NEWS CENTER – Mustafa Karasu, commenting on the February 6 earthquake that mainly affected the cities of Bakurê Kurdistan, Rojava, Syria and Turkey, called for solidarity.
Karasu pointed out that the facilities created by the state for disasters are only for show and that social solidarity is important in disasters. Karasu stressed that the Turkish authorities are hiding the record of the earthquake and explained that the state is also preventing social solidarity efforts.
Mustafa Karasu, Member of the Executive Board of KCK, said:
“I wish Allah’s mercy to all those who lost their lives in the earthquake in Pazarcık and Elbistan west of the Euphrates, which severely affected Amed and Urfa east of the Euphrates, causing great destruction and deaths, and I wish the wounded a speedy recovery. I express my condolences to their families and all people in Kurdistan and Turkey.
The AKP-MHP government is hiding the truth
It was indeed a very strong earthquake. The losses are great. Such an earthquake has probably not happened in Kurdistan and Turkey for centuries. State authorities are trying to minimize the magnitude and severity of the earthquake. “The death toll is low.” Of course, we also want fewer deaths and less destruction. But let’s reveal the facts so that society can develop more solidarity, so that humanity can develop more solidarity. Tens of thousands of our fellow human beings have lost their lives. There are just as many wounded. Tens of thousands of homes were destroyed. Blocking out this reality means lightening the weight of the earthquake. It’s about weakening the seriousness of dealing with the earthquake. It is wrong, to do something like that so people don’t panic. In fact, this is how the Turkish state tries to cover up its own reality. They try to hide their responsibility in this matter. They try to hide their policy and the fact that they don’t take action against earthquakes. In this regard, we condemn it in the strongest possible terms.
A severe earthquake has occurred. There are tens of thousands dead. There’s no point in hiding that. The more the severity and extent of the event is known, the more sensitivity increases. The more society accepts it. More international aid will be provided. But the AKP-MHP government is hiding the truth in order to improve its own situation. First of all, this fact must be known to our population. Our people must act with seriousness and solidarity, commensurate with the magnitude of the earthquake.
AFAD collapsed in this earthquake
There is great destruction. But the state organization called AFAD cannot and must not follow suit. AFAD collapsed in this earthquake. It turned out to be a show organization. If there had been a small earthquake, maybe they could have shown that they work and do what they do. But now more than 10 cities, including cities in Turkey, especially in Kurdistan, have been destroyed in this earthquake. Thousands of villages were destroyed and damaged. AFAD was of course unable to respond to this. You don’t have such an organization. This state does not provide funds and does not invest in such organizations. Their concern is to make their employees, their own supporters, rich. There are no measures. However, the 1999 earthquake introduced the earthquake tax. $10 billion in earthquake tax was collected. With this earthquake tax, AFAD could have been more organized. The municipalities could have been better equipped in this regard. In such cases, an emergency operation would have taken place. It is not easy to help with such disasters from afar. Communities should be strongly organized at the local level in this regard. Because they can intervene immediately in the event of a disaster in their vicinity. But they set up AFAD just for show. She has now collapsed. There is no AFAD anywhere. Maybe they sent some people to 1 or 2 city centers. Is that enough? how will they become 10 cities, Reach hundreds of cities and thousands of villages? They have no such organization, no such investment. In this respect, the state has been buried under this earthquake, it has collapsed. You are responsible for these deaths. Because we see on TV that there is no AFAD MAFAD. There is no aid organization. What are you going to do? It will come after 3-4 days. Help will also come from around the world. It is important that the local rescue teams are mobilized immediately. What are you going to do? It will come after 3-4 days. Help will also come from around the world. It is important that the local rescue teams are mobilized immediately. What are you going to do? It will come after 3-4 days. Help will also come from around the world. It is important that the local rescue teams are mobilized immediately.
These disasters will be overcome through community solidarity
What was done with the earthquake taxes? They were spent here and there. This money has been sent to contractors favored by your own followers. Some roads have been built, some things have been done. This is a criminal offence. According to the law, this money should be used for the earthquake. It is a criminal offense to use it outside of the earthquake. Apart from the law, it is a moral offense, an offense of conscience. In the face of such a severe earthquake, we must acknowledge this fact. Community solidarity is important. The co-chair of the Executive Council of the KCK issued a statement. Our society must show strong solidarity. Such disasters and misfortunes can be overcome with the solidarity of society. The institutions of the state cannot overcome this. Throughout history, people have overcome such earthquakes and disasters with the solidarity of neighbors and nearby places. Now there is a centralized state. They have created institutions that are causing a stir in some areas. They broke down when such a great catastrophe happened. You collapsed. The state is helpless in such catastrophes. That’s obvious. Since they are helpless, they have prevented society’s solidarity until now. Society shall send them.” causing a stir in some areas. They broke down when such a great catastrophe happened. You collapsed. The state is helpless in such catastrophes. That’s obvious. Since they are helpless, they have prevented society’s solidarity until now. Society shall send them.” causing a stir in some areas. They broke down when such a great catastrophe happened. You collapsed. The state is helpless in such catastrophes. That’s obvious. Since they are helpless, they have prevented society’s solidarity until now. Society shall send them.”
Mustafa Karasu pointed out that society should seek its own help instead of waiting for the state. The society that wants to send relief goods and materials to the villages and towns, but is prevented from doing so by the state and the state confiscates them. However, the population knows that it is not clear what will happen to these things if they leave them in the hands of the state. If they give money to the state for assistance, they do not know whether it will actually be used for assistance. He explained that people in the area were quick to respond and donate materials, but the state is demanding that donations be made to him, stating:
“Give me everything, I’ll take it. This contradicts the character of societies and humanity. Society is also a sociological phenomenon. It is also an organization, an organizational life system.
From this point of view, social solidarity must be strengthened and they must not listen. They were already so desperate that they harassed them, saying, “If an earthquake happens, if this happens, then we have enough resources for everything.” They have not asked for help from the international community and states. Those who asked for help were criticized. They considered them almost collaborators. Now they themselves are helpless. You opened the borders for everyone. Where is what you said yesterday? I thought the whole world was hostile to you?”
Society finds the solution
The solidarity and organization of society is important. Society finds the true solution. Society itself will find them. We have to see and know that. Society’s means can heal all kinds of wounds. The people of Kurdistan are an organized and conscious society. They immediately fix mature disasters in their own areas. We should not expect too much from the state. The state was not created for society, it is an organization to exploit society, to put pressure on society. The Turkish state in particular is already an authoritarian, fascist state. She is a war power.
Yes, part of the earthquake money went to road construction, another part to the war. It was spent for the war. They boast every day, “I don’t know how far we’ve come, how far we’ll go as a world power. We have UAVs and UCAVs. We have such and such war vehicles”. But they cannot save people’s lives in an earthquake. You cannot solve their problems.
People have to organize themselves and find solutions to their problems
The first few days are very important. The weather is very cold at the moment. But everywhere we listen they say there is no AFAD MAFAD because it’s just for show. Let’s go, 1-2 buildings in the city are approached. What about other buildings? Hundreds of apartment blocks collapsed. Maraş, Elbistan, Afşin, Narlı, Göksun, Malatya, Adıyaman and the surrounding villages were all destroyed. Most of the old houses in particular have collapsed. So who will come to the rescue here? You disorganize the community, prevent community solidarity, almost criminalize community solidarity, but you don’t go yourself. It can’t be like that. From this point of view, society should organize its own solidarity institutions everywhere, without waiting for the state. She shouldn’t complain. We say this to show the reality of the state. Otherwise, society should not complain or wait for the state. She should organize herself and find solutions to her own problems.
The victims of the disaster must be helped
Now, of course, there has been a severe earthquake. This earthquake caused great destruction west of the Euphrates. East of the Euphrates, in Amed and Urfa, there was a lot of destruction. There are deaths. There are also dead in Syria. We extend our condolences to all Arab, Kurdish and Assyrian peoples in Syria. We wish God’s mercy to those who lost their lives there. Our society should show solidarity in Bakurê Kurdistan, Syria, Rojava and everywhere. Without distinguishing between Arabs, Turks, Kurds and Assyrians, they should help and assist all disaster victims and destroyed places.
I know the area well, I know its geography, I know the structure of the houses. I know how impassable and cold it is in winter. Previously, vehicles could not reach our villages for six months. They could only be traversed by sleds. And now, in Afşin, Elbistan, Pazarcık, Narlı and surroundings, in places like Doğanşehir, Akçadağ and Adıyaman, the destruction was really big. Yes, there was also destruction in Urfa and Amed, but the destruction is greater west of the Euphrates. In this regard, I think that especially in the west of the Euphrates, in the areas where the epicenter of this earthquake is located, our society should see the devastation caused by the earthquake and show great solidarity now, and that this area should be rebuilt. For rebuilding houses in these villages people from Pazarcıklı, Elbistan and Afşin are in Europe. A large part of our population in the southwest has already emigrated to Europe after the Maraş massacre. You are in the big cities. They didn’t immediately show solidarity here. Today they should heal their wounds and problems and rebuild the destroyed villages. They should bring this place back to life. You have such a responsibility. They should bring this place back to life. You have such a responsibility. They should bring this place back to life. You have such a responsibility.
No one should be left hungry and vulnerable
You currently own the villages. They were left without possessions. This organization called AFAD is represented at maybe 1-2 locations in the cities. There is no power in the villages, there is no solidarity. Only villages and neighboring villages show solidarity. Now they are all in a bad situation. Everyone has their own problems. Of course, the neighboring villages that are in good condition, that are less damaged, should help the others. There are already calls. Everyone is on the phone. We did too. Our co-chair did that too. Civil society organizations and democratic forces across Turkey are calling for this. The people who have the funds damaged by the earthquake should bring them to their homes. You should take her with you. No one should be left hungry and unprotected, everyone should share their food. You should share everything.
And of course from places where there is no earthquake, from Marmara, Aegean. Aid should flow to these areas from all sides of the Mediterranean. Aid was to come from the Black Sea.
In such moments, brotherhood becomes clear
In view of this great destruction west of the Euphrates, our society must strongly support the reconstruction there. Of course, the Kurdish society, our society, must also do something against the destruction in Amed, Urfa and other areas. Great solidarity must also be exercised there. The Kurdish society and the societies of Turkey as a whole must set an example of solidarity. Brotherhood is evident in moments like this. In such moments, the neighborhood shows itself, in such moments humanity shows.
Once again I wish God’s grace to all who have lost their lives. I wish the injured a speedy recovery. I offer my condolences to the families. I stress that everyone should work to free those trapped under the rubble as soon as possible. In this sense, I share the pain of our society, the society of Kurdistan, the Turkish society, all Arab, Assyrian and Kurdish societies in Syria.”
