BEHDINAN – KCK Executive Council Co-Chair Cemil Bayık, who participated in the special program broadcast on Stêrk Tv, evaluated the election results, the isolation against Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan and the ongoing guerrilla resistance against the attacks of the Turkish state.
Noting that the isolation against Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan must end and the struggle for his physical freedom needs to be increased, Bayık stated that the isolation has nothing to do with the law and is purely political, and that everyone should fulfill their responsibilities against the absolute isolation.
Reminding that they declared a ceasefire after the Mereş-centered earthquake in February and that this ceasefire continued during the election period, Bayık emphasized that the Turkish state, taking advantage of the ceasefire, increased its attacks against the guerrilla. Underlining that they ended the ceasefire decision after the Turkish state attacked everywhere in Medya Defense Zones, Bashur, Rojava and Bakur, Bayık said that the Turkish state aims to further expand the war by attacking Rojava. . Adding to his words that the people of Rojava should be prepared for a possible war, Bayık called on Rojava, which is fighting against ISIS gangs and paying great prices.
Bayık commemorating martyr Zîlan (Zeynep Kınacı), one of the leading cadres of the PKK who carried out a self-deprecating action in Dersim on June 30, 1996, said, “Today, the Zîlan line and the spirit of Zîlan are kept alive in the Media Defense Areas, Zap, Metina, Avaşin. If the enemy cannot liquidate the PKK, and they cannot bring the Kurdish people through genocide, the reason is the spirit of resistance created by Zîlan.”
KCK Executive Council Co-chair Cemil Bayık’s interview broadcast on Stêrk TV is as follows:
The isolation against Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan still continues. Abdullah Öcalan, who is never allowed to meet with his lawyers and family, is given new ‘penalties’. How do you evaluate this situation?
From the moment the invading Turkish state was established, it began to carry out massacres against the peoples. Many peoples were subjected to genocide. One of these peoples was the Kurdish people. They inflicted great suffering on the Kurdish people. The Kurds also rebelled against these attacks of the Turkish state. They showed heroic resistance and defended themselves. The invading Turkish state still wants to continue its policy of genocide. If we do not understand the massacre policies towards peoples in the past, we cannot understand their current approach towards Rêber Apo. If such a policy is being carried out against Rêber Apo, this policy is actually being carried out against the Kurds, peoples and humanity. Because Rêber Apo is the leader of a people. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the mentality of the Turkish state well. If a state is based on genocide, that state never calculates law, justice and international laws.
The only law they enforce is to eliminate the Kurds. He uses all his institutions for this. The politics carried out against Rêber Apo is carried out against the Kurdish people and their human values. Rêber Apo defends human values. Therefore, the isolation against Rêber Apo means the completion of the genocidal policy. The isolation has nothing to do with the law, it is purely political. We see that when the struggle rises, they loosen the isolation a little, but when the struggle is weak, they reintroduce the absolute isolation. That’s why everyone should understand their duty well against the absolute isolation and should oppose the genocide. Then the Turkish state takes a step back in its policy of genocide. This is the responsibility of our people, our friends, revolutionaries and socialists. That’s why no one should be comfortable. patriotic, socialist, democrat,
That’s why all Kurds, socialists, democrats, friends of the Kurdish people, in four parts of Kurdistan and abroad, must wage a great struggle for Rêber Apo. It shouldn’t be too late for this. Because the Turkish state is carrying out a policy of genocide. He wants to massacre the Kurds and the PKK in the person of Rêber Apo. The Turkish state should immediately lift the absolute isolation, Rêber Apo’s lawyers should be able to visit his family. Rêber Apo has rights as a prisoner, they must accept these rights. Again, I have a call to politicians and those who fight for human rights; They must apply to see Rêber Apo.
You declared a ceasefire, first because of the earthquake and then because of the elections. However, the Turkish state continued its attacks despite the ceasefire. You also announced that you ended the ceasefire in the past weeks. After this decision, the guerrilla took effective actions. How is the war now?
We had a reason to declare a ceasefire. There was a huge earthquake in the Kurdistan region. Thousands of our people lost their lives and were injured. There was great suffering. We have also fulfilled our responsibility. We wanted to alleviate the suffering of our people. Another reason was to develop a strong foundation for democratic politics. Because as long as the war continues, democratic politics cannot fight much. Because there is a fascist-genocidal government in Turkey. It interferes with everything. It does not allow two people to come together. Our decision was a human and moral decision. That’s why we made such a decision at that time. There were elections in Türkiye and Bakure Kurdistan. There was talk among the people that the AKP-MHP would provoke provocations during the election process. Because they had developed such great provocations before. There was such fear among the people. We also took this into account. We extended the ceasefire to prevent provocations.
Despite our ceasefire decision, the Turkish state did not make any changes in its war policies. The Turkish state is already aiming to liquidate the PKK and the Kurdish people. That’s why he couldn’t calculate the reason for our decision. It is as if the guerrilla weakened and such a decision was taken. He saw the ceasefire decision as an opportunity to liquidate the guerrilla by dealing major blows. That’s why he increased his attacks even more. It increased its attacks everywhere in Medya Defense Zones, Bashur, Rojava and Bakur. He bombarded, used chemical weapons. They used all the means at their disposal. They took many steps such as arresting, killing and giving heavy sentences in dungeons. After taking these steps, the ceasefire decision we made has no meaning. We have officially ended the ceasefire. The Turkish state has never understood the power of action of the guerrilla. He still doesn’t understand. He has the technique, some forces are helping them, so they thought they could easily strike the guerrilla. But this is a mistake for them. Immediately after we ended the ceasefire, many effective and powerful actions of the guerrilla developed.
As a result of these actions, the Turkish state suffered heavy blows in many areas, especially in Xakurkê and Metîna. On this occasion, I commemorate heval Asya, Azad and Koçer, who were martyred in the battle of Xakurkê, with respect. One of these friends was German, one was Kurdish, and one was Turkish. So they represented the people. This shows the reality of our movement. This movement is not just a Kurdish movement, it is a movement of peoples, freedom and democracy. The war will escalate. Because a war government was formed again. After all, Erdogan openly said that we will carry out the military and diplomatic war more powerfully. On this basis, the cabinet was formed. They do this in practice. They are increasing their attacks day by day. Our resistance to these attacks is also growing. Our people and our democratic and socialist friends should see this fact well. When the Turkish state intensifies its attacks and the war grows, no one should remain silent and bystander to this situation. Wherever they are, they must do their part for the Kurdish people, for the struggle for democracy and freedom.
In your ceasefire statement, you stated that the Turkish state increased its attacks, especially against Rojava, after the election. Lastly, Qamishlo Canton Co-chair Yusra Derwêş, Vice-President Leyman Şiwêş and Assembly Member Firat Tûma were killed as a result of the attacks of the Turkish state. How do you evaluate these attacks?
As it is known, a meeting was held in Astana with the participation of Russia, Syria and Iran. The Astana meeting has been held many times before. But no solution to any problem was found. The problems faced by the peoples, neither in Syria nor in the Middle East, have been resolved. They even exacerbated the existing problems. It is obvious that in these meetings they also dwell on the Kurdish issue. However, they take an approach based on not accepting, solving the problem in a political or democratic way, but rather how we neutralize and eliminate the Kurds. After each meeting, tensions rise in both Syria and the Middle East. The problems are getting bigger. The Turkish state has occupied many areas of Syria. It even annexed the areas it occupied. Because they opened all their institutions in the areas they occupied. Serêkaniyê, Girê Spî, Afrin, they remove the Kurds from here and place the gangs affiliated with the Turkish state. So they’re changing the demographic there. Because the Turkish state is based on the Kurdish genocide and continues its attacks on this basis. He says he wants all the areas left in the hands of the Kurds. That’s why they attack in front of everyone.
The Turkish state, which aims to eliminate the Kurds and Kurdistan, does not do this only with its own power. On the one hand, the participants in the meeting in Astana support, on the other hand, NATO does not speak up. The Turkish state, taking courage from these, continues its war policy comfortably. It should not make wrong calculations with the Turkish state occupying Syrian lands. If he does such a thing, they will take the big blow. The forces participating in Astana say that they will support Syria to eliminate the Kurds, Syria should not accept this. Because it’s a trap. Against this, it should be united with the Kurdish, Arab and Assyrian people. It should also be based on solving the Kurdish problem. He should negotiate with the Kurds. It should fight against the invading Turkish state and remove the Turkish state from the occupied areas. In this way, it will serve Syria. If he fights the Syrian people, that’s when he will inflict the greatest damage. That’s why I believe that Syria will understand this truth.
When the Astana talks were held, Mesrur Barzani also went to Turkey and met with Erdoğan, Fidan and Yaşar Güler. Later, Yaşar Güler made a statement; Our meetings with Masrour Barzani went well, this will have positive results, he said. After Mesrur Barzani’s meetings, Qamishlo was attacked and Qamishlo Canton Co-chair Yusra Derwêş, Vice-President Leyman Şiwêş and Assembly Member Fırat Tûma were martyred. Masrour Barzani can of course go to Turkey and hold talks. We are not against it. But if the Kurds are attacked when he goes to Ankara, or while he is still there, if the Kurds are attacked after he returns, it makes sense.
Yaşar Güler, Turkey’s war minister, said that our talks were positive, and it will soon become clear in practice. It is known that the Turkish state carries out a policy of genocide against the Kurds; So how is it that there are positive talks between them and the results will be seen soon. Everyone is wondering: What kind of talks were held between Masrour Barzani and the Turkish state, what decisions were made? They should explain it. If they do not make a statement and do not consider the questions of the Kurds, then everyone will think that negative decisions have been taken between the Turkish state and Mesrur Barzani against the PKK and the Kurdish people. Because the Turkish state is waging a war against the Kurds.
EVERYONE MUST HAVE ROJAVA FIGHTING FOR HUMANITY
If Syria does not consider negotiating with the Kurds and solving the problem, of course, the Kurds of Rojava will strengthen their alliance with the peoples. They will increase their resistance against the occupation. They will not bow to the Turkish state. This needs to be known. But what we want is for Syria, the Kurdish people and other peoples to stand against the invading Turkish state. Because the Turkish state wants the war to grow and the occupied areas in Syria to expand. If Syria does not want its lands to be occupied further by the Turkish state, then it should improve its relations with the Kurds. The Turkish state is attacking on the one hand, and making massacres on the other. They massacre civilians in Rojava almost every day. But we see that everyone is silent. Staying silent means seeing the massacres of the Kurds by the Turkish state as normal. If they don’t see it that way, they should stand up against it. But since they do not stand against it, they see the massacres of the Turkish state as positive. Then they also have a share in these massacres.
Rojava defends human values. That’s why everyone who says to themselves that I am a democrat, socialist, ecologist, libertarian, artist, intellectual, against occupation, annexation, fascism, and based on democracy and humanity, should stand up for Rojava. Because Rojava is fighting not only for itself but also for humanity. He has proven this in practice. He gave a great fight against ISIS, gave thousands of martyrs and wounded. They saved humanity from great trouble. Now the Turkish state is killing people who stand against ISIS, prevent ISIS and defend human values. So why is humanity silent? Some states are silent for their own interests, but why are those who fight for intellectual, socialist, women, ecology movements, democracy and freedom silent? They must not remain silent. Because some of those I counted took part in that struggle, they gave martyrs. They also have labor. That’s why humanity must defend Rojava against the Turkish state. Especially the Kurdish people in the four parts of Kurdistan and abroad should defend Rojava. This is a national demand.
The Turkish state wants to increase its attacks on Rojava even more. It even aims to occupy new places. It is currently conducting a diplomacy in the international arena to enter Rojava. That’s why our people should see this. They must make preparations to defend themselves against the invasion. This is what is required of them. When the invasion attacks start, do not leave your lands and homes, you must stand up to the end against the invasion on your lands. If you stand and fight on your lands, then the Turkish state will suffer great blows and cannot occupy its lands, martyrs and villages.
An important election process has passed in Türkiye and Bakure Kurdistan. This election went down in history with the state’s repression, cruelty and fascism’s games. The debate about the election still continues. Especially the attacks against HDP have increased. There are also attacks on your movement. How do you evaluate the post-election debates?
The election in May was very important, so everyone is arguing. Having discussions is not wrong, it is necessary, but the important thing is that the discussions conducted by the forces of freedom and democracy turn into positive developments and success. If discussions are conducted in this way, it makes sense. As it is known, the Alliance for Labor and Democracy was developed. The aim of this alliance is to democratize Turkey, to form the unity of the peoples of Turkey against fascism. It was a good decision to develop such an alliance in Turkey. Maybe even this alliance needed to be developed stronger. In practice, the alliance was not developed as understood. There were some shortcomings. There may be deficiencies and mistakes, but lessons must be learned from them. Then the shortcomings and inaccuracies will be eliminated. Those who want to be successful should approach it in this way.
Those who take part in this alliance need to strengthen their relations with the public. Because it turned out that there are some weaknesses and deficiencies in public relations. If there is no relationship with the public, the policy will never yield results. Because that alliance is an alliance of freedom and democracy. Therefore, it should be based on society. It should organize the society and reveal its will. They must decide together with the community. Then they get results. If their ties with the society are weak, they cannot achieve results with the policy being carried out. Their policies should be strong. At the moment, the AKP gathers people of faith around it, this segment is a powerful segment in Turkey. That’s why they should prevent Erdogan’s abuse so that he does not engage in politics over people of faith. Because this segment is a large segment of the society. If you don’t see this, if you don’t develop a policy accordingly, If you do not embrace this society, if you do not include it, you will not get results in Turkey. This was also evident in the election.
That’s why Rêber Apo developed a policy against it. His policy was on democratic Islamic politics. Because Islam dominates Turkey. It has predominantly Muslim population. There are also people of different faiths and religions, but it is predominantly a Muslim people. If you do not see this, no matter what you do, you will not get results. That’s why everyone in the Labor and Freedom Alliance needs to see this. For this reason, you should go to this people with democratic Islamic politics, embrace the people and take them among you. Then this alliance will have great results in Turkey. With this election, the reality of the democratic nation paradigm emerged. The problems in Turkey can only be solved with the democratic nation paradigm. Therefore, it is necessary to insist on this and not to take a step back. Why am I saying this? Because there are some attacks against it. These attacks can also affect some of them. It is necessary to know why these attacks are made and what their targets are. Against this, the democratic nation paradigm should be embraced more strongly.
THERE ARE KURDISH SIDES WITH THE TURKISH STATE AND ATTACKING RÊBER APO AND THE PKK
There are those who consider themselves responsible for what happened in this process. They also fulfill their responsibilities. They want to solve existing problems, and they work for that. For example, their reviews are positive. They may experience some difficulties, but I believe that they will have great results. Just as some of them approach responsibly and develop arguments for success, some of them talk nonsense against it. Because they are disconnected from society, they do not feel any responsibility towards society. They are in the service of fascism and genocide. That’s why they speak freely. In his speeches, there are mostly attacks on Rêber Apo, Rêber Apo’s paradigm and the PKK. Maybe some make it obvious, but others do it subtly.
A relentless struggle has been waged for 50 years under the leadership of Rêber Apo. Many values, many measures of patriotism were created in this struggle. Some oppose these values in the name of nationalism. It is attacking Rêber Apo, the PKK. They also describe themselves as nationalists. They have nothing to do with nationalism. It’s totally cheating. The nationalist struggles and pays the price. But when we look at them, they have neither a struggle nor a price. They did not take an action against the Turkish state, they did not pay the price. Alongside the Turkish state, they are attacking Rêber Apo, the PKK, democratic politics and the projects developed by Rêber Apo. How nationalists are they? Whoever is fighting for the nationalist Kurdish society will stand with him, not with those whose Kurds have gone through the genocide. We see that those who attacked Rêber Apo and the PKK are on the side of the Turkish state. Fascists, racists, chauvinists are carrying out these attacks under Erdogan’s politics. These are not only Turks but also Kurds among them. They are carrying out the politics of the Turkish state.
Just as the peoples of Turkey and the Kurdish people feel great excitement and enthusiasm about the democratic nation paradigm and struggle on this basis, some are afraid of it and attack it. Those who do this are fascists, chauvinists, racists, and they are completely serving the politics of the Turkish state. Democracy and freedom forces must understand why these attacks are carried out so that they can protect Turkey’s democratization, Turkishization and socialism. Because they are attacking Rêber Apo’s project of democratization and Turkishization of Turkey. With these attacks, they want to destroy the Labor and Freedom Alliance. In this process, it is necessary to protect the project developed by Rêber Apo more. More democratization of Turkey, Turkishization, development of the unity of peoples should be based on. If the Labor and Freedom Alliance is based on these, all attacks will be futile. The alliance grows stronger.
Erdogan’s alliance is in sight. Again, the alliance established by Kılıçdaroğlu was destroyed. The alliance that will develop is the Labor and Freedom Alliance. Those involved in this alliance must act responsibly. This is what is required of them. In other words, they need to develop a more democratic policy both in Kurdistan and in Turkey.
KURDISH PEOPLE SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEMS BETWEEN THROUGH DIALOGUE
Many events are taking place in Kurdistan and Turkey. Especially in Kurdistan. For example, these days, Kurds killed each other in Bismil. Our people should not kill each other. They need to settle their problems through dialogue. Democratic politics should protect the people and prevent these problems from occurring among the people. Because the Turkish state wants these problems to grow even more and the Kurds to kill each other. That is why democratic politics must play its role here.
The Turkish state is attacking the people in every field because of its genocidal policy in Kurdistan. For example, it develops rape, sends the bones of the martyrs to their families in bags, slaughters dozens of children, women and the elderly with panzers, and develops prostitution, heroin and spying in an unlimited way. It plunders the geography of Kurdistan, cuts down trees, builds dams, mines, and destroys villages. In other words, it eliminates the possibilities of living in Kurdistan. Therefore, our people should not remain silent against them. For example, in which city the Turkish state is carrying out these attacks, the people in that city should rise up against it. That is the correct one. Kurdishness, religion and humanity both want this.
It also appeared in the elections; The Kurdish people rejected Erdogan, did not accept him. Not only the Kurdish people, but also the peoples of Türkiye mostly rejected Erdogan. That government, that power is not legitimate. The decisions they made to the Kurdish people are not legitimate, and the Kurdish people have no responsibility in these decisions. In other words, the government in Turkey is a completely fascist, genocidal government. He came to power by force of the state.
The 27th anniversary of the martyrdom of martyr Zîlan, one of the leading cadres of the PKK, who carried out a self-deprecating action in Dersim on June 30, 1996. Today, sacrifice actions are carried out in the ranks of the PKK. How do you interpret this self-sacrificing spirit that dominates the struggle?
First of all, I commemorate all the martyrs of the revolution in the person of heval Zîlan, Sema and Gulan, and bow respectfully before their memories. I salute all freedom fighters. Heval Zîlan stood against the attack on Rêber Apo. This opposition is not just an action, it has great meanings. Heval Zîlan gave a message to both the guerrilla, the Kurdish people and the Turkish state. It is clear to the Turkish state that if you want to eliminate our Leader, you are eliminating us. We also have the right to eliminate you. That’s why you need to carefully calculate the decisions you take against our movement and our people. Maybe you did a lot in the past, it was not held accountable, you thought it would happen again, but now this action is a just one. He will ask for an account of what has been done, you need to know this, he said.
You can’t prevent the danger with the war you waged against the guerrilla or Heval Zîlan, the enemy Leader wants to destroy it. The destruction of the leadership means your destruction. He said, “You also need to fight with new tactics against this genocidal state.” He also demonstrated this tactic. Again to the public, look, you are under the knife, you should not accept death. “If you don’t want to die, you have to organize, defend and fight against the genocidal enemy,” he said. So he gave such very important messages. That’s why Rêber Apo said, “Zîlan is our commander and we are Zîlan’s fighters.” Because Zîlan set a line. He didn’t just take an action, he developed tactics. Therefore, his action was not an ordinary action. That’s why thousands of people in Kurdistan are struggling with the name Zîlan today. PAJK, KJK, YJA Star movement with the spirit of Zîlan, Zîlan reinvents itself with its line, growing more and more each day. It also has a strong impact on the world. Our party, our people and our militants are also struggling with the spirit of Zîlan. From the first day of its establishment, the PKK emerged with a self-sacrificing force. This was revealed in the person of Zîlan, the friends in the Amed dungeon. Today, Zîlan line and Zîlan spirit are kept alive in Medya Defense Zones, Zap, Metîna, Avaşîn.
All those who fight for democracy and freedom for the Kurdish people in prisons today, not only in Turkey but also in countries outside of Turkey, are resisting with this spirit. Again, our people are struggling with this spirit in all fields and abroad. This struggle is being waged with Zîlan’s spirit of resistance. If they are unable to liquidate the PKK and to massacre the Kurdish people, the reason is this spirit of resistance. There is faith in this spirit, there is sacrifice. If this were not so, we would not have been able to fight against the Turkish army for so many years. Because the Turkish army is not a normal army. 2nd army in NATO and a very strong army. But we have been fighting against this army for 50 years. If our resistance continues in such an effective way, if it disrupts the balance, provides the balance, creates hope, if it has put Turkey in a very bad situation, this is entirely due to the spirit of resistance. If we’ve brought the resistance so far, It is thanks to this spirit that we have created many values. That’s why we all need to always review and improve ourselves along the line of Zîlan. If we develop ourselves with the spirit of Zîlan, then we will be worthy of Rêber Apo and the martyrs. Then we can live the hopes of our people, of humanity. Our movement has struggled with this spirit and style until today and will continue to struggle from now on.
THE TURKISH STATE ENJOYS MASSACRE AND DEATH
As it is known, on June 29, the genocidal state issued a death sentence for Şêx Said. Together with Şêx Said, they executed 46 patriotic people. The burial places are still unknown. The invading Turkish state also tried Rêber Apo. He also gave a death sentence for Rêber Apo on June 29. In other words, he gave the death sentence for Rêber Apo on the same date, just as Şêx Saîd gave the death sentence. This shows the reality of the Turkish state. If he understands the reality of the Turkish state well, if he understands the historical reality of the Kurdish people, he can make sense of what happened. Then he can understand why such brutal torture was carried out against Rêber Apo. The Turkish state sees only death for the Kurds.
That’s why we killed so many people every day, he says. She enjoys it. I don’t think anyone in the world enjoys death this much. But the Turkish state enjoys massacres, deaths and genocides. This shows the reality of the Turkish state. That’s why the approach towards Rêber Apo and the Kurdish people is aimed at eliminating them. They don’t think about anything else. That’s why they put all the possibilities of Turkey into action. Every Kurd, every person should see this. He should think about how he will protect his values and how he will stand against the Turkish state. He must understand and fulfill his responsibilities.
If they approach Rêber Apo, the struggle, the values and the Turkish state in this way, then they will not fall short. Maybe they will pay the price, they will suffer, but in the end they will win. Our people today know who is patriotic, who created patriotic values, who paid the price and suffered. Because every day, Rêber Apo, the PKK and the guerrilla are waging a relentless struggle for the freedom of the Kurdish people. He dies every day. On this occasion, I once again commemorate the martyrs of the freedom struggle and bow respectfully before their memories. My condolences to all the families of the martyrs. I wish success to all warriors in their struggle.
