Sozdar Avesta, member of the Presidential Council of the KCK, gave an assessment of the guerrilla press conference held on 26 October in the mountains of Kurdistan. She talks about the steps taken so far by the Kurdistan Freedom Movement and Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan and their position in the ongoing process, as well as the rapprochement of the Turkish state.
We publish the first part of her remarks.
Sozdar Avesta began by commemorating “our comrades that have fallen martyrs in the month of July, as well as Dilzar Rêber Andok, who was martyred in an accident that occurred on 31 October. By commemorating, we remember all the heroes who gave their lives in the freedom struggle. It is thanks to their sacrifice that this struggle has reached where it is today, and our people honor their martyrs with pride.”
Avesta then spoke about the press conference held by guerrillas on 26 October and said: “The Kurdistan Freedom Movement took a historic step in response to Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s call at the press conference on 26 October in the Qendîl Mountains. A statement was read by members of the KCK Executive Council and of the YJA Star and HPG command of Northern Kurdistan. It was an important statement, declaring a meaningful and valuable step.
Twenty-five precious guerrilla fighters of the HPG and YJA Star announced their return from Northern Kurdistan. There are circles that can be referred to as ‘deep state’ within Turkey. They do not want this process to progress. The withdrew now was from areas where there was a possibility of conflict, thus thwarting the sabotage intentions of these circles. We have encountered such provocations in the past. In the course of previous ceasefire periods, many provocations were carried out by these forces. During the Oslo process, for example, mines were planted by these saboteurs in the Peyanis region of Colemêrg (tr. Hakkari), which caused the death of dozens of civilians. Similarly, in 2013 in Paris, Sakine Cansız, one of the founders of the Kurdistan Freedom Movement and the PKK, along with Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez, was assassinated by these very forces that thereby tried to prevent the process from progressing. So far, every effort towards a successful process was always confronted with many provocations and attempts at sabotage, but still Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan and the Freedom Movement are determined to reach their goal and achieve success. Therefore, this new step has now been taken with Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s approval.”
Avesta added: “We comprehensively evaluated the process at the 12th Congress of the PKK. As the Freedom Movement, we discussed and agreed on the tasks that fall upon us, how we can strengthen Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s hand, and what we need to do to prevent the process from falling victim to any provocations. As a result, we decided to withdraw our guerrillas from those areas that could be a potential breeding ground for such provocations. This was an important step. As stated in the announcement, there are further such regions along the borderlines that have the same risk potential, but there as well necessary measures are being taken. In other words, this step is a continuation of the step taken on July 11 under the leadership of the co-chair of the KCK Executive Council. That step, taken under the leadership of comrade Besê Hozat and a group consisting of 30 guerrilla fighters, also had a major impact. It resonated widely in the region as well as in the world.
But one has to also look at what happened after it. Steps needed to be taken by the Turkish side within the framework of this process, but that did not happen. Contradictions are arising, and one has to question this. Some questioned why we decided to withdraw our forces after we had already symbolically burned our weapons, while the Turkish state didn’t make any step. Some even said that the process was heading towards a deadlock, that there was laxity, and that it was developing negatively. Questions, criticisms, and expectations are being raised in this way in public opinion. Our international friends and our people are also asking similar questions. This is a crucial issue. Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan clearly stated in his call on February 27 that this process is not a bargaining process, that it should not be evaluated within this framework, but that it is a process of a strategic change. Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan had also mentioned this in his previous video statement. However, those on the other side should not see it as bargaining. The state and the government must also take steps. Freedom laws and democratic integration laws should have already been enacted after July 11. However, these steps have not been taken. This is why the process has been prolonged and the risk of provocation has increased.”
Avesta continued: “There is the commission within the parliament that was established on August 5. This commission is still continuing its work and is thereby playing on time. It has been harshly criticized by our movement, intellectuals, and many circles of experts on this issue. We were and are always absolutely clear about our position in this process. The commission started working in the wrong way. The commission’s first agenda item should have been the enactment of these laws, and according to these laws, direct talks with Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan should have been held in the first phase. Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s opinion should have been sought. If this had been done, then our comrades would not have had to walk for months to reach Qendîl from Northern Kurdistan. They could have participated directly in the process. However, because no steps were taken, the process was prolonged, and the risk of provocation arose. There was a risk that the process would be wasted. For this reason, the Freedom Movement demonstrated its stance with great sacrifice, determination, wisdom, historical responsibility, and loyalty to Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan.
In this regard, I want to underline again, as the Freedom Movement, we are advancing this process under the ideological and practical leadership of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan. However, this process cannot advance solely through our unilateral steps. Now, after October 26, these issues are being discussed. Steps must be taken. If they are not taken, it will no longer have any meaning.
From here on, there are two possibilities: Either the process moves forward, or it loses all meaning. As again declared in the statement, we are serious in our consideration of the healthy progress of the process and act accordingly. As the Freedom Movement, we support and embrace the steps taken under the leadership of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan in his careful, responsible, conscious, and determined manner. Our people, our movement, and the Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan, have shown great resistance for this process to move forward. For this reason, on behalf of the leadership of our Presidential Council, I greet each one of those comrades who marched from Northern Kurdistan and made great sacrifices to prevent the process from being endangered. I also congratulate the HPG and YJA Star command for successfully carrying out this historic step, and I send my greetings to all of them.”
At this point, Avesta emphasized that “the main goal of the Freedom Movement and the people of Kurdistan is the physical freedom of people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan. The current process has been ongoing for a year. It came to the forefront with the statements of MHP chair Devlet Bahçeli. It was Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s response to these statements, saying, “If you clear the way and provide opportunities, I will shift this process from a terrain of war, conflict, and violence to a political and legal terrain,” that initiated all of this. The opportunities offered to Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan are completely limited. Better conditions must be ensured for him in order for him to be able to make his contribution. This is not a political demand that can be negotiated but simply the legal right to which he is entitled anyway. Meetings with his lawyers, for example, had been banned for years. His lawyers have to get the allowance to go to Imrali whenever they want. Meeting with his family is his legal and lawful right, and it has to be provided. Sure, a delegation from the DEM Party is included in the process, but this only offers insufficient, limited opportunities. The process must be based on solid ground. Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan also stated this in his last meeting. As a movement, we always emphasize that these conditions are necessary for peace, a democratic society, brotherhood among peoples, the democratization of the republic, and the general advancement of democracy. Devlet Bahçeli himself pointed out that the process should be discussed within the parliament and that Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan should come and speak there. Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan fulfilled his duties. He lifted the obstacles in front of the process and created strong public support for the process. What are they still waiting for? The delay in the implementation of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s so-called ‘Right to Hope’ is raising questions.”
Avesta pointed out that “some steps that had already been taken in the past, in 1999 and 2013, were rendered useless due to petty interest. The current lack of the required discussions within the commission and the failure to take the necessary steps into consideration is also a matter of authority. The dialogue and negotiation based on Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s model of ‘Peace and Democratic Society’ is crucial. The state must take concrete steps in this regard. The reason that the Kurdish issue remains unresolved is due to flawed approaches. No trust can be created when they still insist on their labeling of terrorism. Major steps must be taken. The situation is serious. And the very first thing that needs to be done is to ensure the physical freedom of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan. They need to implement the ‘Right to Hope’ as is envisaged by the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Legal regulations must be made for this to happen, and there should be no delay. We consider this as decisive.”
Avesta said: “
I also want to call on everyone to participate in the upcoming march under the slogan ‘Freedom for Rêber Apo, Solution to the Kurdish Question,’ that is to be held in Cologne, Germany. This march could send a strong message to the international community for the physical freedom of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan and the solution to the Kurdish question. No process can move forward without Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s physical freedom. Our people must expand the campaign for his freedom and the solution to the Kurdish question. The process moves forward through struggle. Even if democratic integration laws are passed and negotiations progress, this does not mean that the struggle will end. We must never forget that we need to intensify the struggle in every field for Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s freedom. This process has indeed brought us very close to the opportunity for Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s physical freedom. With the support of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan, the martyrs, and our people, we are now very close to it. No one will serve us democracy, peace, and Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s freedom on a platter; this can only be achieved through struggle. It will be won through struggle, through resistance.
We are following in the press that preparations have been underway for days for the march to be held on November 8. Democratic organizations, international friends of the Kurdish people, democratic and leftist circles, and everyone who wants peace in the region know that the freedom of the Kurdish people is linked to the freedom of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan. This march goes far beyond the marches and rallies of previous years. It is truly very important. Hundreds of thousands of people should participate and their message must reach everywhere. Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan must not be isolated even for one more hour. The Council of Europe must monitor this process for the implementation of the ‘Right to Hope’ and take swift action. This march will have an impact. Our people’s preparations for the march are almost complete. We must secure Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s physical freedom against the conspiracies. We must act with this awareness and conviction. On this basis, I call on everyone, especially our people in Germany, the Netherlands, and the surrounding countries, together with all organizations and international friends, to participate in the November 8 march. I greet and congratulate everyone who will participate in the march in advance.”