Press Release of the KCK 17.08.2011
Presidency of Executive Committee of People’s Union of Kurdistan (KCK)
The recent rhetoric and attitude of the AKP government (Justice & Development Party) is dangerous enough to lead Turkey to chaos and disaster. The ‘blood and gunpowder’ stained statements by the Prime Minister, Interior Minister and other officials are calling for more violence, more war, more arrests, torture and detainments.
The recent strategy employed by the AKP government is evidence of this dangerous approach. Despite our Leader Abdullah Öcalan saying, ‘If the state takes a positive approach and positive steps, I can move guerrilla forces into a safe area and we can begin a lasting peace process,’ the AKP are still warmongering and for three weeks have been preventing the weekly meetings of our Leader with his lawyers.
We have not had any news from our Leader for three weeks. Furthermore it is harrowing that certain columnists have begun a discussion pertaining to whether it would be ‘better or worse if Abdullah Öcalan dies.’ What does this amount to? Is it random, arbitrary discussion or a conscious and devious plan to form a basis for certain strategies to be put into practice? The value and significance of our Leader for the People of Kurdistan and our Movement is well known and these types of dangerous and ill-fated speculations are causing great apprehension. When it is our Leader that is in question, it is imperative that even our enemy act respectfully to our Movement and People.
The current situation cannot be accepted in any way. The AKP must abandon this hazardous mentality and approach which is leading Turkey into a very serious war. Nobody can talk of a secure environment in Turkey in a political climate where the ‘life and death’ of our Leader is being discussed. No honourable Kurd and person of Kurdistan can remain silent in the face of this, let alone our Movement. It is impossible for the Kurdish issue to be resolved with a dialogue and peaceful manner if the AKP government do not forsake this approach towards our Leader. We have not had any news from him for three weeks and it is officially the AKP who are responsible for his health and life. We are calling on the AKP to come to their senses and act seriously. Otherwise there will be a heavy price to pay. Even the current isolation and behaviour towards our Leader is enough reason for every type of resistance and uprising.
The approach of the state towards our Leader is also its approach towards our people and movement. We have no more tolerance and patience for the AKP’s insidious and dangerous policies. This is why it is important that the people of Kurdistan and all sensitive revolutionary-democrat circles play their roles more than ever during this period. We are calling on our people to raise the struggle for the freedom, health and safety of our Leader and begin a more decisive and successful period of struggle to counteract the attacks of the AKP. Without claiming and protecting Abdullah Öcalan, the architect of peace and a democratic solution, one cannot claim and protect peace, a free identity and free future. Our people, all the patriotic-democratic institutions of Kurdistan, and all the circles who are in favour of peace and democracy must raise their voices against the unjust, immoral, blackmail and isolation policies directed at our Leader Abdullah Öcalan.
We are sad to hear of the death of the great revolutionary and friend of the people of Kurdistan comrade Mihri Belli, who never compromised his principles and fought a decisive and brave battle for revolution during his life. We share in the pain of all the revolutionaries of Turkey and Kurdistan and send our condolences to his valued wife and family.
As well as being a national revolutionary comrade Mihri Belli was also an internationalist revolutionary. He played an active part against fascism on an international platform and spent many years of his life in prison and exile, but did not once compromise himself or his ideals. The trusting, honourable and important relationship he developed with our Leader Abdullah Öcalan was especially significant and represents the joint future of our peoples. The people of Kurdistan and our movement will keep comrade Mihri Belli alive in its struggle and will always commemorate him by raising the struggle to realize his biggest ideal of fraternity and democratic socialism.
All the leftist-socialist, democratic circles and institutions of the Kurdistan Freedom Movement must claim the valued socialist and great revolutionary Mihri Belli who injected our peoples with trust and fraternity and be with him on his final journey. To keep alive the memory of this valued revolutionary all patriotic-democratic and leftist forces must come together to develop the joint-struggle of the Kurdish and Turkish peoples and unite under one party to advance the struggle for freedom and democracy.
In particular our people should be aware that a new and political struggle and leap forward has commenced and thus should strengthen its organization and target success on the basis of a high level participation.
TO THE PRESS, OUR PEOPLE AND DEMOCRATIC PUBLIC OPINION
The liberation issue of Kurdish people is the liberation and democracy issue of the region. The system that is imposed on our people is based on annihilation – denial and slavery. As a people, it is impossible for us to accept...