A de facto self-governing Kurdish state, known as Rojava, has established itself in northeastern Syria.

Ahmet Turk, a pro-Kurdish politician, was elected as mayor three times and also dismissed three times

Image: Kivanc El/DW

A carrot and stick approach?

Since Bahceli's push for Ocalan's potential early release, people in Turkey have been puzzling over what the government in Ankara is up to.

Why are its representatives seeking proximity to Ocalan at the same time as elected Kurdish local politicians are being removed from office?

In late October, Ahmet Ozer, the mayor of Istanbul's Esenyurt district and a member of the Republican People's Party (CHP), was arrested for alleged links to the PKK.

A few days later, three Kurdish mayors in southeastern Turkey were replaced by state officers.

This also happened to Ahmet Turk, an 82-year-old veteran of Kurdish politics. He has been elected and dismissed as mayor of the city of Mardin three times.

Observers agree that Erdogan is set on becoming the president of Turkey again.

However, a constitutional amendment would be necessary for a fourth term in office. As of now, Erdogan lacks the necessary majority in parliament.

Analysts believe that his plan is to use the carrot and stick approach to bring the Kurds and pro-Kurdish DEM Party into line by offering concessions, such as softening Ocalan's sentence to house arrest or possibly ending the practice of imposing state officials in Kurdish regions.

Moreover, such moves could also split the opposition.

Could the Turkish government's hope be to offset Abdullah Ocalan's release for Kurdish votes?

Image: Christoph Hardt/Panama Pictures/picture alliance

Power shift in the Middle East?

Arzu Yilmaz, a political scientist at the University of Kurdistan Hewler in Iraq's city of Erbil believes that there are other reasons for the latest developments.

"First and foremost, the unstable situation in the Middle East and the US govenment's decision to withdraw US soldiers from Iraq and Syria by 2026," she told DW.

Given Donald Trump's re-election, this could happen sooner than expected, she added.

Around 2,500 US soldiers are still stationed in Iraq, and some 900 in Syria, where they cooperate closely with local Kurdish militias.

"The balance of power in the Middle East is shifting, but despite its ambitions, Turkey is not an important player," Yilmaz said, saying that Ankara might want to change that.

Bese Hozat, the co-chair of the Kurdistan Communities Union, an umbrella organization of several parties of Kurdistan, including the PKK, echoed these thoughts. "Turkey's geopolitical and geostrategic position and influence in the region is gradually weakening," she said in an interview, adding that this was "causing the Turkish government to panic."

In her view, this has pushed it to find a workaround and try to instrumentalize Kurdish leader Ocalan for its own purposes.

Military operations expected

Earlier this month, Erdogan announced that he would soon close the "security gaps on the southern borders".

This signals a new round of Turkish military operations in Syria and Iraq.

Arzu Yilmaz believes that the Iraqi Kurds have no reason to worry about the future as their status quo is enshrined in Iraq's constitution.

However, the future of the self-governing Kurdish region in northeastern Syria is more uncertain, she said, adding that so far the US had supported the Kurds but it remained to be seen what would happen after the withdrawal of US troops. It was unclear who would fill the resulting power vacuum.

A key factor would be how the Kurds in the various regions cooperated with each other, she said: "This will determine whether the Kurds ultimately emerge from this crisis stronger or weaker."

Sources close to the PKK say that an initial meeting of Kurdish parties from Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey took place in the Belgian capital Brussels in November, however, the result of the discussion remains unknown.

The Kurds are the largest ethnic group in the world without their own state. According to estimates, more than 12 million live in Turkey, around 6 million in Iraq and the same in Iran, and just under 3 million in Syria.

Germany boasts the largest Kurdish diaspora community, which numbers around 1 million.

This article was translated from German.

Karasu: Four years of struggle led to visit with Öcalan in Imrali

Karasu said: "It was the struggle against isolation, which has been going on for many years, and the struggle for the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan that led to the visit in Imrali."


ANF
NEWS DESK
Saturday, 16 November 2024

Mustafa Karasu, member of the KCK Executive Council, spoke on the rumors about a solution process in Turkey, and contextualized the meeting with the Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan, as well as the action against the TAI in Ankara.

Over the last few weeks, a certain discourse has developed about the Kurdish question and possible solution processes in Turkey. Also, for the first time in many months, a meeting took place again with the Kurdish people's leader, Abdullah Öcalan. How are these developments to be understood? How do they relate to each other? And what action needs to be taken?

After four years of total isolation, there was again a meeting with Rêber Apo [Abdullah Öcalan]. And Rêber Apo conveyed his greetings to everyone. We also send our greetings with longing, love, and respect. Receiving greetings from Rêber Apo was a morale boost for us and for all our people. It has been very difficult not to hear from him or get any news about him for four years. In this respect, hearing that the meeting took place was important news for us.

Devlet Bahçeli shook hands with the MPs of the DEM Party on 1 October and made statements talking about making peace 'outside and inside.' The meeting with Rêber Apo took place during such developments, and of course it was evaluated and interpreted in many different ways. Of course, such evaluations and interpretations can come to mind in the context of Devlet Bahçeli’s call to Rêber Apo and Erdoğan’s support for this call. For those who are not aware of the truth, for those who do not see what is going on, such evaluations are understandable. However, one must point out that the meeting with Rêber Apo is not directly related to Devlet Bahçeli’s statements and the subsequent discussions.

For years there has been a great struggle for the lifting of the isolation imposed on Rêber Apo and for his physical freedom. For four years there has been no meeting and no information. It is the struggle of our people, the struggle of our people in Europe, and the struggle of our international friends that is really challenging the Turkish State. There is pressure on the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and on the Council of Ministers (CM) of the Council of Europe (CoE), which has led to the fact that more pressure is being put on Turkey. Turkey was faced with difficulties in continuing its isolation. After four years, the pressure and problems have increased to such an extent that such discussions are taking place. It is clear from Devlet Bahceli’s speeches that the Turkish state was in such an obsessive situation that they had to agree to a meeting with Rêber Apo in order to free themselves from the pressure. Especially in view of the current situation, he wanted to play with people’s feelings and perceptions.

The struggle against isolation, which has been going on for many years, and the struggle for the physical freedom of Rêber Apo is what led to this meeting. Since the State and the Republic were having such a very difficult time, they wanted to get rid of the pressure by having this meeting. They arranged this meeting to create some confusion in this period, to create a perception as if there was a softening, as if there could be a different approach to the Kurdish question.

Many people outside of us started to think about a solution process; they thought and discussed it. But let me emphasize that this meeting with Rêber Apo has absolutely nothing to do with these recent discussions. As I mentioned, it is one meeting that emerged as a result of a four-year struggle.

Rêber Apo did not say the isolation was lifted. If there would be a change in the state's approach towards the Kurdish question, the isolation would be lifted. The isolation should be lifted, but it continues. Shortly after the meeting, Rêber Apo was given a disciplinary punishment. The fact that this meeting took place should not be interpreted differently; it should not be thought to have arisen for different reasons; it should be seen as what it is, the result of years of struggle, and the struggle should be continued with the awareness that isolation still continues. The struggle and resistance should definitely not be loosened. Because the meeting with Rêber Apo was not only a morale booster for the people, but also the reflection of the few sentences of Rêber Apo’s thoughts was important in many respects, namely in terms of giving direction, gaining understanding, and giving a message about how events and facts are approached. The struggle against isolation must continue.

My comrades have already evaluated and put forward this in a comprehensive manner. Rêber Apo himself said 'isolation continues'. This means that we will continue the struggle. This meeting was achieved through struggle, and the struggle must continue. Rêber Apo emphasized that this should not lead to any laxity. There are perceptions created by the special war in society and individuals. Misunderstandings arise as a result of the campaigns carried out by the special war forces. Especially today, where there are dozens of televisions and other tools and means in service of the special war of the state, perceptions can be distorted. Under no circumstances should one fall for them. Our people are aware of this and tell themselves everywhere that the isolation continues. Everywhere in northern Kurdistan and elsewhere it is said that the isolation continues and that the struggle will continue. This is positive.

There will soon be a big rally in Cologne, on 16 November. There the struggle against isolation will be put forward. In the second year of the global campaign for the physical freedom of Rêber Apo, initiated by our international friends, a new rally is being organized. A very strong participation is needed there.

No struggle is in vain. One must never forget that only through struggle can achievements be created. Also, one should not forget that the Kurds are a people under genocide. The leader of the Kurdish people is also under genocidal pressure. The policy applied to Rêber Apo is a policy of genocide. Destroying the leader of a people, destroying its consciousness, destroying its direction, is also destroying all the values of that people. Because for every people, for every society, leaders are the sum of values. They are the most important representation of their values. Destroying him means destroying and attacking all values. Our people must embrace Rêber Apo with this awareness. We are convinced that through the struggle, Rêber Apo will be liberated.

Yes, the struggle is difficult. It is being waged with great difficulty. The struggle in every field is carried out under difficult conditions. But this struggle carried out under difficult conditions will surely succeed. The difficulties show the importance of the struggle and how hard the enemy’s reality is. Without a strong struggle against such a reality, without fighting no matter what the conditions are, there would be no results. To expect success easily, to expect that results will be achieved easily, is to not recognize the genocidal colonialist reality, to not understand the Kurdish reality, the reality of Kurdistan, and its position in the Middle East. In this respect, everyone should struggle, no matter what the difficulties are, and succeed. They should not see the difficulties as an obstacle. Difficulties are a reason to struggle in the Kurdish reality, in the reality of the Kurdish people’s struggle for freedom. It is not another factor.

How did this change in approach come about all of a sudden?

This is something that needs to be well understood. Probably no one deals with the Kurdish question and the war against the Kurdish people as intensively as we do through our responsible struggle against it. For 50 years we have been waging this struggle. We know genocidal colonialism. We know what kind of struggle these 50 years have been. In this respect, when evaluating Devlet Bahçeli’s and Erdoğan’s speeches, it is necessary to consider them within the totality of this struggle. It is necessary to consider it within the totality of the war being waged against us, against the Kurdish people.

In this respect, of course, with all due respect, we have more advantages than anyone else in terms of understanding such discourses and knowing what they are. Because we are constantly struggling, we are at war. We almost think and calculate their daily thoughts and what their daily moves will be. We are in a position to understand why Devlet Bahçeli or Erdoğan would resort to such a discourse, since we know in which political environment, under which conditions we are struggling, what the situation of the genocidal colonialist front is, what the situation of the Middle East is, what the situation of our struggle is, and all the conditions.

So what happened? Why does Devlet Bahçeli, who until yesterday used genocidal rhetoric and poisonous language and completely denied the Kurdish existence, attack not only the DEM Party but all Kurds, all those who carry out the struggle of the Kurdish people, all kinds of attacks and blasphemies, say, 'Let’s make peace'? There must be a reason for this. In this respect, of course, various reasons are being discussed. The AKP-MHP government is facing difficulties outside and is also facing difficulties inside. This is a fact. But it is wrong to draw a conclusion like this. ‘They want to get out of this difficulty by solving the Kurdish question’.

It is wrong to think like that. Yes, they are having difficulties outside; they are having difficulties inside, but there is a war of genocide they are waging against the Kurds. In the process of being under massive pressure, they want to bring the war they are waging against the Kurds to a conclusion. It is necessary to be aware of this. They didn’t change their mentality regarding the Kurdish question. They do not have a democratic mentality or interest in solving the Kurdish question. A democratic mentality is necessary to solve it. It is necessary to adopt a mentality that accepts the existence of the Kurdish people, their identity, and their culture. There is no such thing in the current government, especially not in the MHP, not in Devlet Bahceli. In this respect, one must carefully evaluate why this step was taken.

The difficulties in the region, the war being waged by Israel, them saying that Israel would attack Turkey – there is a great war going on in the Middle East. A war is being waged that has the effect of shaking the Middle East balance. This goes hand in hand with Turkey’s geopolitical power and influence being gradually diminishing. For 150 years, Turkey’s geopolitical position, which it has used, marketed, and which was its most important political power, is no longer in its former strength, no longer in its former influence. We cannot say that it has completely disappeared. But it is no longer in a position to make itself a hegemonic power, to use it as blackmail, to use it as a bargaining chip. The development of relations between Israel and the Arabs and the search for different energy routes reveal this. These are, of course, worrisome for Turkey.

The AKP-MHP government has brought Turkey to this point as a result of its own policies. Now it wants to take all opposition forces behind it and maintain its own position. It wants to make itself a power in this complex geography. But it is its policies that have brought Turkey to this point. It is the AKP-MHP government that has caused Turkey to have problems both in regional politics and at home.

Now there was the speech by Devlet Bahçeli, and Erdoğan supported it. It cannot be said that there is a problem between Erdoğan and Devlet Bahçeli. It is not right to think that they are involved in just a simple tactical relationship on such an important issue or that they would engage in such things without each other’s knowledge. They talked beforehand, and afterward Devlet Bahçeli took such a step. Otherwise, even to think that Devlet Bahçeli has surpassed the AKP on the Kurdish issue, that he has come to a more reasonable point, is to not know the reality of the MHP, to not know the reality of the Turkish state.

Gradually, this is now being accepted. Ahmet Turk also said in his speech, 'Such things are being said. When these things are not accepted because there is nothing, then they will come at us with more violence. There is such a game.' Yes, there is such a game. This game is mainly played on the DEM Party. They will say, 'We gave you the space to do politics; we approached you softly; you didn’t respond to that,' and then they will come at them with violence and repression. We don’t need to evaluate this. Devlet Bahceli, Mehmet Ucun, and Erdoğan all pointed this out clearly by themselves. There is no need to complicate this so much, no need to evaluate what it is and what it is not. One could interpret Mehmet Ucun’s sentences one by one. What does he mean? Devlet Bahçeli said, 'Either you accept or you will be punched.' Accept what? 'You will give up your Kurdishness. You will give up the Kurdish cause. You will not talk about Kurdishness, freedom, or democracy. Be a politician, be an MP, be a mayor, but don’t deal with such things. Don’t talk about the Kurdish people’s struggle for freedom and democracy.' If you do follow their lead, you are allowed to be a mayor or an MP. You can do politics. This is what is being said.

Freedom and democracy mean fighting against this state, against this government. It means taking a stance against the policies of this government.

To look for something in this is only to reveal their desire. I wish something good would happen. Yes, everyone wants something good to happen. The Kurdish people want steps to be taken; they want the situation to be solved. No one wants this more than us. Probably no one wants it more than us. It is not even understandable to make sense of Devlet Bahceli’s call. Yes, he shook hands with the MPs. He spoke about peace outside and peace inside. Then Devlet Bahçeli called Rêber Apo to the parliament. What did he say? Come and disband your organization. What do you mean, disband his organization? The political will of a people, the power of thought. For 50 years, it has been struggling for this. It has tens of thousands of martyrs. He says come and disband it. Surrender. That’s what it means. Only this, yes.

Devlet Bahceli took Rêber Apo as an interlocutor. It is understood; everyone understands that the addressee of this issue is Rêber Apo. That is why he is calling there. If they want to solve the Kurdish question, Rêber Apo is ready to do it. It has become clear once again that Rêber Apo is the interlocutor. On the other hand, Bahceli also said that there is isolation. So they also admitted that there is isolation.

Another point that needs to be made clear. There is a rumor going around that Rêber Apo spoke to Qandil on the phone. This is made up and does not correspond to reality. So far, there has been no contact of this kind. There is no such thing. We follow the developments on TV like everyone else. We follow it in the press. There was no contact, and there is no process. They can always meet with Rêber Apo. The Turkish intelligence service can always go and meet with Rêber Apo. There have been many meetings with him in the past in Imrali. But we understand from what Omer Ocalan told us, and also from Tuncer Bakirhan’s statements later on, that Rêber Apo also pointed out that currently there are no talks, there is no solution process. The meeting that took place should not be interpreted in a different way. The meeting was the result of years of struggle.

This period needs to be approached carefully and correctly. There are many traps and games. The AKP-MHP government is a special war government. Every day they make up new games, trying to deceive the people. Erdoğan is a demagogue. So is Devlet Bahceli. Fascism means demagoguery. It means distorting the facts. The MHP’s discourse on this issue has been known for a long time. They say that Kurds are their brothers and speak about the Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood. Turkish and Kurdish people are brothers. It is the state policy that pits the Turkish and Kurdish people against each other; it is this government. It is the policy of this government. Now these demagogues are talking about brotherhood. All these speeches and discussions need to be addressed properly. No one should have any hope that anything will come of them.

Of course, a solution is desirable. The people want it, we want it, the democratic political movement wants it, and our international friends want it. The people of Turkey also want it. Because this problem needs to be solved in order for Turkey to get out of crises and problems. But there is no intention or desire for such a solution on the side of the state. On the contrary, they want to deepen the policy that has been in place for years even further.

In particular, the members of the DEM Party and the public need to be aware of what kind of game is being played on them. They must stand firm and struggle against this policy. There is no other way but to fight against this policy. We will not surrender, since we will not give up our Kurdish identity, since we will not give up the cause of freedom and democracy of the peoples, of the Kurdish people. Their policy needs to be well understood and accordingly struggled against.

In this context in particular, we would like to talk about the action that took place a few weeks ago against TAI, the military center in Ankara. What can you tell us about it?

I commemorate those who carried out the action against the TAI in Ankara respectfully and gratefully. They revealed what Kurdish identity, culture, and conviction are. They have shown the essence of Kurdishness, of Kurdish feelings and awareness, and the Kurdish stance in the fight against the genocide against the Kurds.

They have shown a stance against the genocide of the Kurds. They made a sacrifice against this comprehensive pressure. They internalized this because they were aware that the Kurds were being exterminated, because they were aware that the Kurdish existence was under threat. That is why they decided to stand up for the protection of existence, freedom and democracy. This is how this action is to be understood. This is the message that must be read from this attitude from this action.

Why such sacrifice? Why such a sacrifice of one’s own young life? These are questions that every Kurd has to answer for himself. As I said, there is currently no process. I repeat it again; there are some who complain that this action took place during these discussions, but the action has no connection to the current discussions. The action was the result of long-term work. It is not something that is prepared and carried out within one or two days, one or two months. It is the result of months of preparation.

On the other hand, the war continues. If there was a process, if there was no war like in 2009-2010, then it would be different. But the enemy carries out any kind of attack with the intention of annihilation. The action is the response to that. It is the response to the genocidal attack. It has nothing to do with what Devlet Bahceli said on October 1 and the discussions that followed. It is an action against the genocidal policy against the Kurds, against the policy from which this Turkish state emerged. Now the war continues, and this was an action against a center that produces weapons that are used against the Kurdish people. UCAV’s, like the Aksungur, are produced there. What are they used for? They are used to kill civilians everywhere. In Rojava, South Kurdistan, and everywhere else, they are used to kill civilians, reporters, intellectuals, politicians, etc. TAI is a center of war. There is currently a war between the Turkish state and the freedom movement. So the target is legitimate. It is a war factory that produces weapons and is therefore a legitimate target. The people who work there are soldiers. What they produce are weapons.

Therefore, it was an important action. It shook them. Because they kept saying that they knew everything and would be in control of everything. They were saying we know how they breathe and even what number of shoes they are wearing. The action was the biggest answer to that. There is no obstacle that a sacrificial guerrilla cannot overcome. The guerrillas always carry out actions. There are hundreds of thousands of such young comrades. It is the Turkish state policy that has made these young people like this. It is their policy of genocide. Of course, young people, militants who feel great hate towards this genocide policy, emerge. They have emerged before, and they will also emerge in the future.

Asya Ali’s biggest anger was that she could not properly speak her own language. She said, “Teach my nephews their language, teach them their culture.” She was aware of the ongoing attack on these values growing up in Izmir. I wonder how many Kurdish youths in Izmir know their own language. There is a genocide.

A member of the ‘Battalion of the Immortals’ once said, 'There is only Sirnak and Colemerg (Hakkari) left. If it continues like this after 20 years, even they will forget their language and culture, and then the Kurdish question will be over.' That is their policy. In this face, what are the Kurdish youths and those sacrificial people expected to do? Of course, they will find an answer to this policy. They have written beautiful letters. They really impress. It is obvious that they really managed to put their feelings on paper. In fact, those messages should be the feelings of all Kurdish youth, the message of all Kurdish youth. They should feel the same way. They should try to reach that level. Everyone should try to reach that level.

Yes, they gave impressive messages. A message to their families, a message to the Kurdish people. At the same time, they called for popular resistance should be put forward against the trustees. They called on their families, their comrades; on everyone. This call also expresses that this genocidal colonialism cannot be fought against with an ordinary struggle, with an ordinary patriotism. The Kurds cannot get rid of genocide like this. They gave this message clearly and revealed to everyone the necessary level of struggle against this Turkish state, against this genocidal colonialism. Everyone should measure themselves against the standard they have set through their attitude. We should all ask ourselves where we stand. We are in their debt. When they went into martyrdom, they said that they were still in our debt, but we are the ones who are really in their debt.

KURDISTAN (TURKIYE)

FREE OCALAN!

Bayındır at Batman rally: Let the Kurdish people's leader be free, let this issue be resolved

“The struggle will ensure the freedom of Öcalan and the solution of the Kurdish question,” said DBP Co-Chair Keskin Bayındır, pointing to Abdullah Öcalan as the interlocutor for a solution and peace.


ANF
BATMAN
Sunday, 17 November 2024

Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Keskin Bayındır spoke at the ‘Democracy and Freedom’ organised by the Platform of Democratic Institutions in Batman province. Emphasising that the Kurdish people continue their resistance, Keskin Bayındır said, “We will surely succeed. This struggle, your resistance will surely reach its goal.”

'The Kurdish people are waging a historic struggle for their freedom'

Giving messages of resistance and struggle, Keskin Bayındır said, “Those who usurp the will of our people should take a good look at this square. This square is a place of success and freedom. This state should know well that no power can prevent the Kurdish people's struggle for freedom. No matter how much they advance on us, they cannot stop us. The Kurdish people in Europe sent a warm greeting, a revolutionary greeting yesterday. Let us send them a warm greeting today. The Kurdish people are waging a historic struggle for their freedom in 4 parts of Kurdistan and in the world. This struggle will ensure the freedom of Mr Öcalan and the solution of the Kurdish question.”

'The address is İmralı'

Emphasising that Öcalan is the interlocutor for peace and solution, Keskin Bayındır said that Öcalan’s voice should be heard if there is to be a process of talks. Pointing to the ongoing isolation of Öcalan in İmralı Island Prison, Bayındır said, “If this isolation continues, this process is a lie. Our people should believe in their struggle. If you want to create a solution in this country, the solution is Mr Öcalan, the address is İmralı. On the one hand, they impose aggravated isolation, appoint trustees to the will of the Kurdish people, carry out operations in 4 parts of Kurdistan, while on the other hand they say ‘we are brothers’... We are not brothers of traitors. If there is to be peace and a solution, the address is clear.”

'The Kurdish people did not and will not bow down to your oppression'

Referring to the usurpation of the municipalities of Batman, Mardin and Halfeti, Bayındır said, “They appointed trustees to these 3 cities to tell us that they don’t accept our model that foresees organisation. No matter what you do, the Kurdish people did not and will not bow down to your oppression. The AKP-MHP government is appointing trustees to the will of the Kurdish people. The AKP-MHP is the trustee of Turkey, the trustee of the Kurdish people and the Turkish people. We do not accept the trustees, and we will send them away. The Kurdish people are ready for a solution and a process. This will is seen in this square today. We will spread this will throughout Kurdistan, Turkey and the world. We want honourable peace and a solution.”

The DBP Co-Chair concluded: “Let the Kurdish people's leader be free, let this issue be resolved. Let Kurdistan be free, let the Kurdish people achieve their goals and objectives. We are starting historic resistance. This resistance will be written in history; how the Kurdish people determine their fate with their will, strength and power. The Kurdish people are now a great power in the Middle East and the world. No one should underestimate this power. This century will be the century of the Kurdish people, the century of Kurdistan.”

‘If you are serious, open the doors of İmralı and let Öcalan deliver a message of peace’

Speaking at the rally in Batman, DEM Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları appealed to the government, saying, “If you are serious, open the doors of İmralı and let Mr. Öcalan deliver a message of peace.”


ANF
BATMAN
Sunday, 17 November 2024


The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları spoke at the ‘Democracy and Freedom Rally’ organised by the Platform of Democratic Institutions in Batman. She started her speech by remembering Edip Solmaz (who was assassinated on 12 November 1979 after 28 days as mayor). Hatimoğulları pointed out that those who murdered Edip Solmaz are now appointing trustees to municipalities and called those who appoint trustees ‘coup plotters’.

'We will continue to struggle shoulder to shoulder against fascism'

Hatimoğulları stated that the Kurdish people's right to elect and be elected was taken away from them, and that the current administration cannot be democracy. “The name of this administration can only be fascism. We will continue to struggle shoulder to shoulder against fascism. The trustee of Batman says that Turks and Kurds share the same fate and have the same hopes. This is a lie, the people of Batman are here. You cannot represent their hope and understanding of brotherhood. You are a trustee, you are a thief, you were forced into the municipality under the wing of police shields. Although trustees have been appointed to our municipalities after every election, the people have come to this day by doubling their votes and increasing the number of municipalities. And this was realised through the joint struggle of you; the Kurdish people and other peoples.

‘We are on the side of honourable peace’

Hatimoğulları mentioned the recent discussions on a possible process of talks with Öcalan and said: “All of Turkey is now talking about and discussing this question. There are various developments that started with a handshake and we do not know exactly what they want. As the DEM Party, Kurdish people and the peoples of Turkey, we are, of course, on the side of honourable peace. We have been fighting for peace for more than 40 years. We have fought for justice and democracy to come to this country, for brotherhood and equality between the peoples.”

‘We have expressed our readiness for an honourable peace’

Referring to the attacks against Kurds, Hatimoğulları stated: “They tried to crush the heads of Kurds every time. They tried to crush the heads of the revolutionaries in Turkey who were in solidarity with the Kurdish people. But they failed. You, our valuable people, show them in this square that they have failed. From here we address Ankara; we have expressed our readiness for an honourable peace, for a solution on democratic grounds at every opportunity, everywhere. We have said that if you are not playing games, if you are not mocking the people's hopes, if you are serious, if you are to act with the seriousness of a state, first of all open the doors of Imrali, let Mr. Öcalan come out and give his message to the whole Middle East. If the partner of the government is serious about the messages it is giving to the public, it should first put its ministries into action and open the doors of Imrali wide open. Let Mr Öcalan come out and deliver his messages of peace to the Kurdish people, the people of the Middle East.”

'This is not brotherhood'

The DEM Party Co-Chair continued: “Erdoğan is not speaking. He is the one in the seat of power. It is the AKP government and the president who are the executive authority. If they have solutions to this issue, they should speak and announce a programme. He himself has not spoken until today. Instead, his advisors and spokespersons speak. They say that the trusteeship is a ‘fight against terrorism’ but it is them who are doing the real ‘terror’. Gülistan Sönük was elected by the people of Batman with 65 percent of the vote, the highest in Turkey, but they appointed a trustee in her place and call this ‘fight against terrorism’, while they, on the other hand, say that ‘The Kurds are our brothers’. This is not brotherhood. They say ‘we are brothers with Kurds’, but they list red lines. This red line does not include Kurds, different peoples and beliefs. This red line includes the centuries-old understanding of denial and extermination, monism. They talk about brotherhood, but only on condition that the Kurds should not have a name and an identity, that they should not speak Kurdish and not demand education in the mother tongue. Is such brotherhood possible? The answer is not given by us, but by our valuable people in the fields. Let the palace hear it, let Ankara hear it. Let the partners of the government hear it.

Again, the same spokespersons say that the DEM Party is pushing a peace process away. This is a total lie. Every time we talked, no matter who spoke on behalf of our party, we said ‘We are ready for an honourable peace’. We said we were ready for a solution on democratic grounds together. The government must decide this. The state must decide if it is a hand of peace that is being outstretched. If so, we are ready to hold that hand. If not, we are ready to wage an honourable struggle against that hand together with our peoples as we have done until today. We would then wage the strongest struggle against them.

‘We are ready for both negotiation and struggle’

Those who say ‘Kurds are our brothers’ are working on two laws. More precisely, they are preparing a law with two agendas. One is about parliamentary elections and the other is about municipal elections. They want to ban others from the beginning. This cannot be the hand of peace. Together with our peoples, we once again appeal to the state mind and the government. We want an honorable peace. Kurdish people demand the right to education in their mother tongue. The Kurdish people want a negotiation and dialogue process to develop on democratic grounds. Are you, as the state mind and the government, ready for this? The people of Kurdistan, especially the people of Batman, and the people of Turkey are waiting for the answer. We have given our message at every opportunity; we are ready for both negotiation and struggle.

We are the ones who say ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’

Hatimoğulları continued: “This government persecutes women the most. They do not tolerate the presence of women in politics or in the public sphere. We have personally experienced the effects of Hezbollah on this issue during this election process in Batman. Still, the people of Batman embraced their party with great honour and elected our party's candidate. These anti-democratic practices, especially the appointment of trustees, are a stance against the representation of women everywhere. They did not accept our purple line of co-presidency and equal representation. They do not accept women playing an active role in politics. They say, ‘What are you doing in politics, go home!’. However, we women are the ones who say ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ (Woman, Life, Freedom).”

Masses start gathering for the 'Democracy and Freedom Rally' in Batman

A central rally for ‘Democracy and Freedom’ will be held in Batman province today. The rally is promoted by the Platform of Democratic Institutions.


ANF
BATMAN
Sunday, 17 November 2024

The Platform of Democratic Institutions is organising a rally for ‘Democracy and Freedom’ in Batman. A banner reading ‘We are expanding our freedom march for a democratic solution to the Kurdish question’ was hung in the rally area where masses have already started to gather. The people are carrying banners reading ‘This is a public warning; evacuate the municipalities’, ‘No passage to the trustee, the trustee is plunder’ and ‘The solution and the interlocutor are clear’.

People coming from neighbouring cities for the rally met at Diyarbakır Street and Hasankeyf Junction. While the team from Sirt entered the area with a banner reading ‘We will win by resisting against the usurpation of will, not trustees but democracy’, a large number of women, including the Peace Mothers, who gathered in the Free Women’s Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad, TJA) cortège, gathered at Yılmaz Güney Park.

Prevented from passing through the checkpoint, the people coming from Hasankeyf got out of their vehicles and marched towards Batman, chanting the slogan ‘We will win by resisting’.

Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chairperson Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar also arrived at the rally site.

Those who set out from Mardin and Şırnak were also intercepted by Turkish troops in the district of Gercüş. The people started to march towards Batman, chanting the slogans ‘Bijî berxwedana Batmanê’ and ‘Berxwedan xweş doz e’.

Declaration of the ‘Democracy and Freedom Rally’ to be held in Batman on 17 November announced

Call for everyone in favour of peace, democracy and fraternity in Turkey to increase the common struggle and to participate in the ‘Democracy and Freedom Rally’ in Batman on 17 November to speak out against oppression.


ANF
BATMAN
Monday, 11 November 2024

The Platform of Democratic Institutions announced a declaration regarding the ‘Democracy and Freedom’ rally to be held in Batman on 17 November. DBP co-chairs Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar and Keskin Bayındır, DEM Party MPs and TJA (Free Women’s Movement) activists attended the press conference held at Petrol İş Union hall in Batman on Monday. The banner ‘We are expanding our freedom march for a democratic country’ was unfurled at the event.

The declaration, read by TJA activist Havva Can in Kurdish and by DEM Party Assembly Member Sema Koç in Turkish, said the following:

“The crises and chaos created by the system of capitalist modernity have spread all over the world, especially in the Middle East. The system's wheel of violence and exploitation has made life unbearable by reaching the level of social destruction, ecocide and femicide. The system, whose bankruptcy is certain with its institutions and rules, has become incapable of managing even its own internal crises, let alone finding solutions to the problems of humanity, which have reached gigantic dimensions. It has become clear that the structural crises of the system have spread to our region and the world as the 3rd World War. Every move of the forces of capitalist modernity, which respond to the peoples' struggle for freedom, democracy and rights with oppression, violence and massacres, to overcome the crisis only deepens the problems even more. The reflection of these wars on the new energy routes of the capitalist modernity system, which is fundamentally based on further profit and exploitation, on the peoples is nothing but oppression, violence, death, massacre, poverty, hunger and new waves of migration.

The Middle East is the centre of the war of profit and exploitation of the capitalist modernity system with which it is in structural contradiction due to its historical, cultural and social heritage. It is contrary to the nature of things that the system, which has turned our region into a bloodbath with the nation-state mentality for a hundred years, finds solutions to the problems it has caused. The separation of peoples who have lived together for thousands of years and have common cultural and social values with a nation-state mentality did not and will not yield any results other than deepening the problems. The wheel of war and exploitation of the system has once again shown that peoples should solve their own problems through dialogue and negotiation and peaceful means. In this context, the 'Democratic Nation' and 'Democratic Confederalism' concepts developed by Mr Abdullah Öcalan offer a great chance to solve the problems of humanity.

The Third World War, which started with the end of the bipolar world order and the Cold War, has reached a new stage. While the crisis created by the Russia-Ukraine war continues at the global level, the local conflict between Israel and Hamas with the events of 7 October has approached the level of a regional war. The war between Israel, Palestine and Lebanon will inevitably have repercussions on the countries of the region in particular and the world in general. The denialist policies of despotic nation-states that reject the historical, cultural, political and social reality of the peoples have made the region open to all kinds of foreign intervention. Despotic powers that try to maintain their power through oppression, violence and massacre have no legitimacy in the eyes of the peoples. Just as no power that did not ensure internal peace has survived throughout history, no structure that continues its policies of rejection and denial has a chance to survive today.

Turkey is one of the countries that has not shown the prudence to solve its fundamental problems with the policies of rejection and denial it has pursued in the Kurdish question and has not achieved internal peace. Policies that ignore the historical, cultural, social and political reality of our geography are the main cause of a periodic conflict for one hundred and fifty years and an uninterrupted conflict for fifty years. Mr Öcalan has repeatedly expressed his will for the conflict process to evolve into a negotiated solution, but these chances and opportunities have been squandered every time. The policies of solutionlessness based on the politics of denial, which have yielded no results, have not gone beyond confirming the regional nature of the Kurdish issue. At the current stage, it is the only way for peoples to solve their problems with their own hands against the opportunism of hegemonic powers and their satellite nation-states to fortify themselves through new wars.

In this context, the discussions on the Kurdish issue, for whatever reason, are positive and important. Mr Öcalan's remark ‘Isolation continues. I have the theoretical and practical power to move this process from the grounds of violence and conflict to the political and legal grounds if the conditions arise' is of historic importance. Mr. Öcalan's decisive mission in paving the way and managing the developments in the past periods of ceasefire, dialogue and negotiation is known. The Kurdish people and politics trust in the theoretical and practical power of Mr Öcalan today as they did yesterday; they believe that he is the only addressee and interlocutor for a solution. The Kurdish politics, with all its institutions, has declared that it will act in accordance with its historical and social responsibility for a peaceful solution to the problems of Turkey’s peoples through negotiation and dialogue.

The government must firstly show the society that it is sincere in the discussions it has initiated on the Kurdish issue and take concrete steps. With regard to the Kurdish issue, practice is more important than words. As seen in world examples, trust and social support are vital for a solution. However, the government's talk of internal peace and brotherhood on the one hand, and its pursuit of policies contrary to this on the other, calls into question its sincerity. Attacking every area where Kurds are present outside and carrying out trustee policies inside is not a sign of a solution. On the contrary, it is an insistence on the continuation of a hundred years of rejection and denial policies. With these contradictions in discourse and practice, the government can neither convince the Kurdish people nor the society in Turkey, nor can it get the results it desires for its own power. There will be no solution by ignoring the will of the Kurdish people through the usurpation by trustees, and the Kurdish people will not submit to these attacks today as they did yesterday. The government must immediately give up these policies of trustee usurpation and violence.

This policy means the deepening of problems at home and the continuation of compromising policies abroad. This means that the social, political and economic crises that have emerged as a result of the security policies pursued by the government for the last ten years will evolve into a total collapse. For this reason, the peoples, especially the Kurds, women, youth, workers and the oppressed as a whole expect the AKP-MHP government to be sincere and transparent about the discussions it has initiated. The way to achieve this is for the government to immediately lift the aggravated isolation as required by the constitution and universal legal norms to which it is a party, and to secure Mr Öcalan's conditions of health, safety and freedom. In addition, opportunities for him to meet with his organisation, his lawyers and all social segments in favour of a democratic solution should be created.

On this basis, we call on everyone in favour of peace, democracy and fraternity in Turkey to increase the common struggle against the trustee and monist policies. We invite all peoples, women, youth, labourers and the oppressed to participate in the ‘Democracy and Freedom Rally’ in Batman on 17 November and to speak out against this oppression.”

FREE OCALAN!

Historic rally in Cologne: We are ready for an honourable and democratic solution

Kurds and their friends who came together in Cologne for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan gave the message “We are ready for an honourable and democratic solution’ and “The key to the solution is in İmralı.”


ANF
COLOGNE
Saturday, 16 November 2024,

Thousands of people rallied in the German city of Cologne on Saturday demanding freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question.

The demonstration in Cologne is organised under the slogan ‘Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question’ in the scope of the international campaign ‘Freedom for Öcalan - A Political Solution to the Kurdish Question’, which was launched in October 2023 and recently joined by 69 Nobel Prize winners worldwide. The participants made an urgent appeal for the release of Abdullah Öcalan and the resumption of a dialogue process to resolve the decades-long conflict in Kurdistan through peace negotiations.

The rally started with a moment of silence for the martyrs of Kurdistan and the world revolution and the anthem ‘Ey Raqip’, followed by speeches by Zübeyde Zümrüt and Engin Sever, Co-chairs of KCDK-E (European Democratic Societies Congress), and Ayten Kaplan, representative of TJK-E (Kurdish Women’s Movement in Europe).

A written message by the KJK (Kurdistan Women's Union) Coordination said: “Now is the time to succeed in the unceasing struggle of our people and martyrs for a Free Kurdistan and a Free Leader. To this end, history expects us more than ever to lead in struggle, work, organisation, action and labour. We greet you with our most sincere love and loyalty with our belief that you will enlarge the struggle you have carried out until now.”

Geisweid: We demand justice and human rights for Mr Öcalan and all political prisoners

Speaking after, MAF-DAD Co-Chair Heike Geisweid said, “We gathered here today to protest against the inhumane isolation of Mr Abdullah Öcalan. This situation is not only contrary to international standards, but also violates Mr Öcalan's basic human rights on a daily basis. Since 15 February 1999, Mr. Öcalan has been held in the F-Type High Security Prison on Imrali Island and has been subjected to a system of isolation and torture rarely seen in the world.

İmralı Island and the prison have been placed in a ‘crisis situation’ with special restrictions since 16 February 1999. This crisis situation can only be declared regionally and temporarily in extraordinary circumstances such as natural disasters, war or earthquakes. However, this ‘crisis situation’ was legalised by regulations after July 2016.

From 27 July 2011 until the coup attempt in 2016, the weekly visit requests of Mr Öcalan's lawyers were rejected on various fabricated grounds. The visits could not take place on allegations of unfavourable weather conditions and technical defect of the coaster going to the island. Immediately after the declaration of the state of emergency in 2016, an execution judge in Bursa took the first decision to ban lawyer visits in İmralı Prison. After 15 July 2016, this ban was renewed every six months under the pretext of the state of emergency.

In Mr Öcalan's case, the ‘Right to Hope’ has also been de facto abolished. In a judgement delivered in March 2014, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that Turkey had violated Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights - the prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment - by imposing an irrevocable life sentence on Abdullah Öcalan.

As lawyers, we are well aware of the political and social implications of this situation. Because Mr Öcalan is not just a political prisoner; his case goes beyond individual destiny. He is a symbol of the Kurdish people's decades-long struggle for freedom, self-determination and justice.

Together with our colleagues around the world, we call on the international community not to turn a blind eye to this situation. It is shameful that Western states and international organisations remain silent on this unlawful and inhumane situation.

We call on the European Union, the United Nations and all human rights organisations to finally take a clear stand and put pressure on the Turkish government to end this inhumane practice. It is time for Mr Öcalan to have his fundamental rights restored.

We demand the immediate lifting of the ban on meetings with his lawyers and regular visits to İmralı.

We demand justice and human rights for Mr Öcalan and all political prisoners and demand an end to all forms of isolation.

We demand the implementation of the right to hope for all political prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment in the Turkish criminal justice system.

We demand the immediate release of Mr Abdullah Öcalan.

KNK Co-Chair: The Kurdish people do not want conflict, they want peace

Speaking after, KNK (Kurdistan National Congress) Co-Chair Ahmet Karamus said the following:

Let us turn your valuable and majestic stance into the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, the will of the Kurdish people. The isolation of the leader continues, let's break it. Let's turn this will into the will for a solution in four parts.

Here is our message to the Turkish state, Europe, America, NATO and the whole world: Mr Öcalan is the will of the Kurdish people. Mr Öcalan is ready to take on a role for peace and solution if appropriate conditions are provided. And he says ‘I have this power’. This will and power comes from your struggle and determination; it gives Mr Öcalan the power of leadership and solution.

The Kurdish people are ready for equality, democracy and peace. All four parts of Kurdistan are ready for both peace and resistance with all methods to achieve this goal. The Kurdish people continue the struggle with millions of will. Your resistance and determination strengthen this hope. A solution to the Middle East and the world will be achieved together. A solution is possible under the leadership of Mr Öcalan. If the Turkish state does not want to delay our people and waste time with deception, trickery and lies, it should know that our people have the will, project and means for a solution.


The Kurdish people have made a decision for a solution, for peace. I want to convey this message clearly to the whole world, especially to Europe, America, Russia and the UN. The Kurdish people do not want conflict, they want peace. If the Turkish state has a project for a solution, the Kurdish people are ready for it. This message must be clearly understood and accepted by all parties.

We are once again extending the hand of peace before the situation in the Middle East and the world worsens. Everyone must realise that our demand for peace is for a solution. For a century, the occupying states have wanted to leave the Kurdish question unresolved, but the Kurdish people do not accept this. You are demonstrating the existence of this people in all areas with great will and determination.

We call on all parties and institutions to strengthen the hand of Mr Öcalan. This is both the will of this people and yours. We call out to everyone who hears our voice. Let us raise our voices in the political, diplomatic and resistance fields. Now is the time for a solution. Let us fight together for peace and a solution.

Zübeyde Zümrüt: In this square, we have become one voice. Thousands of greetings to the resistance fighters in the mountains, to the youth, to the women, to all those who support this struggle with their stances, slogans and participation. Let the world see that thousands of people here are giving a message to the international powers with one voice: ‘My will is imprisoned in İmralı. We will be in the squares and fields until his physical freedom is realised.

We appeal to the CPT and the Council of Europe. Listen to these masses. Hear what the Kurdish people and the Kurds in Europe are saying! The message is the stance of the Kurdish people. The Kurdish people say clearly and unambiguously: ‘If there is to be a solution, it is only possible with Leader Öcalan. A solution is not possible without the Leader.’ Leader Öcalan has been imprisoned for 26 years. Our struggle will continue until the Kurdish people liberate him and the Kurdish problem is resolved. The freedom of Leader Öcalan is the freedom of the Middle East and the peoples. Long live Leader Öcalan!

Engin Sever: Those who have been involved in the conspiracy against Leader Öcalan for 26 years see this crowd. We are gathering around Leader Öcalan and shouting for his freedom. All our organisations in the 4 parts of Kurdistan and we in Europe as KCKD-E have once again announced: Leader Öcalan is our will and binds us all. November is the month of birth for the Kurdish people. Happy birthday! Our appeal to the German government: For 31 years you have been banning this people, their struggle and their values. But you have not achieved any results. The Kurdish people are united around your freedom movement and cry out for freedom. Revoke the 31-year ban, see this will. Long live Leader Öcalan!

Ayten Kaplan: Today we want to tell the German and European states that we are here and we want Öcalan's freedom... I want to say this to the masses: We are addressing the CPT, the forces of the international conspiracy and all European countries: We are all behind our Leader!

Our leader has been kept under heavy isolation for 26 years. European organisations are also responsible for this isolation. Germany has been banning the PKK for 30 years, trying to keep the Kurdish people under pressure with these bans targeting our identity and language. However, the Kurdish people want freedom and clearly show the address of the solution: Abdullah Öcalan is the interlocutor!

Ömer Öcalan: I brought Mr Öcalan's greetings. Mr Öcalan said to me ‘Wherever you go, convey my greetings’. He sent his special greetings to Kurds and their friends. There have been discussions on Mr Öcalan's message for days. Political parties, organisations and Kurdish institutions have said ‘the address is İmralı and we are behind this message’. They clearly stated that the Kurdish question should be solved by democratic means with Mr Öcalan.

Mr Öcalan stated that he could eliminate the conditions of conflict if the proper conditions arose. He said that he trusted his theoretical and political knowledge. We also trust him. As the Kurds, we are an oppressed people. Mr Öcalan is fighting for democracy and peace and his past experiences are in front of our eyes. The Oslo process and the İmralı process are examples. However, after these processes, unfortunately the Turkish state inflicted a lot of pain on our people.



With great morale, energy and power in prison, Mr Öcalan has expressed that the solution will be an honourable and democratic solution and that he is ready for it. We, as the people, must add strength to his power. This morale, energy and power is present in Mr Öcalan and it is our duty to support this power.

We must increase our struggle for democracy and peace. The will of our people is clear: We have to develop democratic politics. We must prevent the dirty war. We must strengthen our politics, unity and relations. The solution can be achieved not by writing with a red pen, but with sincerity, seriousness and interlocutors. Isolation cannot continue in an unlawful and illegal manner.

When I met Mr Öcalan, he said that Hamili Yıldırım, Ömer Hayri Konar and Veysi Aktaş were in good condition. Mr Öcalan always gave us morale. Even though he has been in prison for years, he has never once reflected a negative situation to us. He gave us all strength and hope.

Our burden is heavy, but we can only succeed if we come together with faith and unity. Our attitude and stance is clear: İmralı is the interlocutor. We say again that we are ready for a solution. We will do people's politics, democratic politics. We say no to elitism and bureaucratic politics. We want direct democracy and this democracy represents Mr Öcalan.

We will increase our struggle with great morale and a clear stance. Success is ours!

Representative of the Internationalist Block: For decades and despite all the pressures, the Kurdish Freedom Movement has repeatedly demonstrated its will for a just peace. Countless times it has emphasised that it is open to a genuine process. The PKK has unilaterally laid down its arms nine times. Abdullah Öcalan, despite being kept in isolation for nearly 26 years, has long been seeking a solution based on dialogue and democracy. A solution that can unite all the peoples of the Middle East.

Turkey, on the other hand, talks about peace, but its actions show the opposite. At the end of October, the fascist Turkish state further escalated its war against the Kurdish community in north-eastern Syria and Bashur (Southern Kurdistan). By bombing people and civilian infrastructure, it tried to completely destroy the basic right to life.

Two weeks ago, the Turkish state appointed trustees to three Kurdish municipalities. Kurdish society and especially the youth are resolutely resisting this undemocratic coup. The state responds with bans on press conferences, violence, repression and torture.

Turkey's peace proposals are nothing but hypocrisy. How can there be a peace in which young people are tortured, people are arrested and civilian villages are bombed? We want just peace. Öcalan can pave the way for this peace and ending his isolation is key to this. We therefore demand the physical freedom of Öcalan and a peaceful solution for all parts of Kurdistan.

The movement around Öcalan shows that the struggle against war and capitalism is possible even today. This movement proves that even a powerful NATO army cannot break the resistance of the peoples.

Our task as the German left is to fight against German imperialism and its war industry. It is to expose the interests of the German state and to make it clear that Germany has supported Turkey's genocidal policy with arms exports for decades.

Large companies such as Thyssen-Krupp, Airbus and Rheinmetall are directly profiting from the occupation of Kurdistan. Just last Wednesday, a deal worth 4 billion Euros for fighter jets was approved. Exactly 4 billion Euros!

However, the German state not only stands to gain economically. It also wants to secure important trade routes through these arms deals. German imperialism needs a brotherhood of arms with Turkey for its claims to power in the world.

Their interest in the repression of peoples is clearly visible in the latest deportation agreements with Erdoğan. Because it is the politically active Kurds who are to be deported en masse to Turkey. The German government is handing them over to the Turkish state. Our response is resistance in every country.

If here in Germany, as a leftist movement, we take to the streets against fascism and criticise racist immigration policies and German imperialism, while at the same time the youth of North Kurdistan resist tirelessly and fight with guerrilla weapons in the free mountains of Kurdistan, then we resist together against the same enemy.

We can be in different parts of the world, whether in Germany, Sudan, Palestine or Kurdistan. But in the end, as democratic forces, we are fighting against a common enemy. We fight together against all forms of oppression, militarism and state violence, but above all for life, liberty and a just peace!

We see in the Middle East - from the mountains to Kobanê – that the resistance continues.

Down with fascism, down with imperialism!

Long live the social revolution!

Long live the guerrilla resistance!

Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan!

Long live international solidarity!

Sajanthan Kethiswaran on behalf of the Tamil Freedom Movement: Dear friends and comrades. We are very happy and proud to be here today to demand the freedom of a great visionary, revolutionary, guerrilla, politician and philosopher. We are talking about the founder of the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan or Leader Apo.

Even the name of Abdullah Öcalan strikes fear in the rulers of the imperialist states. That is why they are trying to ban even the mention of his name. But we do not succumb to this, on the contrary, together with you we demand the freedom of this great man immediately; he has been unjustly imprisoned in Turkish prisons for nearly 26 years.

We have gathered here today to demand his freedom. In many places the Tamil Freedom movement is also taking part in this struggle. Your struggle is our struggle.

Today, at a historic moment when many peoples are fighting for their freedom, Abdullah Öcalan is an important key figure. Although the Turkish regime and its western allies deny it, the key to a just peace is in Imrali. On the other hand, the Turkish state is trying to exterminate the Kurdish people, launching air strikes and killing recklessly.

The German state supports this policy by criminalising the Kurdish people with 129b thought crimes, stigmatising us all as terrorists and making society fear us. But we are the ones who raise the banner of social progress and humanism. The politically conscious people of Tamil Eelam and its diaspora stand with you.

This is our historical similarity, which we share with the Palestinian people and with many other peoples. Let us build the international unity of oppressed peoples to fight for the freedom of our prisoners and brutally expose the impunity of the executioners who torture in the name of imperialism. Together we can achieve many things that we cannot yet see today, but every day we take one step forward. Victory is ours, it is only a matter of time.

We demand together with you: Freedom of Abdullah Öcalan! Freedom of all political prisoners in Kurdistan, Tamil Eelam and all over the world! The right of all peoples and all people to self-determination! Against fascism and imperialism! For a solidary world of plurality and diversity!

Demonstration in Cologne starts

Thousands of people are marching in Cologne demanding freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question. The participants call for the resumption of a dialogue process.


ANF
COLOGNE
Saturday, 16 November 2024,

The demonstration in Cologne under the slogan ‘Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question’ has started. The event marks an important milestone in the international campaign ‘Freedom for Öcalan - A Political Solution to the Kurdish Question’, which was launched in October 2023 and recently joined by 69 Nobel Prize winners worldwide. Thousands of people from all over Germany and neighbouring countries have come to Cologne for the event and are marching from the Deutzer Werft through the city.

The demonstration is organised by KON-MED (Confederation of Kurdish Communities in Germany), the largest Kurdish umbrella organisation in Germany. Numerous organisations, parties and civil society structures have called for the demonstration. The participants are making an urgent appeal for the release of Abdullah Öcalan and the resumption of a dialogue process to resolve the decades-long conflict in Kurdistan through peace negotiations.



A joint appeal entitled ‘For a political solution to the Kurdish question – For a just peace: Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan now!’ stated: “The isolation of Abdullah Öcalan, who has been imprisoned on the prison island of Imrali for almost 26 years, is emblematic of political and social oppression in Turkey. An end to the isolation and the release of Abdullah Öcalan are crucial to the beginning of a just peace process. He remains the central figure for a dialogue on equal terms.”

The German Solidarity Network of the campaign for the release of Öcalan stated the following in a message about the demonstration: “The recent visit of the DEM member of parliament Ömer Öcalan to his uncle on Imrali, as well as signals from the Turkish government and nationalist parties, raise hopes for an end to the isolation and the policy of violence. At the same time, the suppression of human rights and democratic opposition in Turkey continues, while the war in Kurdistan, especially in Southern Kurdistan (Northern Iraq) and Rojava (Northern Syria), is causing immense suffering.”

The organisers are calling on people to support the demonstration in Cologne and to join together in sending a powerful signal for peace, justice and democracy. Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the rally. The first groups from Germany and across Europe began arriving in the early hours of the morning. Participants are arriving in numerous buses from France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland. According to the organisers, 140 buses have been rented from across Germany alone.

Ömer Öcalan arrives in Cologne and calls for participation in today's march

DEM MP Ömer Öcalan arrived in Cologne on Friday night and called for participation in the march that will take place today in the city to demand freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question.


ANF
COLOGNE
Saturday, 16 November 2024,

Ömer Öcalan, MP for the Party for Democracy and Equality (DEM Party), arrived in Cologne on Friday night. He called for participation in the march to be held today in the city to demand freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question.

"I am also here in Cologne. – he said - We will send a message to the whole world from here. This strong message must also reach the island of Imrali."


The Kurdish politician, whose uncle Abdullah Öcalan has been held in total isolation in the prison island of Imrali for over 25 years, said: "The Kurds are an innocent people who are fighting for peace. We are committed to a dignified peace and a political solution." The DEM Party MP appealed to the Kurds living in Europe and all people in solidarity to take part in the demonstration in Cologne and to contribute to the success of the event.

Visit to Abdullah Öcalan

Ömer Öcalan visited Abdullah Öcalan on 23 October in Imrali. He was able to speak to the Kurdish people’s leader for around an hour and a half. Before that visit, it was unclear for years what was going on the island. The last visit to the Kurdish people’s leader took place on 3 March 2020, and in March 2021 he had a short telephone conversation with his brother Mehmet Öcalan.

As Ömer Öcalan announced the day after his visit, Abdullah Öcalan was in good health and sent greetings to everyone. He assessed the general political developments and asked that the following message be conveyed on to the public: "Isolation continues. If the conditions are provided, I have the theoretical and practical strength to move this phase from an environment of conflict and violence to a legal and political environment."

Demonstration in Cologne

Dozens of Kurdish associations and numerous internationalist and democratic organizations have called for participation in the demonstration that will take place today in Cologne. The meeting time is at eleven o'clock at the Deutzer Werft, and, then led by a women's bloc, the march is scheduled to start at 12.30 p.m. Participants from Germany and other European countries are expected. Buses will travel to Cologne from all over Germany. The demonstration will go over the Severinsbrücke on the banks of the Rhine and past Heumarkt back over the Deutzer Brücke to the meeting point.

First group of participants arrives in Cologne

The first participants in the demonstration for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question arrived at the Deutzer Werft, in Cologne at dawn.


ANF
COLOGNE
Saturday, 16 November 2024,

The demonstration for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question will begin in Cologne in a few hours.

The first demonstrators arrived at the Deutzer Werft early in the morning. On the way to the opening rally, they chanted slogans and sung. They danced the Kurdish govend in front of the large stage still in the dark.


Dozens of Kurdish associations and numerous internationalist and democratic organizations have called for the demonstration. Participants in their thousands are expected from Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland. Around 140 buses have been rented for a joint journey from Germany.

One of the invited speakers is the DEM MP Ömer Öcalan, who was able to visit his uncle Abdullah Öcalan on 23 October in the Turkish island prison Imrali after years of no contact.

Sozdar Avesta: We stand behind President Öcalan’s decision and the process he is developing

In this in-depth interview, Sozdar Avesta, member of the Presidential Council of the KCK, discusses, among other things, the importance of the greetings of the people's leader Abdullah Ocalan in the current phase, talks about the oppression of women 


ANF
BEHDINAN
Saturday, 9 November 2024, 07:50

In this in-depth interview, Sozdar Avesta, member of the Presidential Council of the KCK, discusses, among other things, the importance of the greetings of the people's leader Abdullah Ocalan in the current phase.

For 26 years, the Kurdish people's leader, Abdullah Öcalan, has been raising a great resistance against the system of denial and annihilation under the harsh conditions in Imrali. As is well known, there was no sign of life from him for 44 months. Most recently, on October 23rd, Ömer Öcalan, MP from Riha (tr. Urfa), was allowed to hold a meeting with Rêber Apo. How do you evaluate both Rêber Apo’s message and the ongoing isolation?

After 44 months, for the first time again, we heard from Rêber Apo [Abdullah Öcalan] in the framework of a meeting with his family, and he sent us his greetings. First of all, as his comrades and both on behalf of our movement and on behalf of women, with great love and respect, we received Rêber Apo’s greetings, and we also greet Rêber Apo’s resistance and stance with respect and love.

First of all, it must be emphasized that this meeting was Rêber Apo’s right. The family, the lawyers, as well as human rights and other international non-governmental organizations, must be allowed to meet him. This is Rêber Apo’s legal right. But of course it is known that Rêber Apo is no ordinary prisoner. The way he was abducted is well known. An international conspiracy took place, at the end of which he was handed over to the Turkish state. Rêber Apo is being held hostage – this became clear once through the last meeting. Because his right to hold meetings is being exploited as a bargaining chip. They want to use this meeting as blackmail politics against our people, our movement, and our leadership.

Rêber Apo has been in Imrali for 26 years and has been resisting relentlessly, particularly in the past 44 months. At the same time, our people have been resisting continuously under the leadership of women and youth; thousands of prisoners are struggling, and our movement has given thousands of martyrs to break the isolation and ensure the physical freedom, health, and safety of Rêber Apo. The recent meeting is a result of this struggle.

Before the meeting, the fascist Erdogan-Bahceli government had started playing new games. Bahceli had spoken several times in parliament and had tried to create a discourse in public opinion about a possible new solution process. He even said that Rêber Apo should come to the parliament and speak there. So before the meeting, they wanted to create an expectation that there was something new. The message Rêber Apo conveyed through Ömer Öcalan, both MP of Riha and nephew of Rêber Apo, was: “The isolation continues.” and “I have the theoretical and practical power to move this process from the grounds of conflict and violence to the legal and political grounds if the conditions arise.”

This stance and attitude of Rêber Apo made the governments mask fall. They say many things but do not think of implementing them in practice. Again, they thought of playing such a game to break the effect of the global campaign for Rêber Apo’s physical freedom, to create some expectations in society, but not to actually do anything. Rêber Apo has shown his stance and emphasized that if they have a sincere will, he is ready and has the strength to play his role. Immediately following this statement by Rêber Apo, the co-presidency of the KCK Executive Council, and later other comrades also issued statements on behalf of the movement, underlining that we stand behind Rêber Apo’s decision and the process he is developing. They wanted to create a contradiction between the PKK, Rêber Apo, and KCK, but they didn’t succeed in it. Immediately afterwards, they have again given Rêber Apo a three-month visiting ban. In fact, this means that their words are lies, that they are not ready for a true solution process, and that they will insist on the politics of denial and destruction against the Kurdish people.

They continue their concept unabated and focus on Rêber Apo. Yesterday, Rêber Apo emphasized that he was ready to work out a joint solution, and today he is being given a disciplinary punishment. They are not ready for such a process. That was to be expected, because what we see are the intensifying attacks against the Medya Defense Zones, the continued genocidal policies in the political sphere, and the constantly growing extent of attacks against the Kurdish people and the whole of Kurdistan. This government does not have the mentality to solve the Kurdish question. It is a government that is based on enmity against the Kurds. Their lies, their dirty aims, and their true faces were once again revealed. The fact that we received news from Rêber Apo and received his greeting is the result of a great struggle and resistance. The greeting of Rêber Apo gave us strength; we received it with respect and love, and we are making this greeting the basis of a great struggle to break the isolation. It is required to spread the struggle to all areas more and massify the resistance. Only resistance can ensure Rêber Apo’s physical freedom; only struggle can guarantee his safety and health. On this basis, the struggle must be strengthened and grown.

Rêber Apo’s resistance in Imrali is the basis of the struggle of the Kurdish people and the guerrillas. The guerrillas are becoming more and more successful every day in the ongoing war in the Medya Defense Areas. The latest sacrificial action by comrade Asya and Rojger showed that the guerrillas of the democratic modernity can overcome any obstacles and reach its goal wherever it may be.

In this context, I would like to commemorate with respect and gratitude the honorable heroes of Kurdistan, comrade Asya Ali and Rojger Helin, who followed the tradition and path of our commander, the goddess of freedom, comrade Zilan. I bow with respect in the face of their great will and courageous stance. Also on this occasion, I respectfully commemorate all martyrs of November by commemorating the martyred commanders of our special forces, comrade Delal Amed, Reshit Serdar, and Shilan Kobane.

What message should be taken from the war waged by the guerrilla? Both the stage reached by the guerrilla resistance and the action carried out by our two comrades showed everyone the truth. The freedom movement is waging a struggle along the lines of Rêber Apo. The freedom guerrilla is the guerrilla of all Kurdistan and the guerrilla in defense of Rêber Apo. In particular, the ‘Battalion of the Immortals’, of which comrade Asya and Roger were a part, was founded by those who defend Rêber Apo against any false approach, who fight against the fascist mentality behind the isolation and prevent the isolation from becoming a bargaining chip against the peoples of Kurdistan. In this course, our comrades carried out an action against the center in Ankara, where all the materials used in the genocidal war are produced. It was an action with a clear target. The action chosen by these comrades was aimed at a military target. It was carried out in a sacrificial manner and showed what stage the guerrilla struggle has reached.

The letters that the two comrades wrote to become part of the Battalion of the Immortals have been circulating in public for several days. These letters are a manifesto for a free life. The struggle of comrade Asya and Rojger must be understood and analyzed correctly. It should not be glossed over by saying that it was just one action. Before that, in 2022, comrades Sara and Ruken carried out their action in Mersin. Again in 2023, comrades Erdal and Rojhat carried out their action in Ankara. Now, in 2024, the level of this action has been raised to an even higher level, and a target that was considered unattainable has been hit. Therefore, everyone, especially the enemies of the Kurdish people, should be careful in their calculations.

The action of comrades Asya and Rojger took place close to the meeting with Rêber Apo. Our movement had already made a statement that the comrades formed an autonomous unit, determining their targets and the way and time of their action themselves. Neither did our movement know about the meeting with Rêber Apo nor when the comrades would take action. No one knew of the meeting until it was announced publicly.

The action has torn the masks off the faces of many who have recently tried to hide behind deceiving statements. Therefore, this action was an appropriate and timely action. It was also not an action against civilians. It took place according to the rules of war. Kurdish people are being massacred every day with the weapons made in this center. For example, just the other day, families were massacred in Shehba with the weapons produced there. Again, there are the atrocities that were committed by the enemy in Cizir Botan (tr. Cizre), Hezex (tr. Idil), Nisebin (tr. Nusaybin), and Sur in 2015 and 2016, that comrade Rojger described in his letter. Comrade Asya and Rojger showed what it means to struggle for and live a free life. They showed when, where, and what kind of stance to take and what kind of deep love is therefore needed. As long as this genocidal politics, these massacres, and attacks against the Kurdish people continue, no one will be able to stop the Battalion of the Immortals. Not getting any news from Rêber Apo in over 44 months, of course, leads the freedom guerrillas to take action against it. Our comrades have stated everything about their actions in their letters. They should be read, and everybody should take a stance according to them.

There has been great continuing resistance of the guerrillas this year. The resistance will continue with all kinds of actions. There is a relentless struggle and great resistance in the areas of northern Kurdistan, Dersim (tr. Tunceli), Serhat, Bagok, Botan, Amed (tr. Diyarbakir), and the Medya Defense Zones. On this occasion, I greet the Kurdistan freedom guerrillas with respect and dignity and send my love. Most recently, our comrade Memed Cudi, commander in the Merdin (tr. Mardin) area, martyred. I remember comrade Memed Cudi with respect and gratitude. He put up a great resistance and was involved in crucial works before he gave his life in combat.

The few successes they achieve against the guerrillas are only due to betrayal. In northern Kurdistan, the village guards, gangs, mercenaries, and those who collaborate with the enemy play a crucial role in the strategy of the enemy. In the Medya Defense Zones, it is the Barzani family clan and its KDP that, through their treason, pave the way for the Turkish state. They guide the Turkish state and build roads to encircle the guerrillas. The Turkish state cannot get results against the freedom struggle and therefore attacks civilian areas. Using the action in Ankara as a pretext, they attacked North and East Syria and Shengal (Sinjar). In North and East Syria, 18 people were martyred, dozens were wounded, and 6 people were martyred in Shengal. I commemorate all the martyrs with respect and express my condolences to the families of the martyrs. We share their pain. I have great respect for their stance against the enemy. All the families of the martyrs stood firm against the enemy’s attacks. This is of great significance. In fact, these attacks also show the Iraqi government’s disrespect towards the people of Shengal. Even under Saddam, this community was not surrendered to the enemy in such an open way. Instead of doing its duty towards the very people who have been subjected to so many fermans and were directly persecuted by the mercenaries and gangs of ISIS, the Iraqi government made agreements with the Turkish state. It did not take a stand against the attacks on the Êzidî (Yazidi) community and still cooperates with the Turkish state for its own interests. This is a disgrace for Iraq. This must be underlined.

Both in Shengal and in North and East Syria, our people must organize against these attacks, strengthen their self-defense, and increase their defense mechanisms. Again, our people must gather around their self-defense forces. The guerrilla is doing its part, and our people must fulfill their role within the framework of the revolutionary people’s war. Revolution is a joint effort. The guerrillas a recarrying out actions in many areas from Zap, over Xakurke, Dersim, and Merdin, until Ankara, and the people should both take precautions against genocidal attacks everywhere and unite around the guerrillas. In this way, the struggle will succeed. The guerrillas have raised the bar of the struggle through comrades Asya and Rojger. They have shown what kind of stance should be taken.