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october 09, 2024

The international conspiracy has now left its 26th year behind. The Kurdish people’s leader, Abdullah Ocalan, has analyzed this conspiracy in detail several times and described it as an attack on the Kurdish people and the peoples of the Middle East. The conspiracy is an attempt to drive the peoples of the Middle East into war against each other. How should the conspiracy be assessed today, in view of the ongoing Third World War?

We have reached the 26th anniversary of the international conspiracy and are entering its 27th year. First of all, I condemn and curse the forces that developed the conspiracy with hatred, and I salute with respect and love the great resistance that Rêber Apo1 has developed throughout those 26 years under the conditions of torture and isolation in Imrali. A great popular and guerrilla resistance developed inspired through it. This brought upon very important results. And it continues to do so. In this sense, I send my greetings and love to Rêber Apo. I also commemorate all the martyrs of revolution and struggle for freedom with respect, love, and gratitude, particularly the martyrs who gave their lives for the struggle under the slogan “You cannot darken our sun!”.

October is a month that symbolizes both the international conspiracy and the great resistance against it. On October 9, 2019, the Turkish state launched an invasion operation against Gire Spi and Serekaniye. Again, on October 9, 2020, the Shengal Treaty was signed, which meant a new ferman2 against Shengal (Sinjar). A major attack against the Êzidis started through this agreement. There was also the massacre of October 10 at the Ankara Train Station3. Over one hundred people lost their lives in this massacre. I commemorate them all with respect, love, and gratitude. It was an attack that caused a great trauma in Turkish society. Even though it was ISIS who attacked, it happened with the direct participation of the AKP, MHP, and the Turkish state. They used ISIS in Ankara, just as they used them against the Kurds in Rojava, against the Êzidis in Shengal, the democratic forces, the socialist forces, and the Kurdish freedom movement; they used them in Turkey and in the whole region.

On the other hand, of course, very big serhildans4 also took place within this month. There were the Kobane serhildans of October 6-7 in northern Kurdistan. Hundreds of thousands of people participated in them. They had an important role and impact on the protection and liberation of Kobane. The Turkish state put Hizbulkontra, as well as many gangs and mercenaries, into action there, and dozens of our people were massacred brutally.

In the month of October, martyrdoms of great women, especially Gulnaz Karatash5, Gurbetelli Ersoz6, Rojin Gewda7, Gulnaz Ege8, Cicek Kurtalan9, and Nagihan Akarsel10 took place. On October 4, 2014, Arin Mirkan carried out a self-sacrificial action in Kobane, which had a massive impact on the resistance of Kobane. With her spirit, the Kobane resistance developed and succeeded. The month of October is indeed full of great martyrdoms.

Finally, the so-called cokturme plani11 was also developed in this month, on October 30, 2014. October is a month full of conspiracies and attacks, especially the international conspiracy on the one hand, and it is also a month full of great resistance and struggle against the conspiracy on the other.

The international conspiracy is a conspiracy targeting the Kurdish people in the person of Rêber Apo and generally targeting the peoples of the region. Rêber Apo was seen as a major obstacle by the international capitalist hegemonic powers. There was an intervention in the Middle East that had already started in the early 90s. It marked the beginning of the Third World War. The collapse of the Soviet Union, Saddam’s attack on Kuwait, these developments marked the beginning of this war, and it continued to intensify with the American intervention. The international conspiracy of October 9, 1998, was also developed at an important stage of the Third World War. At that time, a stronger direct intervention in Iraq was on the agenda. It was aimed at overthrowing Saddam’s government and eliminating him. Also, the intervention in Afghanistan was on the agenda. Generally speaking, a very comprehensive Middle East intervention was on the agenda, and Rêber Apo and the PKK were seen as an obstacle to this. Because it was the main revolutionary dynamic force in the region. A great struggle was being waged under the leadership of the PKK. The Kurdish people’s struggle for freedom, the peoples’ struggle for freedom was creating a very serious consciousness and enlightenment among the peoples of the Middle East. In this respect, such a conspiracy was carried out against Rêber Apo. This paved the way for the collaborationist, treasonous line in Kurdistan. A line that they wanted to make dominate in Kurdistan. The international hegemonic powers wanted to benefit from it in their regional policies and interventions in the region.

Of course, as I pointed out before, a great struggle also developed against this conspiracy. Our people, everyone regardless of age, whether in the four parts of Kurdistan or outside, have all stood up. Dozens of people carried out self-sacrificial actions. The paradigm of democratic nation and the democratic confederal system put forward by Rêber Apo in the following years, as a whole, brought this conspiracy to naught. It deciphered the trap that was laid on the peoples. With the deciphering of this and the failure of the conspiracy, the freedom struggle increased its influence in Kurdistan and the region. The movement grew even more. As one result, the Rojava Revolution took place, paving the way for the democratic revolution in the Middle East. A very strong ground was formed in this sense. When the situation was reversed, of course the international conspiracy updated itself and continued. After 2000, especially within the PKK, there was an attempt to develop a treasonous, collaborative line based on conquering power and seizing the PKK from within. They developed many meetings and relations with some of those who were in leading positions at that time, and through them they wanted to take over the PKK and liquidate it. The internal betrayal and liquidationist line developed after 2000. And in 2003, it made itself fully visible and wanted to make an internal coup against the movement and take it over. This was led by the US, AKP, and KDP.

The US, AKP, and KDP were in contact with these traitors within the PKK. It was an attempted intervention of these forces inside the PKK. Of course, this also came to nothing. Against this, Rêber Apo and the movement waged a strong struggle. Our people waged a strong struggle. At the end, the liquidationism itself was liquidated.

The KDP was involved in this conspiracy from the beginning. They wanted to put all Kurds under the control of the collaborationist, treasonous agent line. The international capitalist and imperialist powers had given such a role to the KDP. They also wanted to make Turkey a model and actively develop intervention in the region through Turkey. In this respect, these forces conspired against Rêber Apo and handed him over to Turkey. Such a very dirty, illegal, inhumane, and immoral conspiracy was developed against the Kurdish people and the peoples of the region in the person of Rêber Apo. The resistance that Rêber Apo developed, the solution project, the solution approach, the paradigm of the democratic nation, the ecological, democratic, confederal system project based on women’s freedom, completely nullified this conspiracy.

The aim of the conspiracy was the physical extermination of Rêber Apo, the complete liquidation of the PKK, and a total genocide of the Kurdish people. Neither the physical destruction of Rêber Apo was realized, nor the PKK was liquidated, nor the Kurdish people were subjected to a total genocide as they had envisioned. This conspiracy came to naught with the resistance stance put forward by Rêber Apo, the resistance of our people, the guerrilla resistance, and the resistance of women. We can state this very easily.

Of great significance was also that during the period when this conspiracy was developing, Rêber Apo had declared a unilateral ceasefire. He had demanded a solution to the Kurdish question within the borders of Turkey. There were also several statements in this sense. Of course, these statements and this search for a solution did not develop spontaneously. The Turkish army and the Turkish state were also in a tendency, a search, and an effort to solve the Kurdish question through dialogue. Our leadership had also received messages in this direction. The ceasefire declaration also developed on this basis. The statements made by our leadership also developed on this basis. Indeed, within the Turkish state, one wing of this was represented by the army. Some generals were leading this. They wanted to solve the Kurdish question on a political basis. In order to give them a chance, Rêber Apo decided on such a ceasefire.

In fact, the international conspiracy was also an intervention against such tendencies that might develop within the Turkish state; it was also an intervention against such efforts of the movement and Rêber Apo. In other words, the first steps of the change of strategy and the change of paradigm were actually a process that started in 1993 and 1995. But it reached an important stage in 1998. They saw this because the democratic solution of the Kurdish question, the liberation of the Kurds, the democratization of Turkey, and the democratization of the region were not in the interest of the international powers, led by the US and Britain, who wanted to intervene in the region. They saw this as an obstacle. They saw it as a threat, a danger. A constant conflict, a state of war in Turkey, was more useful for them. In this situation, they could better use Turkey for their own interests; they could put it at their service. They could use the Kurds more easily. They could put them under the control of the collaborationist agent line and put them at their service in any way they wanted. In that respect, they envisioned a war between peoples to be in their own interests. In that way, they would be able to implement their policies in the region more easily. They would be able to realize their interests more easily. Such a dirty policy was implemented.

When Rêber Apo was abducted, Ecevit was in power. During the Ecevit period, some generals had meetings with Rêber Apo. There was still a search for a democratic political solution to the Kurdish question. But after the Al-Qaeda attack on America on September 11, 2001, the intervention in Afghanistan developed. The concept of “fighting terrorism” was implemented all over the world. And Turkey also wanted to benefit from this. Therefore, it ended that process completely. In those processes, especially during the Ecevit period, there were actually searches in this direction. But after that, all talks with Rêber Apo were broken off. Ecevit was already ousted from power. They replaced him with the AKP. The AKP carried out a tactic to settle in the state; it carried out a liberal politics that appealed to everyone. After it took control of the state, it put genocide policies into effect. In 2014, it developed the ‘cokturme plani’.

After October 9, 1998, the conspiracy continued, and was constantly updated. Genocidal attacks, total genocidal attacks continued. And a great resistance also developed against this. The center of this resistance was, of course, Imrali, Rêber Apo. The conspiracy did not reach its goal. The struggle and resistance frustrated the conspiracy.

The global campaign under the slogan ‘Freedom for Abdullah Ocalan, a Political Solution to the Kurdish Question’ has now completed its first year. The campaign represents resistance at various levels against the international conspiracy. How do you assess the past year of the campaign, and what are the challenges for the coming year?

The global campaign ‘Freedom for Abdullah Ocalan, a Political Solution to the Kurdish Question’ is a campaign led by our international friends, and it is about to complete its first year. It has indeed produced very important results. Very valuable work was done on an international scale. There were many workshops, conferences, concerts, seminars, marches, and readings of the prison writings of Rêber Apo. There were also many struggles in the legal field; letters were written to many institutions, and statements were made by them. 69 Nobel Prize-winning scientists participated in the campaign; they wrote letters to the relevant institutions. There is the participation of the trade unions in England, Scotland, and most recently in Spain. There were many events in many parts of the world. The ideology and paradigm of Rêber Apo were discussed very extensively. This led to very serious enlightenment. It led to the recognition of Rêber Apo’s ideas. Therefore, a very large group of people emerged internationally who embraced the physical freedom of Rêber Apo. The global campaign has become global and universal. This has produced a very important result. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe took a decision. It gave Turkey one year’s time to correct the system of torture and isolation in Imrali and to eliminate this criminal situation. Otherwise, it said it would issue an interim decision. Of course, all this was the result of this struggle.

At the stage we have reached now, the campaign has completed one year and is entering its second year. Our international friends who developed this campaign will definitely draw up the planning and perspective for the coming year. We believe that very strong planning will emerge for the coming year. Of course, a very important pillar of this campaign is also Kurdistan and its social, political, diplomatic, and legal struggle. In northern Kurdistan, the freedom march, the ‘Give Freedom a Voice’ protests, and justice protests developed. There was the Cologne march. Now it has been rescheduled for November. On October 13th, there is the rally in Amed (tr. Diyarbakir). And a similar effort is being considered in Istanbul. All of these are extremely valuable and meaningful. Also in Rojava, our people were in a continuous resistance. Generally in the four parts of Kurdistan, there was an uninterrupted struggle, even if it was routine and insufficient in some places.

Of course, another crucial pillar is the guerrilla struggle. The guerrilla showed a very strong performance and resistance, particularly in this last year. Very strong actions developed. The YJA Star also played a very decisive role in this.

On the occasion of the anniversary, I greet and congratulate all the international friends, patriotic people, and guerrillas who developed this global freedom campaign with respect and love. I believe that the next phase will also develop very successfully. Yes, important results have emerged, but we still haven’t achieved our main aims. Because the aim of the campaign is the physical freedom of Rêber Apo and the democratic solution of the Kurdish question. At the current stage, Rêber Apo has not been physically liberated, and the Kurdish question is still not politically and democratically solved. It lays in the middle, and the war of genocide continues uninterruptedly. The total genocidal war continues, as the resistance continues uninterrupted.

In this sense, this campaign, which is now in its second year, must and will continue in the coming year in a stronger manner on the basis of the ground that has been formed, and it must and will surely succeed. I strongly believe in this.

As I have mentioned, there have been very important results and achievements in the past year. Rêber Apo has become a universal leader, there has been a very strong embrace around the world. Based on this, we need to develop this campaign more strongly. The social resistance must continue to grow everywhere.

Social resistance has a great impact on the legal struggle, the political struggle, and the diplomatic struggle. Our people also see and know this. Northern Kurdistan and Turkey should gradually become the center of social struggle. An uninterrupted struggle must be developed in northern Kurdistan. Because northern Kurdistan is the center of the genocidal attacks. Right now, northern Kurdistan is the center of total genocidal attacks. The center of this is Imrali and northern Kurdistan in particular. There is a very intense special war. Language, culture, and nature are under fire. There is a policy of massacre against the youth with drugs and prostitution. It is the same for Kurdish women and Kurdish children. There is the most recent example of Narin. In this sense, against the special war attacks, against the total genocidal attack, our people, particularly in northern Kurdistan, and Turkey’s democratic forces must take part in this global campaign in a stronger way; an uninterrupted resistance must be developed.

This is also the case in Rojava. Rojava must be able to develop a strong revolutionary people’s war. This is more crucial for the survival of Rojava than bread and water are. The revolution in Rojava is under great danger. The Turkish state aims to occupy the remaining areas of Rojava when it finds the opportunity. It is just trying to seize the opportunity and conjuncture for this. In this sense, our people must be in an uninterrupted resistance here. This resistance cannot only be done by taking to the streets and marching on several occasions. Our people must be organized on the basis of self-defense, regardless of age. It must be organized on the basis of revolutionary people’s war. They must be able to develop their own self-defense. There should not be a single unorganized person anywhere, not a single person without self-defense. In the coming year, we must continue the social struggle in the four parts of Kurdistan by increasing and sustaining it.

Also, the legal struggle gains importance. We saw this very clearly throughout the past year. The struggle on this issue had a significant impact and result. The Council of Europe (CoE), the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), and the forces that developed this conspiracy are all partners in these genocidal policies. They are responsible for the torture and isolation system in Imrali. They established this system.

The legal, political, diplomatic, and social struggle against these forces must continue strongly. As long as this struggle continues, we will achieve results. We will make them apply their own laws. They will be forced to apply international conventions, and the Turkish state will be forced to apply them. The way to this is through struggle. Nothing can happen without struggle. No development can be created without struggle. Without struggle, without resistance, you cannot liberate Rêber Apo; you cannot solve the Kurdish question; you cannot liberate Kurdistan. The path to freedom and democracy is through struggle and resistance. The process we are going through necessitates a total struggle and resistance as indispensable prerequisites. We must definitely lead this global freedom campaign to success with great resistance.

While the absolute isolation against Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Ocalan continues, an intensive war is being waged outside. The Turkish state is constantly attacking with all the technical means at its disposal or provided by its NATO partners. It is a war that is currently taking place with a focus on the Medya Defense Zones12. How do you assess the course of this war?

The war continues with all its intensity. It is a really fierce war. There are very intense attacks, especially centered on West Zap, Metina, Xakurke, and Xinere, and there is a very strong resistance of the guerrilla that launches impressive actions.

The Turkish state aims to occupy and annex all these areas and gradually establish its complete sovereignty over southern Kurdistan. We always say that by occupying and annexing southern Kurdistan and Rojava, they are trying to establish their hegemony over Iraq and Syria by reaching the borders of Misak-i Milli13. They aim to become the hegemonic power of the region. This is the basic strategy and policy of the Turkish state. To seize the Misak-i Milli on the basis of the Kurdish genocide, and to establish its hegemony over the region by seizing it. Accordingly, it continues this war very persistently.

The Turkish state is waging war wherever it enters. For the last four to five years, it has been building a lot of forces, piling up a lot of techniques, hitting from the air, hitting from the ground, using chemical weapons, using everything. And there is still a great resistance in those tunnels. At the moment, the Turkish state has no control over West Zap, Metina, Xakurke, or Xinere. There is an intertwined, hand-to-hand battle going on here. There is a great guerrilla resistance. I take this opportunity to commemorate with love, respect, and gratitude all the comrades who were martyred in this resistance. And I also greet with love and respect all the comrades who are struggling and taking part in this sacrificial resistance. They are developing an honorable and noble resistance. They are defending and representing the dignity of humanity.

The KDP is very actively involved in the annexation and occupation attacks of this genocidal war. Right now, for example, in Duhok, Amediye, and Zakho, KDP businessmen have made agreements with the Turkish state and develop joint construction projects. They are building positions, roads, and outposts for the Turkish state. They have made agreements with these companies. Currently, all these works are being undertaken and carried out by KDP businessmen in southern Kurdistan. They provide all kinds of intelligence information and logistical support. All these attacks are happening with the active support of the KDP. There is a situation that is really up to its neck in betrayal and collaborationism.

The attacks intensified after the agreement between the Iraqi government, the KDP, and the Turkish state. There have already been intense attacks against civilians. By becoming a partner in these attacks, in the Turkish state’s occupation, annexation, and expansionist policies, Iraq legitimized these attacks in the eyes of international states. The current Iraqi administration has no dignity and respect in the eyes of the Kurdish people, the Iraqi peoples and the peoples of the region. It is a completely discredited government that has lost its respect and prestige. It has done the greatest disservice to the Iraqi people. It has earned the great anger and hatred of the Kurdish people. It has earned the great anger of the Iraqi people. We know that there are very serious disturbances within Iraq right now. There are many tendencies, different wings within the state. We know that there are many contradictions and conflicts between them. It seems that in this form, this administration cannot sustain itself for long. The disservice to the Kurdish people and the Arab community has been too big.

There is a struggle against this; it is going on everywhere. It is going on in southern Kurdistan, as well as in northern Kurdistan. The war continues with all its intensity. There is a great resistance, and there also are great martyrdoms.

Kurdish people’s leader, Abdullah Ocalan, spoke of and assessed the Third World War many years ago. Today we see that this war has found a focal point in Israel, which is currently attacking Lebanon. Attempts to involve Iran more in this war are also recognizable. Also, America is closely involved in the war through its agreements with Israel and close cooperation. How do you assess the current developments in the context of the Third World War?

The Third World War is currently taking place in the region with all its intensity. The war is deepening and spreading. Israel’s attack on Lebanon and its attack on Gaza should not be evaluated as limited to Gaza and Lebanon. Turkey’s attack on the Kurds and its genocidal attack should also not be evaluated as limited to Kurds and Kurdistan. It affects the whole region. This war is a World War. And this World War is currently intensified and deepened in the Middle East. There are great powers behind Israel, particularly America, Britain, and most of Europe. In fact, a concept, a strategy, is being implemented. Israel is the practical implementation force, the striking force of this strategy, and Iran is the target of these attacks. In this way, Israel is gradually increasing its influence and power in the region with the support of the West. And the region is gradually being reshaped and redesigned on the basis of the interests of these hegemonic powers and Israel.

Hezbollah has really suffered a heavy blow that was almost fatal. Of course, it is difficult for it to be completely liquidated; it has serious roots in society. But it is also very clear that it has suffered a heavy blow. The blow to Hezbollah is a blow to Iran. At the same time, Hamas has indeed suffered a fatal blow. Hamas’s blow is both a blow to Turkey and Iran. This is clear.

Turkey is behind the October 7 Hamas attack. It played a major role in the development of such an attack on the basis of sabotaging the energy road project from India to the Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus, and Europe. Other forces also played a role. It is not that they did not play a role, but Turkey played the most decisive role. Afterwards, it wanted to be involved in the process and equation through Hamas. It did everything to try to broker a ceasefire. None of the attempts yielded any results.

Currently, Iran is being targeted, but at the same time, Turkey’s policy in the region, its foreign, domestic, and regional policy has suffered a huge blow. Turkey has always pursued a policy of balance between Russia and America, between Europe and Asia. It has used this for years. It used it in the Ukraine conflict; it wanted to use it in the Gaza-Israel war. Every time there was a crisis, it wanted to use this policy of balance. It used it This war is all about controlling the energy routes, controlling energy resources, and redesigning the region. It is the 21st century’s war to re-establish and re-organize the political balances, economic balances, and political system. In this war, Turkey has been wounded, and Iran as well is seriously weakening. The situation in Syria and Iraq is already obvious. With the support of America, Britain, and the West, Israel is gradually increasing its influence and strength. A situation of designing the region on the Israeli axis is gradually emerging. All this has put the AKP-MHP fascism in a very serious predicament and put it in a great panic.

This war is all about controlling the energy routes, controlling energy resources and redesigning the region. It is the 21st century’s war to re-establish and re-organize the political balances, economic balances and political system. In this war, Turkey has been wounded and Iran as well is seriously weakening. The situation in Syria and Iraq is already obvious. With the support of America, Britain and the West, Israel is gradually increasing its influence and strength. A situation of designing the region on the Israeli axis is gradually emerging. All this has put the AKP-MHP fascism in a very serious predicament and put it in a great panic. Where will this war evolve? Where will it spread to? This war will continue to intensify. Until the US elections, maybe they will continue it in this dosage for a while. But after the US elections, the situation and level of this war will become clearer. But one can already predict, that it will intensify and deepen. It seems that the capitalist, imperialist, Western hegemonic powers will not leave the region in this form. They will gradually intensify these attacks on Iran. They will force the Iranian regime to surrender. They will force an agreement, a compromise based entirely on their own interests. In the absence of this, they will intensify these attacks and war even more. And they will try to bring this policy, their strategy, to a conclusion.

Something alike is also being carried out against Turkey. Turkey is a NATO country. Of course, there is no such thing as Israel attacking Turkey as Erdogan claims. This is all part of their special warfare. It is the tactical politics of designing the opposition, designing Turkey’s internal politics. There is no such thing as Israel attacking Turkey. All Turkey fears is the Kurds. It is conducting a policy of genocide against the Kurds. It does not want this genocide policy to weaken. It does not want these genocidal attacks and war to be sabotaged. It wants to bring this war of genocide to a conclusion without any obstacles or problems. It does not want the Kurds to benefit from this deepening crisis and chaos in the Middle East from this war environment. In order to prevent such a situation, it has been in a panic attack inside and outside.

Of course, this war will have repercussions in Syria. The attacks have already intensified. It is clear that very serious attacks will further be launched against Hezbollah in Syria. They are already underway. The Syrian regime will also be affected by this. This raises several questions. Will the Syrian regime pursue a policy on the axis of America, Israel, and the West? Will it pursue a policy of compromise and agreement with Turkey? Or will it see it in its own interest to compromise and reconcile with the Kurds and seek to solve its internal problems democratically on the basis of democratizing Syria and solving the Kurdish question democratically? This would be the most correct way. It is this option that will win Syria.

In the same way, this war will also have an intense impact on Iraq. These attacks already started a long time ago, and they intensified throughout the last year. Particularly the attacks on Hashd al-Shaabi are very intense. The attacks directly target Iran through them. They want to break Iran’s influence in Iraq with these attacks. In the same way that America is trying to re-establish a Sunni-Shiite balance in Iraq, Turkey is also working very hard, trying to organize Sunnis loyal to it and set them into action. They are trying to make the groups under their control and under their own guidance effective. They are trying to completely break the Iranian influence. Of course, Iran will not stand still either. Obviously, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen are also important for Iran. Iran is also a serious power that pursues a hegemonic policy in the region in order to maintain its influence and power in the region. It is one of the hegemonic powers of the region. It will not remain silent or surrender to this. It will try to protect its power and presence and increase its influence everywhere. Therefore, it will take a more active part in this war. This will gradually deepen the chaos in Iran. It really seems that Iran will either make a deal by making many concessions, which is not a solution. Iran will not see this as a gain for itself – or it will wage a very violent war at any cost. It is debatable where this will lead Iran. There are also many fundamental historical problems in Iran. As the last option, it will turn to a solution, an option based on solving these problems on a democratic basis, democratizing Iran, and taking democratic politics as a basis. This would obviously be the right thing to do. This is the option that will really protect and strengthen Iran.

No matter how we look at it, this is the same for Iraq and Turkey. The more Turkey gets involved in this war, the more it will sink and collapse. Kurdish hostility will finish Turkey. Kurdish genocide policies will finish Turkey; they will bring Turkey to its end. We call on Turkey again; give up on this. This will not gain you anything. This will solely destroy you. Make a deal with the Kurds, reconcile with the Kurds, and negotiate with the Kurds. Recognize Kurdish rights, recognize their freedoms, recognize their language, recognize their culture, and recognize their political rights. The only thing that will save Turkey is a democratic solution in Kurdistan and the democratization of Turkey. This will save Turkey.

Ultimately, we are coming to the solution of Rêber Apo. As long as the powers in the region insist on war, as long as they insist on Kurdish hostility, on the policy of violence, they will not get any results. Indeed, this means destruction. But as they move towards a democratic solution and peace, this will be a win for everyone. It will benefit the region. Of course, it will benefit the peoples the most. This is a fact.

The region is really going through a very dangerous process. This war will spread. It will affect everyone. In this sense, Rêer Apo’s solution project of democratic nation and democratic confederal system is the only reasonable solution project. This is the case for the Kurdish people, the peoples of the region, and the states of the region. Otherwise, the region will turn into a bloodbath. It will experience great destruction. This will be a loss for everyone.

In this ongoing chaos, the Turkish state is trying to adjust its own policy. On the one hand, it always says that Israel has its eye on Turkey and Israel is treated with hostility, while on the other hand, trade relations between the two states continue unabated and there is still collaboration on a military level. They try to conceal this domestically and try to adapt their language accordingly. What are the true intentions of the connection between Erdogan, Bahceli, and Ergenekon within the current chaos?

In recent days, in the Turkish media, the agenda is constantly being heated that Israel has its eyes on Turkey. There were statements by Erdogan and then by Devlet Bahceli. Devlet Bahçeli even suggested something he called ‘Jerusalem Alliance’. He said that he wants to unite all Muslim countries against Israel in a ‘Jerusalem Alliance.’.

On the 8th, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey will convene. They will discuss the Israeli agenda. It is necessary to gain a good understanding of their true intentions. Israel is not going to attack Turkey. Turkey’s relations with Israel are not bad. All of Erdogan’s words are all demagoguery. Turkey did not cut its relations with Israel in any way. Trade and exports continued. It sold all kinds of goods to Israel. At the moment, there is great support from Turkey in the war being waged in Gaza, in the West Bank, and in Lebanon. This is a fact. In that sense, Netanyahu and Erdogan are soul mates. There is no difference between them. Just as Netanyahu is a Hitler, Erdogan is a Hitler as well. Erdogan has even surpassed Hitler. He is not at all what they say he is. What is Turkey’s fear? It is not a matter of Israel attacking Turkey. They are afraid that Kurds could benefit from this war environment and that the Kurds could make more gains. They are afraid that the genocide policies they have been conducting would be thrown away. This is the whole fear and panic. They fear that Kurds in Syria can benefit from this war and that Kurds in Iraq can benefit. That is what Bahceli’s Jerusalem Alliance means. They want to take Syria, Iraq, and Iran with them and form an anti-Kurdish alliance to go against the Kurds and complete the genocide. It is pursuing this policy in order to get the support of the Syrian regime, Iran, and Iraq in the attack on Northern Syria, Rojava.

They are developing such a discourse in order to gain support for their annexation-occupation policies in southern Kurdistan. Otherwise, Erdogan does not care about the Arab people. He sacrificed them. As I pointed out before, Erdogan is behind the October 7 Hamas attack. The intention was to sabotage the energy deal and then to get himself into the equation, but it didn’t work. Now they are setting up such a game. They are trying to develop something like this by gaining the sympathy of Iran, the Arabs, the peoples of the region, and the support of the Arab states under the pretext of the Israeli attacks. But no one will buy it. It is already clear that some Arab countries are not against Israel’s attacks. For example, the Abrahams agreements that Israel made with the support of the US are in force. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries are silent. Egypt is silent. Obviously they also support.

But now the eyes of the Kurdish people have been opened. The eyes of the peoples of the region have also been opened. The states of the region are also more or less aware of what is going on now. It is Turkey that has brought Syria to this state. It is Turkey that has caused such great destruction. It organized tens of thousands of gangs and mercenaries against the regime in Syria. It is also Turkey that has turned Iraq into this situation. What is it doing now? They are trying to design the opposition inside. The other day Bahceli shook hands and greeted the DEM Party leadership in the parliament. He had a dialog with the CHP and Ozgur Ozel; it was a hot topic in the press. He gives warm messages to all of them. He says that he wants to strengthen the internal front. Under the name of strengthening the internal front, the AKP-MHP regime is trying to redesign the opposition as a whole on the basis of their own interests and policies, in the name of Turkey’s survival and national interests, within the framework of the words that Israel will attack Turkey. They are trying to leave no opposition. They are trying to completely liquidate and neutralize it. They are setting up such a new game. After Devlet Bahceli shook hands with the DEM Party, the press asked him why he did so. He said, “While we want peace outside, of course we need peace inside. MHP is a party of Turkey. Other parties cannot take such a step without the MHP taking such a step.” He made various statements like this. If that is the case, then we would like to say something to Bahceli. He talks about internal peace. Then he should take Erdogan and Ozgur Ozel and go to Imrali with them. They should sit down with Rêber Apo. They should talk about the Kurdish question together, negotiate, and work out a joint democratic solution.

Devlet Bahceli is the main actor of the AKP-MHP fascist regime. At the moment, Turkey is ruled by Devlet Bahceli’s mentality. Let Devlet Bahceli ask for a solution; no one can say anything against it. Let him take Erdogan and Ozgur Ozel and go to Imrali. Will he go? He won’t. Because they are after a new game. They are not interested in making peace with the Kurds, coming to an agreement, or recognizing their rights. They don’t want to solve the Kurdish question, nor do they want to democratize Turkey. This is not their concern. It is Rêber Apo’s entire concern and effort to find a democratic solution to the Kurdish question and the democratization of Turkey. The PKK’s entire effort is the democratic solution of the Kurdish question and the democratization of Turkey. But the fascist AKP-MHP regime is weaving a new game, a new trick, a new conspiracy. In order to carry out these genocide policies, they are trying to completely neutralize the opposition inside, create confusion among the Kurds, if they have various unnecessary and unwarranted expectations, they are trying to put such individuals, to leave the Kurds without struggle, to passivate them, to break their will to struggle and resistance, to put them in expectation, to put democratic politics in expectation, to break its influence and activity; if they can, to carry out an operation inside, if they can, to create a disintegration within the DEM Party and within democratic politics. They try to find individuals who are sympathetic to them, who listen to them, try to confuse them further, and gain influence over the Kurds and the CHP through them. All with the aim of forcing the CHP completely under their service, completely weakening the opposition force, and implementing their genocidal policies. This is their reality. This is the game they are playing and the reason why Bahceli shook hands with the DEM party.

If Devlet Bahçeli, AKP, and Erdogan really had such a positive intention and approach as they claim, then fine, Imrali is there. It is under your control; you have established the system of torture and isolation yourself; you are practicing absolute isolation. There has been no news from Rêber Apo for years. Now, if Devlet Bahceli wanted to, he could end the isolation there within an hour.

A very dirty, very insidious policy is being carried out. It aims to completely disable the opposition and neutralize the Kurdish people while carrying out the Kurdish genocide.

The CHP’s policy so far serves the current foreign and domestic policies of the AKP-MHP regime. It is almost as if it is carrying out a policy that plays into the hands of the AKP-MHP regime, that is, a crutch that continues its past role and mission. In other words, there is no serious opposition. This is what all the CHP’s messages mean. Again, it is obvious that they are trying to pull the CHP along for the sake of the survival of this government. In its current form, the CHP is open to this. Until now, the CHP has not uttered a single word against the isolation. A terrible lawlessness is being practiced there. An immoral and inhuman politics is being practiced that renders meaningless the so-called law in Turkey. It creates terrible decay. The main source of this decay, the development of the gangs, mafia, prostitution, all kinds of pollution, ugliness, child murder, and evil in politics and society in Turkey is these Kurdish genocide policies, torture, and imprisonment policies. They have been doing this for years, for more than a century. They themselves organize these gangs for this purpose. The CHP does not have a single policy against isolation, against war. It does not have a single serious policy, a single word for peace, for the solution of the Kurdish question. The rhetoric of ‘normalization’ is going on and on. ‘Normalization’ has also turned into service to the AKP-MHP fascist government and its policies. If there is to be normalization, first and foremost the torture-isolation system in Imrali must be abolished. If there is to be normalization, Devlet Bahceli, Erdogan, and Ozgur Ozel must go to Imrali and sit down with Rêber Apo. True normalization starts from Imrali.

A total special warfare is being waged. The Kurdish people, the peoples and society of Turkey and democratic public opinion are being deceived. There is a terrible special warfare. And the opposition is following a policy that feeds this special warfare. We need to be very vigilant about this.

Finally, I would like to talk about the elections in southern Kurdistan, which are scheduled for October 20. What can you tell us about the elections and the circumstances surrounding them?

There is not much that I currently want to express in this direction. The elections in southern Kurdistan are taking place in the midst of a big war. There is an annexation-occupation attack taking place against southern Kurdistan. Both the southern Kurdistan administration and the KDP are completely involved in this war. In such an environment, these elections are being held.

Our people see who is a betrayer, collaborator, or agent, how they harm the Kurdish people, and how they carry out a dirty interest policy. They also know who is patriotic. They see and know that they think about the interests, honor, and values of the people, that they struggle for this, that they live for this, and that they do politics. There is no need for us to express this. Our people are aware of these. It is already said that this election did not create much excitement in southern Kurdistan. What excitement will there be in a place where there are occupation-annexation attacks, where this administration, the KDP, and the Barzani family clan are involved in these occupation and genocide attacks? Of course they cannot create anything in the people. In this sense, I can only say this. If such an election is possible, of course our people should vote for patriotic candidates. Our people should go and vote for candidates who defend the honor of this people, the national values of this people, who fight for this, who conduct politics. They should also bury the collaborator, betrayer, and agent network in these ballot boxes. This is important. Our people in southern Kurdistan must show the strongest attitude against the collaborator-traitor line in these elections.

Footnotes:

1 Referring to Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Ocalan.

2 The word ‘ferman’ is used by the Êzidi people to describe a genocidal attack on them. It comes from the time of the Ottoman Empire, where the rulers attempted to wipe out the Êzidis through several ‘fermans’.

3 On October 10, 2015, two ISIS suicide bombers attacked a demonstration for a democratic solution to the Kurdish question organized by the HDP and other democratic forces at Ankara train station. 102 people were killed and more than 500 others were injured.

4 ‚Serhildan‘ is the Kurdish word for popular uprising.

5 Gulnaz Karatash (nom de guerre: Beritan) was a pioneer in the Kurdish freedom movement. She laid the foundation for the development of the autonomous Kurdish women’s guerrilla. In a battle against the KDP in 1992, she was surrounded by the enemy and instead of surrendering, she decided to throw herself off a cliff.

6 Gurbetelli Ersoz was a leading militant of the Kurdish women’s movement, best known for her activities in the free press and her prison resistance. She fell in combat in southern Kurdistan on October 8, 1997.

7 Sureya Aslan (nom de guerre: Rojin Gewda), was a leading member of the central command of the HPG and YJA Star guerrilla forces. She fell in combat on October 7, 2012 in the Colemerg region (tr. Hakkari).

8 Nuran Er (nom de guerre: Gulnaz Ege) was a leading member of the central command of the YJA-Star guerrilla forces. She fell martyr in a battle on September 30, 2017 in Amed (tr. Diyarbakir).

9 Ayten Ene (nom de guerre: Cicek Kurtalan) was a leading member of the central command of the YJA-Star guerrilla forces. She was martyred in an attack by the enemy army on October 04, 2019 in the Dersim region (tr. Tunceli).

10 Nagihan Akarsel was a long-time activist in the Kurdish women’s movement and did pioneering work, particularly in jineolojî (women’s science). She was murdered on the street in an assassination attempt in Sulaymaniah on October 4, 2022.

11 Plan that the Turkish government, or rather the deep state of Turkey in coordination with NATO forces, forged secretly during the so-called ‘peace process’. The state abruptly broke off talks with the Kurdish movement in 2015 and escalated the situation as part of this plan, which could literally be translated as a ‘plan of forcing them to their knees’.

12 Areas on the border between North, South and East Kurdistan/South-East Turkey, North Iraq and West Iran, that are under the control of the Kurdish freedom guerrilla.

13 The so-called ‘National Pact’ refers to a political declaration made by the leaders of the Ottoman Empire in 1920 during the First World War. The oath defined the territorial borders – including Kurdish settlement areas in present-day Iraq and Syria – and the basic principles for Turkey’s future policy. Today, Turkish nationalists often refer to the ‘National Pact’ to formulate their aspirations for Turkey’s territorial expansion.