BEHDÎNAN – Duran Kalkan, member of the Executive Committee stated that the Turkish state is trying to encircle and restrict the guerrillas in some areas and drag them into a war of positions and said that wherever AKP-MHP fascism attacks, there will be a fight.
Kalkan stated that a much more effective war situation will develop in Turkish metropolises and preparations have been made accordingly and made it clear that the resistance should be expanded more in society, by women, youth and democratic and revolutionary forces.
Duran Kalkan, member of the PKK Executive Committee, answered the questions of Medya Haber TV in an interview in a special broadcast. This is the first part of the German translation of the interview, in which Duran Kalkan mainly deals with the expansion of the torture and isolation system from Imrali to the whole of Kurdistan and Turkey, and especially highlights the resistance in the prisons and the relatives outside the prisons. In this regard, he drew special attention to the role of the youth and says: “What are the young people doing in the Newroz squares? I mean, aren’t there some brave ones among them who will bring these oppressors and torturers to justice. That’s the way it should be. It’s a pity that it’s not.”
Further, Duran Kalkan made it clear that the system has reached its limits and that is why it is on the verge of collapse. The closer it is to collapse, the more brutality and violence they will use against the society and the resisters. He said, ” The repression and torture, are a sign of collapse, a sign of disintegration.”
In addition, Kalkan emphasized the movements in England that fought for the freedom of Rêber Apo and sent clear signals with their actions.
Duran Kalkan gave the following assessments in a long and detailed interview:
RESISTANCE IN IMRALI IS AT A HIGH LEVEL.
“The isolation in Imrali continues, that is clear. It is reflected in the press every day. Lawyers are informing the public more and more. Anyway, March 08, Newroz, April 04 passed. It was a very active process, there was a lot of activity there. The family also explained their attitude and situation on that occasion. So there was no change in that. Very often there are applications from the lawyers and families. The families of other imprisoned comrades also apply for visits, but they are all blocked for invented reasons. They used to say, “The ship is broken,” but now they cite reasons like “disciplinary sanctions.”
Rêber Apo has always said that there is no law or justice in Imrali. Politics starts from the top and goes to the end, there is resistance, there is struggle. This continues in its sharpest form. So this is how we should understand it. The attitude of the present state and government shows that the Imrali struggle continues in the fiercest and deepest way and that Rêber Apo is in resistance to all kinds of fascist, colonialist, genocidal, psychological and physical pressure. This is how we understand it. If we look at the situation in Imrali, in this regard, we understand how the political-military situation is, what is the attitude of Rêber Apo, what kind of pressure and torture he is facing and how he is resisting. This is how it is as a movement, this is how it is as a people. On this basis, as a movement and as a people, we are naturally trying to develop ourselves at the highest level by understanding more deeply the resistance of Rêber Apo.
The struggle against the Imrali torture and isolation system is also at the highest level. We have seen it at Newroz. We saw it on 04 April, we saw it on 08 March. Women showed their attitude. Kurdish people and their friends took a stand. Millions, tens of millions. How the walls of Imrali were shattered was shown when Rêber Apo became one with the people and the oppressed in the squares of Newroz. This was a very important situation. It means an already advanced level of struggle.”
THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES IN ALL AREAS
“We have entered the 50th year of Newroz. As a movement and a people, we have declared this year as the year of physical freedom of Rêber Apo. We have made such an intervention. The struggle continues in all fields. The struggle aims at the physical freedom of Rêber Apo. Our movement “Dem dema azadiye” is developing everywhere within this framework. In other words, the Kurdish people in all parts of Kurdistan and abroad, youth and women are developing. The oppressed people of the world, youth, women, workers and laborers, our revolutionary democratic friends are developing. There is a reality of global leadership and global struggle. This must be seen clearly. This struggle is developing every day. There were new declarations, attitudes developed.”
THE STANCE IN ENGLAND IS SIGNIFICANT
“Recently, the Education Workers Union in England took a great stance by calling for the release of Rêber Apo. It was a very significant moment, a valuable situation. The British unions had done that before, they joined them. It was a pretty clear stance. They want the freedom of Rêber Apo. It is a meaningful stance. On behalf of our party leadership, on behalf of Rêber Apo, I respectfully salute the leadership and all the members of these unions. Their highly meaningful attitudes are appreciated. That is how we see it. We appreciate it. It makes us proud; The union tradition is not dead. That’s why there’s still a class called the working class. Because that tradition originated in England and is felt today at the highest level. This is quite significant. The oppressed part of the British capital, the British state and the British kingdom involved in the creation of today’s Kurdistan, the situation of the Kurdish people, like a divided, fragmented, colonial, people-killing sovereignty, reveals the oppression of Kurdistan, the Rêber Apo held in the torture and isolation system Imrali.
The British system brought the Kurds and Kurdistan to this situation. Everyone knows this very well. Today, Britain supports the Kurdish genocidal war waged by the Turkish state and AKP-MHP fascism, both politically and militarily within NATO. This is very clear. In the recent past, Britain was behind all these major massacres. Today, it is the British policy, the British state that feeds the Tayyip Erdoğan government, the Devlet Bahçeli government, and attacks the Kurdish people in the streets, in the dungeons, in the mountains, in four parts of Kurdistan. Under the rule of such a state, the solidarity of the workers and laborers, the oppressed, the trade unions with Rêber Apo, the Kurdish people, the Kurdish existence and freedom is a great event, a very valuable and meaningful event. (…) The current state and government are playing the most sinister role in the Kurdish genocide, but society does not support this. Workers do not support this, unions do not support this. Under the rule of such a state, there are people who are in solidarity with Rêber Apo, who support Kurdish existence and freedom and make this known at the level that demands the freedom of Rêber Apo, there is a society, there are brave people, revolutionaries, democratic people, free people. In fact, this is both revolutionary and democratic.
We said before; The criterion of being a democrat depends on the attitude towards the Imrali torture and isolation system. British workers, workers’ unions show this. Similar things are developing in other regions of the world. Intellectuals, politicians, different parties, organizations. In other words, they are developing such an attitude more and more clearly all over the world, in Europe, Asia, Africa, America. We greet everyone respectfully. We find it meaningful, we find it valuable.
We fight and struggle for the destruction of oppression, for freedom and democracy to prevail and for a world worth living in. That is the basis of our war. This is what the Kurdish people want. This is the main purpose of their struggle, which they are carrying out with great courage in the manner of sacrifice. This is how a brotherhood and solidarity is created. This will last. This struggle will determine the outcome.”
THERE IS OPPRESSION, TORTURE AND DEATH IN THE PRISONS
Duran Kalkan also addressed the resistance of prisoners in Turkish prisons, saluted today’s resistance and made it clear that it had developed along the lines of the great prison resistance of 1982. He said, “I pay my respect to all the resisting prisoners. I wish you every success. In the person of comrades Mazlum, Hayri, Kemal and Ferhat, I commemorate the heroic martyrs of the greatest and most significant resistance of this history with respect and gratitude. Indeed, there are cruelties in the dungeons, there is death, there is torture. That is obvious. It is also reflected more and more in the press.”
The PKK Executive Committee member made it clear that the society is more and more attentive to the situation in the prisons because the prisoners are leaving the prisons in coffins. He made it clear that it has been emphasized earlier that the torture and isolation system is not only limited to Imrali, but it is a system of the mentality of the fascist AKP-MHP dictatorship. It is clear that the torture and isolation system has spread and will spread further. Duran Kalkan further stated, “Now it seems that it has actually spread to all prisons. It spread all over Turkey and Kurdistan. There is not only cruelty, death or torture in prison, on the street, in the square, in interrogation, in the house. Such a fascist regime has emerged that it almost threatens the region and the world with fascist terrorism.” To this end, he also drew attention to the use of IS gangs and stated that the more the collapse and disintegration of the fascist system, the more the atrocities will increase. He noted that the pressure should be increased so that such regimes collapse.
IT’S NOT OPPRESSION, IT’S A MASSACRE
“The persecution of the Tayyip Erdogan government has reached its highest level. The repression and torture, are a sign of collapse, a sign of disintegration. This is how it must be seen. The AKP-MHP fascism turned into a fascist military dictatorship, a junta of September 12, 1980. In other words, there is no difference today between the regime of Kenan Evren and the regime of Tayyip Erdoğan-Devlet Bahçeli. The situation in the prisons is a clear indication of this. Some friends argue, they say it has even gotten worse. Yes, it is trickier. They use more methods. The methods of the September 12 fascist regime were mainly war and straightforwardness. They used open violence, brutal violence by fascist torturers, like Esat Oktay. New Esat Oktay gangs seem to have emerged in many places. With their work, they kill with torture, especially in Silivri. They are in sight, they kill, they exert pressure. Not repression, but a massacre is carried out in the prisons. The September 12 regime used repression and persecution to detach them from their goals and beliefs and force them to confess. On this basis, it would influence the freedom and democracy line, the chairman, the society, defeat them, allegedly suppress and dissolve their organization. The goal was oriented to the whole community. The method of the present situation is different, its purpose is different.”
THE REGIME CANNOT FORCE ANYONE TO SURRENDER
“Now it has been shown that no one can be forced to surrender, no matter what they do. So much repression, cruelty and torture has been used. They arrested so many revolutionary, patriotic democrats. They could not break any of them from their faith and purpose. So they could not break anyone. This is the defeat of the fascist regime. Just as the fascist, colonialist, genocidal mentality and politics suffered an ideological defeat in the face of the resistances at Newroz, in May and July 14, 1982, it continues now. The same defeat situation continues in the face of existing resistances. Therefore, there is no such thing as “I will surrender, I will make you give up your belief in your intention, I will make you confess.” That is in vain.”
Duran Kalkan further made it clear that the fascist AKP-MHP regime cannot force the prisoners to surrender and are now reacting with repression, torture and massacre. They cannot break the resistance and take revenge on the insurgents. The insurgents are to be destroyed, so they are executed. In this regard, Duran Kalkan addressed the issue as follows: “They have abolished the death penalty thing, but Devlet Bahçeli has said that they can do it now and then. That’s how they started it now. It is a de facto execution. Yes, there is the death penalty. On the basis of the most severe oppression, torture and persecution. You have to recognize that. Who is attacking? This is actually happening to society. This is not just an attack on the revolutionary and patriotic point of view in prison, aimed at killing or destroying them. It is basically an attack aimed at breaking the will of society. This torture and massacre in prison is actually against society and is aimed at breaking its will and weakening it. We do what we want, we kill, they want to create the understanding, feeling and attitude in society that you cannot get results no matter what you do. This is an obvious situation.”
LIVE ONE MORE DAY AGAINST THE ENEMY
“What to do in this situation? Prisoners in prison should also understand this reality properly. The people outside, patriots, families of prisoners, revolutionaries and democratic circles must understand this situation correctly. It is necessary to choose the right forms of action. That is why the September 12 regime wanted them to confess and break them with pressure, cruelty and brutal torture. To oppose this, people went on death fasts and sacrificed themselves. It was the way to break this policy. This is how politics works today. For example, prisoners should see this truth. They should not say they would do the same thing. A hunger strike, like a death fast, cannot be like that. They cannot agree with him. The regime already wants to kill you. So, what are you going to do? You will resist, you will survive, you will live. What did the poet say? I repeat; one more day to live in spite of the enemy. You will fight for survival. Your attitude in prison should be, your life is a resistance.”
Duran Kalkan made it clear that today’s situation is not that of 1981 – 82. There is no such democratic system, no public. Therefore, prisoners should not do anything wrong. It is necessary, Duran Kalkan said, to understand the line correctly and then apply the action methods correctly. Therefore, prisoners should fight by trying to live. Duran Kalkan sees the rebellion in the prisons as the main factor for a revolt in the society and said: “All this cruelty, all torture, all those who die in this dungeon are a reason for rebellion. For this reason, in 1982, the main resistance fell on the revolution in prison. They won the victory. Today, of course, the revolutionaries locked up in prison will also resist. But the main responsibility is outside. It is the outside movement. It is up to society, up to women, up to youth, up to revolutionary democratic forces, up to the families of prisoners. So when we ask what to do against the prisons, we will know; we will expose this oppression better, we will react immediately against all kinds of persecution and massacres, we will show a strong reaction. And we will respond in a more organized way. Every one of them is a reason to rebel, so we will use them if necessary. They say the knife has been cut to the bone. No more stopping.”
THE BURDEN MUST NOT BE LEFT ONLY TO THE FAMILIES OF PRISONERS
“Prisoners’ families and mothers make statements. I greet them all reverently. It was important, it was also a little challenge. They said, “Don’t leave the burden on us.” Everyone should be sensitive and own responsibility. We think that is meaningful. The families of the prisoners should also know that; With fragmented, individualistic, narrow resistors, that can’t happen. They need more organization. This is a serious struggle. As such, it has become not just a struggle for some rights, but a very fundamental one. Then they will be more organized, they will try to be more organized, then they will achieve such results. The burden should not be left only to them, not to their relatives, families and mothers. The whole society should take care of it, all revolutionary and democratic forces should take care of it. Women, youth, democratic institutions and organizations, human rights organizations should take care of it. In other words, if we do not oppose this oppression, when and how will we fight? How will we prove to be patriotic and democratic? In this regard, it is necessary to respond more outwardly, to fight harder, to protest, to stand at the door of prisons, to stand against fascist terrorism, oppression and torture. It is not okay to be in public, to stay silent or to react weakly. It is not enough. This situation must be overcome.”
LET’S LOOK AT THE END OF ESAT OKTAY
“What are the young people doing in the Newroz squares? I mean, aren’t there some brave ones among them who will hold these oppressors and torturers accountable. That’s the way it should be. It’s a pity that it’s not. We should not be in such a narrow, passive state. When the enemy slaughters and brings torture to this level, the resistance must be in a language he understands. It must be able to break through these cruel attacks. It must be. Everyone should be responsible for that. These torturous, cruel circles should not forget this; piece by piece is being settled. They say we are Esat Oktay, good. Let them look at the end of Esat Oktay and be ready for that end. It is reflected in the press; we read we are supposedly dangerous. We are not threatening anyone, but this is the truth. Therefore, these massacres, oppressors and torturers should know that they will not get away with what they have done. All of them will be taken into account. (…) One day they will definitely account for what they have done.”
