Zelal Ceger says people of Northern and Eastern Syria see PKK as their will

TEV-DEM’s former co-chair Zelal Ceger said that the peoples in Rojava are targeting 1 million signatures, while the Northern and Eastern Syria People’s Initiative is hoping for more, adding: “People see that the PKK’s inclusion on the the list of terrorist organisation as a proof of legal injustice. Everyone knows that inclusion is the result of the Turkish state pressure on other European countries. Everyone knows that the PKK was born and grew up with the philosophy of Leader Öcalan. In the Kobanê war, guerrillas took action against ISIS gangs from the mountains to the cities, and PKK members fought against these gangs. They protected the honor of the people in Shengal. Because of this, the people have now come to the conclusion that an injustice has been done against the PKK and demanded that the PKK be removed from the list so that they can regain their rights.”

The Northern and Eastern Syria People’s Initiative launched a petition campaign to remove the PKK from the EU list of terrorist organisations. The people of the region embraced the campaign, which has been going on for about 2 months, with great enthusiasm and morale. Kongra Star, the Democratic Union Party, the Democratic Society Movement (TEV-DEM), the Syrian Revolutionary Youth Movement and the Young Women’s Union, as well as many organizations and institutions in the region, announced that they support and participate in the campaign.

In addition to the signature stands in all its cities, the Mobile Library Action was launched in January by the Syrian Revolutionary Youth Movement and the Young Women’s Union. Young people collected signatures and presented the books of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan to the public.

Zelal Ceger spoke to ANF about the campaign launched by the Northern and Eastern Syria Region People’s Initiative.

Reminding that 29 well-known personalities, including politicians, writers, philosophers, peace activists, deputies, lawyers and artists, launched the “International Initiative for Justice for the Kurds” on 5 November 2021, Ceger said: “This initiative was launched in Europe and was positively received by the people of Northern and Eastern Syria. We begun to collect signatures here. The target of the initiative was to collect one million signatures. However, as can be seen in the emerging picture, the people of Northern and Eastern Syria have set a higher target here.”

Ceger added: “The PKK has been on the list of terrorist organisations for 30 years because of the pressure and interests of the Turkish state. The Turkish state is attacking North Kurdistan on the one hand and Rojava, Rojhilat and Bashur Kurdistan on the other saying that it is fighting the PKK and calling it a ‘terrorist’ organisation.”

The PKK fought for all of us

Pointing out that not only the Kurdish people, but also the Arab, Turkish, Chechen, Assyrian and Armenian people are working to remove the PKK from the list of terrorist organisations, Ceger said: “The people know that injustice was done to the PKK and demanded that it be removed from the list so that they could have their rights. The people saw that the PKK fought for all of us.”

Ceger continues: “The people here have participated in the campaign with enthusiasm and without hesitation. Tents were set up, stands were opened, and Mobile Library actions were started. Everyone over the age of 18, from the Communes to the Councils, participated in the campaign. The participation of opinion leaders was at a high level. Of course, these steps were very important. In the resulting picture, the people of Northern and Eastern Syria said that more than 2 million signatures should be collected.”

People don’t accept the isolation imposed on Öcalan

Stating that the people will send the collected signatures to human rights institutions and organizations and the European Court, Ceger added: “The people see the PKK as their will, their representative, and the defender of their rights. The PKK gave many martyrs for the freedom of the people. The people also say that they do not accept the imprisonment and isolation of Leader Öcalan who fought for the unity and brotherhood of the peoples and the Democratic Nation project.”