Our Interviews

Parts of an interview with Besê Hozat, KCK co-Chair, about the latest developments in Kurdistan, the Middle East and the world, including the recent March 8 celebrations, the central political messages of this year´s Newroz, the decision to halt all guerrilla attacks until the elections in Turkey, the people´s solidarity after the earthquake in North Kurdistan, the upcoming elections in Turkey, the efforts to facilitate a Syria-Turkey-Iran-Russia meeting and the continuing uprising in East Kurdistan and Iran:

March 8

“March 8 just recently took place. This year, it was met more in the form of solidarity in North Kurdistan and Turkey due to the earthquake. On March 8, the Kurdistan Women’s Movement and the Women’s Movement of Turkey both mobilized and showed great solidarity. This year´s March 8 was completely dedicated to the recent earthquake. The women’s movement showed strong solidarity with the earthquake victims. In this sense, March 8 was welcomed in a very meaningful way in North Kurdistan and Turkey. In Kurdistan, in the Middle East and all over the world, March 8 was celebrated in a spectacular way. Therefore, I would like to congratulate all the working women of the world on the occasion of March 8. By remembering our women’s leader Sakine Cansız, I would like to commemorate with respect and love all the women who have lost their lives and were martyred as part of the women’s freedom struggle.”

Central Political Messages of this Year´s Newroz Celebrations

“Of course, there were also this year´s magnificent Newroz celebrations. Everywhere, in North Kurdistan, in Turkey, in all four parts of Kurdistan, outside the country, in Europe, Russia, even in Japan and Canada, simply all over the world, there were really huge celebrations. In this sense, I would like to congratulate our people, as well as the other peoples of the Middle East, Central Asia and the Balkans welcome the spring by celebrating Newroz.”

“This Newroz was clearly a Newroz of the Leadership [Abdullah Öcalan]. The demand for the physical freedom of the Leadership marked this year´s Newroz. Our people showed very strongly how much they want his physical freedom. In fact, the struggle that has been going on for years reached its peak on this year´s Newroz. This was extremely meaningful. After all, the pioneer of Newroz is Leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan]. The struggle of the Apoist movement led by Leader Apo has made Newroz so meaningful and has turned it into a Newroz of resistance. With the struggle for democracy, freedom, justice and equality, a people with a strong will, consciousness and sense for freedom has emerged – a people which is taken as an example all over the world today. This will has emerged as a result of the struggle of the Apoist movement. During the Newroz of 1973, a small group held its first meeting at the Çubuk Dam in Ankara. Today, 50 years have passed since this meeting. A 50-year march of the Leadership, a struggle that has reached millions and created a strong will. Today millions are fighting for freedom and democracy. This is extremely meaningful. It reveals the power and influence of the Leadership. Today, a level that affects all the peoples of the Middle East and the world has emerged. The physical freedom of the Leadership has been put even more on the agenda with this year´s Newroz. Many circles are discussing this demand today. This demand has been put forward very strongly by our people and our international friends. More than ever, the physical freedom of Leader Apo has gotten close. What is important is that we turn this attitude of resistance that emerged during Newroz into a daily struggle and turn 2023 into a year in which the physical freedom of Leader Apo is definitely ensured. We need to increase the struggle on this basis. This is the most fundamental conclusion we can draw from this year´s Newroz.”

“The attitude of the Arab people was also very important during this year´s Newroz. In many Arab cities and areas of North and East Syria, the Arab people demanded the freedom of Leader Apo. They celebrated Newroz together with the Kurds. They also showed the will to liberate the occupied areas from the Turkish occupation. That was very important. We must now continue this will that emerged during Newroz by transforming it into a strong attitude of struggle and resistance in the coming period. We must thus ensure the physical freedom of Leader Apo. This Newroz has revealed this attitude and will.”

“Indeed, this Newroz was full of such political messages. The Newroz square is actually the place where the strongest democratic politics is carried out. The Newroz square is a place where the people directly participate, put forward their demands and express their will. In this sense, it is not possible to separate Newroz from democratic politics, resistance and struggle. This is the very meaning of Newroz. The following stance has emerged in this year´s Newroz: We will overthrow the genocidal fascist rule of the AKP and MHP. We will realize a free Kurdistan and democratic Turkey through our struggle and resistance. And we will liberate Leader Apo.”

“Of course, another important message is that our people have put forward their attitude of national unity in a very strong way. Everywhere, all Kurdish organizations, political and civil structures, pioneers, various circles and groups invited all those who still have a distant position to join the national unity. A very strong stance for national unity has thus emerged everywhere. Many circles and political parties published meaningful messages on this issue. From Kurdish parties to many friendly circles, from PUK President Bafil Talabani to many others. His message was very meaningful. The main demand of everyone at Newroz in Amed [Diyarbakir] was the physical freedom of Leader Apo and the democratic Kurdish national unity. Everyone needs to take this message of our people seriously. From now on, very strong work must be carried out to ensure our democratic national unity. All the forces that join this unity, all patriotic groups that are sympathetic to this idea, must realize these aspirations of our people this year and in the coming years by putting forward a supra-party, supra-ideological attitude. They must work hard for this. We will do our part in this regard. So far national unity has not become a reality, especially due to the attitude of the KDP. But during this year´s Newroz our people revealed that the Kurds can achieve their national unity without the KDP. The KDP is playing a very sinister role. It is acting in partnership with the genocidal Turkish state. Therefore, the KDP´s position is very clear. Apart from that, Kurds can realize their national unity. Gradually, work towards a national congress can be increased. Our people have expressed this very strongly.”

Decision to Stop All Guerrilla Attacks Until Elections in Turkey

“We took the decision to stop all military attacks in order for our people to be able to mobilize in the aftermath of the earthquake, to participate in the rescue efforts and for the state to be able to participate in these efforts with all its institutions – with its army, police and local guards – and not to be occupied with other tasks or the war. This was a very humanitarian, conscientious and moral decision. But the Turkish state has not stopped the war in any way. It continues to mobilize its entire army for war. With the help of all the UAVs, many places in the earthquake zone that were inaccessible by land could have been explored and rescue teams and aid could have been brought there very easily by helicopters. But the Turkish state did not do this. It directed all the helicopters and UAVs to the battlefield. It sent its army to the battlefield. Thus, the Turkish state has continued the war in full intensity. The army did not participate in rescue work after the earthquake. Neither did the police. The Turkish state even blocked the aid. This is how it has once more revealed its hostile attitude. In fact, with our decision to stop all military attacks, the true face of this fascist, genocidal, colonialist and plundering state has once again been revealed. Its mask has fallen once more. The Turkish state has been waging war without a brake.”

“Turkey has now entered a very important phase. The elections are close. These elections are very important for the society in Turkey and in Kurdistan. They are really unlike any other. They have a historical meaning. Our struggle has brought this fascist government to the brink of collapse. The elections are part of this process. If a strong struggle is waged together during these elections, the fascist government will definitely fall on May 14th. This is why the elections are so important. They are an important part of this struggle and in this sense, as a movement we have recently re-evaluated our decision to stop all military attacks. Taking into account the importance of the elections for our people and for the peoples of Turkey, taking into account the fact that these elections are historical, we have taken the decision to continue our halt of all military attacks until the elections. We will make a new assessment of the situation after the elections. Therefore, our decision to stop all military attacks will continue until the elections. After the elections, we will evaluate the situation again and share our decision with the public. Since our decision to stop all military attacks, the fascist Turkish state has increased its attacks. It has used all kinds of banned weapons, from chemical weapons to tactical nuclear bombs and thermobaric bombs. It has continued its attacks everywhere. And it is very likely that it will carry out even more attacks from now on.”

“We have now entered the election phase. The Turkish state´s attacks will continue in many places during this phase. This is the same for Rojava, South Kurdistan [North Iraq] and North Kurdistan. The attacks will continue. Consequently, our people and our guerrilla forces should not show any signs of slowing down in any way. They must respond to the ongoing attacks in the strongest and most active way. The decision to stop all military attacks is not an obstacle for this kind of attitude. Because the fascist Turkish state is coming at us with all its might. It is attacking very intensely everywhere, using all kinds of banned weapons. Therefore, the guerrilla will wage the most active struggle and resistance against all kinds of attacks by the Turkish state everywhere in the rural areas. There will be absolutely no slowing down in this regard. But especially during this election process, none of our military units will take any action in the cities [in Turkey and North Kurdistan]. As I have said, this period of stopping all military attacks will continue until the elections. After the elections, we will re-evaluate the situation. The call made by our Central Headquarters should be taken very seriously by both our guerrilla forces and our people. They need to be prepared everywhere. Because this fascist government will continue to increase its attacks in order not to lose its power. We know this very well. Against this, the strongest opposition, struggle and resistance will emerge. There should never be any hesitation in this regard.”

People´s Solidarity After Earthquake in North Kurdistan

“The policies of destruction and massacre continue in the earthquake zone. In many places no aid has yet reached the people. There is great despair, poverty and migration. The state is consciously encouraging this. It pursues this policy especially against Kurdish Alevis and Kurds in general. It is trying to completely depopulate these areas. It is trying to de-Kurdify the areas west of the Euphrates river. Especially the settlements where Kurds and Kurdish Alevis live have received no support whatsoever. They have survived only due to the solidarity of the people, the solidarity and support of non-governmental organizations. A very strong example of solidarity has emerged. This solidarity keeps society alive. Today´s policy of the state is a continuation of the Maraş Massacre [in 1978]. Now it is necessary to defeat this policy. Against this, the social solidarity must continue in a very strong way. We should not expect anything from this state. This is a genocidal and massacring state. Our people will heal their wounds with their own solidarity. They will keep themselves alive with that solidarity. That is why the solidarity must continue. Our people must keep up their strong will. They must show patience. With the support of our people, the destroyed villages must be rebuilt. Important projects can thus be developed. Many neighborhoods and cities can be rebuilt. This can be done on the basis of an ecological understanding.”

“A serious social change has also been caused by the recent earthquake. It has brought about serious changes and transformations in the mentality, social fabric and sociology of the society. For example, in the areas west of the Euphrates river, the state had always pursued a policy of pitting Sunni Kurds and Alevi Kurds against each other, of antagonizing them, of pitting Turks and Kurds against each other. The state used religion, sectarianism, nationalism and racism as a systematic policy in this area. But after the earthquake, there has been a serious change in the mentality. Now there is strong solidarity, rapprochement, feeling for each other and coming together of Alevi Kurds and Sunni Kurds, between Turks and Kurds, Arabs and Turks, Arabs and Kurds. This geography, a geography where many cultures, many ethnic identities and faiths live together, has thus created a very serious solidarity of peoples, cultures, beliefs, unity and integrity. This is very important. This affects the whole society of Turkey and Kurdistan. This is definitely a very strong basis for the people to rebuild their own lives in the destroyed places, for solidarity, unity.”

Upcoming Elections in Turkey

“Turkey has entered a very historic election process. This election is important, it really is more than just an election. Because the social struggle, guerrilla struggle and democratic political struggle that have been waged for years are now leading to results. They have brought the fascist genocidal government to the point of collapse. In this sense, this election is important. In other words, the role of the Labor and Freedom Alliance is very, very important in terms of this struggle, especially in this election process. This alliance will play a very decisive role for the democratization of Turkey. The role of this alliance in building a democratic republic is very decisive. It would be a blunder to expect democratization from the National Alliance. Anyone who calls themselves leftist, socialist and democratic cannot expect a democratic move, a democratic step, a democratic plan, a democratic republic from the National Alliance. It is the Labor and Freedom Alliance led by the HDP that will ensure the construction of a democratic republic, a democratic Turkey. This is an election that will significantly affect the future of the peoples of Kurdistan and Turkey, an election that will affect their fate. This is how the people of Turkey, the society of Turkey sees it. The left, socialist movements have historical responsibilities towards the society of Turkey. The pioneers of this people must adopt an attitude in line with this responsibility. This is extremely important. A stance that weakens this alliance must not emerge.”

“This alliance plays a very decisive role in these elections. The HDP has decided to enter the elections as the Green Left Party. It had to take such a decision. There is a court case against the HDP that has been going on for a long time. There is a high probability that the HDP may be shut down just before the elections. Therefore, this decision was taken. Our people are political. They have a tradition of struggle. They know the reality of this state and this government very, very well, they know its spirit. That is why our people will vote for the Green Left Party in the same way they have voted for the HDP. The Green Left Party will represent the will of our people in this election. Our people know this very well. The recent decision of the HDP is therefore very appropriate and important.”

“Not choosing its own candidate is in line with the HDP’s principled approach. Therefore, we find this attitude valuable, important and meaningful. The HDP has thus put forward a principled stance that suits it. It has also taken a responsible stance towards the people of Turkey and Kurdistan. This stance will directly affect the outcome of the elections. The HDP co-Chairs and HDP officials have already made various evaluations since taking this decision. They have stated that they will not run with their own candidate and that they will make it clear later who they will support. We support this stance. It is principled and valuable. This is also what society expected them to do.”

“We should not rely on the National Alliance when it comes to this issue. This alliance will not democratize Turkey, it will not build a democratic republic. This alliance will not bring freedom, justice and democracy to Turkey. That is why the Labor and Freedom Alliance must enter these elections very strongly. In this sense, the parliamentary elections are very important. On the other hand, the construction of a democratic Turkey will mainly be achieved through social struggle. In other words, social resistance and social struggle are the main building force of a free Kurdistan and a democratic Turkey. Therefore, the social struggle must continue to grow everywhere during this election period. If the National Alliance closes its eyes to the demands of society for democracy, freedom, equality and justice, it will end up in the same situation this fascist government is currently experiencing.”

“With the overthrow of the current fascist government in Turkey, a democratic Turkey, a free Turkey, a paradise-like Turkey will not emerge right away. The current attitude of the National Alliance shows this clearly. The IYI Party’s stance is clear. It is making efforts to prevent democratic steps from being taken. Its role in the National Alliance has been exactly this from the beginning. Its role is to block the way for democracy, to restore Turkey based on the old understanding after the fall of the fascist government, and to restore the institutions of the state. Turkey’s democratization requires a radical change, not a restoration. It requires a change of mentality. The mentality of denial and annihilation, the mentality and policy of genocide in Turkey need to finally become history. Turkey´s society needs this. Racism, nationalism and religious extremism have poisoned a section of society. This is true. And they want to poison even more people. This is also true. But curing and healing this poison will only happen through democratic politics and a democratic struggle. It will only happen through social struggle and resistance.”

“Both Kılıçdaroğlu and the National Alliance in general should recognize the demands of society. They should develop a policy based on the democratization of Turkey. The HDP should conduct politics accordingly. It should make efforts to ensure the construction of a democratic republic on this basis. Kılıçdaroğlu recently said that the Kurdish problem will be solved in parliament. He said that many of Turkey’s fundamental problems will be solved in parliament. In order for the Kurdish question to be solved in parliament, first of all, Turkey needs to face its own reality. This denialist, exterminationist, genocidal state needs to face its own reality, its genocidal reality. The Kurdish problem cannot be solved only in the parliament. This problem is multidimensional. It has become a problem of the whole region. It has many actors. In the first place, of course, the chief interlocutor for a solution is Rêber Apo [Abdullah Öcalan]. Rêber Apo has never been against a solution in parliament. He himself has expressed this many times. Of course, this issue will be solved in parliament. Laws will be passed and the constitution will be changed. The parliament will do this. In this sense, Leader Apo is of course the main interlocutor to solve this problem. That is why millions of people during this year´s Newroz have said that Leader Apo represents their will. They have pointed to Leader Apo as the address of the solution. The Kurdish problem is a deep problem. This problem cannot be solved with superficial approaches, with deception, with deceit or with the plan of simply getting Kurdish votes. This would lead to a new classical state understanding, mentality and restoration of the state. In order to prevent this from happening, the struggle for democracy, the social struggle of the democratic forces must increase.”

“This government is a misogynist government. This has become so extreme that even women who are known and recognized within their own party [AKP] are now expressing their protest against this policy. In this sense, I call on women not to vote for this misogynist government. This government is really a great danger for women. Its practice so far has made this very clear. In fact, this situation has unmasked the government also for women who used to not see its real face. It has revealed how misogynistic it is even to women who used to not see it. This is a good thing to happen. This is the kind of government we are faced with. So in this elections all women should take a stance against this misogynist government.”

Efforts to Facilitate Syria-Turkey-Iran-Russia Meeting

“The talks between Russia, Syria, Iran, Turkey and Syria, especially in this last period, took place due to Erdoğan’s pressure. He wanted to use this process for the elections. Relations with Damascus are improving, Turkey is trying to create a process with Damascus and a positive atmosphere with Egypt. That’s why they also asked Russia to facilitate such talks. Russia is working for Erdoğan to win in the elections. Russia’s stance in the elections is obvious. It supports Erdogan. They planned a meeting in Moscow. Iran was also included in this process. But the process was blocked after a recent statement made by Bashar al-Assad: “Turkey is an occupier. I will not sit with Erdogan until Turkey withdraws its forces from Syria.” The [Syrian] regime does not want this government to maintain its power. Most likely, it thinks that with a new [Turkish] administration, it will be able to solve its problems more easily. It does not want to become a tool in the hands of the current [Turkish] government. Consequently, the talks were postponed. This is of course good. Damascus knows very well that Turkey is an occupier in Syria. Turkey has organized tens of thousands of Islamist proxy forces against Syria. It has built an alliance with IS [Islamic State] and al-Nusra, and provided all kinds of support to them. Turkey is the main cause of this war in Syria. It has been deepening this war until today. It is almost more dangerous than IS and these other proxy forces. The attitude of the Syrian people is of course understandable from this point of view. We see the protests and anger of the society against Turkey. Assad has now also shown a stance and attitude in line with this.”

Continuing Uprising in East Kurdistan and Iran

“The uprising in Iran has been going on for months. Led by women, ´Jin, Jiyan Azadî´ has turned into a demand for democracy, freedom, justice and equality. The demands of women have become the demands of the whole society. Women are really leading the social struggle, social movement and resistance in Iran. This is very meaningful. This has pushed the regime to the limit. And the resistance still continues. The regime has been finding it increasingly difficult to break the resistance and the will of women. Because women are leading this resistance. They have become the building force. In order to intimidate women, the regime has increased its violence and oppression. Thus, poisoning incidents were put on the agenda. Over 5.000 female students were poisoned. I would like to condemn this. Instead of escalating violence, the regime that is carrying out these practices should recognize the demands of the women. It should recognize the demands of society. It should take steps in this regard. People want freedom. They want democracy, justice and equality. This is what the whole society, all peoples in the whole region, in the whole world want. Iran can no longer resist against this. This struggle will continue. Of course, the pressure will continue. But in the end, the regime will have to recognize these realities or it will disintegrate.”