In the second part of this interview, Sozdar Avesta, member of the Presidential Council of the KCK, spoke about the historic steps taken by the Kurdish movement and Abdullah Öcalan, as well as of the importance of 25 November, international day against violence against women.
The first part of this interview can be read here.
Avesta said: “Historic steps have been taken by our movement, but the language they use remains very striking. At a time when the freedom guerrillas are taking steps to avoid war and conflict in order to ensure the process runs smoothly, Hakan Fidan goes to Iraq and makes a major provocation. It seems that Hakan Fidan does not accept this process and consciously wants to sabotage it. He says, “The PKK should leave the Middle East. It should withdraw from Syria, Iran, and Iraq.” What he means with this is not the PKK, but it is the Kurds who should leave. This is an attempt to manipulate the process. It bothers him. He knows that he has no reason left, that they must withdraw from the areas they have occupied in Northern and Eastern Syria. They must withdraw from the areas they have occupied 40-50 kilometers deep in Iraq. His colleague, instead of saying, ‘The PKK stopped the war, burned their weapons, and their forces left our territory; now we have to leave these areas,’ is doing what we see. They say, ‘The best defense is offense’; we know this mentality well. Hakan Fidan’s mentality, style, and actions are opposed to the process. On the one hand, the President says, “It is an important process; they have done their part”; Devlet Bahçeli says, “The founding leader has done his part,” but those who run politics should also make such statements. At the same time, what Devlet Bahçeli said at his party’s group meeting is unacceptable from the perspective of the Kurdish people. They talk about thousands of PKK members in the SDF. Apart from the fact that this has nothing to do with it, there is no such thing; it’s a simple and obvious lie. None of the PKK members who withdrew crossed into Rojava Kurdistan and joined the SDF. They know this very well themselves. They say, “We don’t even let a bird fly over our border uncontrolled.” So where did these thousands of people come from? They are putting forward such things so that no solution develops in North and East Syria either.”
Avesta continued: “The Freedom Movement and Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan have done everything that falls upon them, taking the matter with such seriousness, awareness, foresight, and ideology, with unity and the right approach, in order to advance this process. It lies open in front of the eyes of everyone. They are trying to create a deception. What does North and East Syria have to do with North Kurdistan? One has to be careful in his/her analysis of the process.
I would also like to take this opportunity to emphasize the historical significance of the upcoming November 25, the International Day Against Violence Against Women. It is the day of the organization of the women, which is reached through the expending experience of self-defense under the pioneership of the YPJ and YJA Star. November 25 is recognized as a symbolic day in memory of the Mirabal sisters’ murder in the Dominican Republic. Still today on a daily basis there are hundreds and thousands of incidents of violence against women all around the world. Against this, the Kurdish women are continuing and growing the struggle of the Mirabal sisters.
There is no equivalent to the women’s army that has existed in the mountains for 32 years within the Kurdistan Women’s Freedom Movement. This army created the ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ revolution, and at its core lies Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s great effort and philosophy. Developing with this vision, the army waged a great struggle against all murderous mindsets.”
Avesta added: “The Kobanê resistance, which just recently had its anniversary, was also led by women, and Arîn Mîrkan became its symbol. The YPJ has become a source of hope for women in the Middle East today, just as the Şengal Women’s Units (YJŞ) and YJA Star together have played a historic role in the defense. Arîn Mîrkan became the symbol of the Kobanê resistance. Hebûn Dêrik, Gulan Batman, Viyan Rojhilat, and Destîna Başûr came from every part of Kurdistan and fought alongside in Kobanê. Everyone saw this. Today, the YPJ has become the hope of all women. They organized themselves through this tradition that they created. If women in the Middle East today see the YPJ as their defense force, it is thanks to this vision of women’s freedom. We are not just fighting caste-killer mentality in one battle; it is the struggle of a lifetime against it. Sakine Cansız, the founder of the Kurdistan Freedom Movement and our leader in the struggle, who guided us by saying, “My life was always a struggle,” developed the resistance in the Amed (tr. Diyarbakir) prison with limited resources at that time. Heval Azime and Mihriban Saranlar led the guerrillas in the 1980s. Heval Hozan Mizgîn organized the women’s movement in Europe through culture, art, and every possible method. This year marks the 38th anniversary of the Kurdistan Women’s Freedom Movement. This movement has had its own organization for 38 years and a women’s army for 32 years. This is very important. We have such an experience and so many achievements.
Today, the genocidal mentality has still not been defeated in Kurdistan and around the world. Last year, 9-year-old Narin Güran was murdered. Then again there is the case of Rojin Kabaiş, a student at Wan University. The perpetrators are not convicted. We women must organize ourselves not only on November 25, but every day. We must spend all our days consciously. We must spend all our days fighting and showing solidarity. We must build our self-defense.
There are discussions about what the YPJ will do if the SDF integrates. The YPJ command responded that they know what will happen to women if the YPJ were to cease to exist. How many women have been killed by men to date? What has happened to Alevi and Druze women in Syria? This mentality is everywhere. That’s why every woman, everywhere, must defend her rights and her existence. A political, ideological, and organized struggle must be waged against violence against women, executions, rape, prostitution, and all forms of murderous mentality. My call to all women: From today until November 25, develop your actions and solidarity, your gatherings; make your struggle permanent. This is the time of women. Especially in Kurdistan, based on Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s ‘Call for Peace and a Democratic Society,’ women are the essence of a democratic society. Women have important responsibilities to organize themselves, organize society, raise awareness, and intensify the struggle. Our struggle is just beginning. Our struggle against the murderous mentality targeting women will be carried out in all areas under the slogan ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî.’ On this basis, I call on all women to join this process.”
Avesta said: “I also want to share some thoughts regarding the upcoming anniversary of the founding of the PKK. The PKK was more than a party. The PKK was not an organization founded to gain certain rights at a table and in a country where human rights are limited. The PKK has been fighting for 52 years as a movement for a people whose identity is banned, whose language is banned, and whose existence is restricted by various prohibitions in a country that is still not accepted. The PKK was resistance for life. It resisted until it created a life, sparked a flame in the dark nights, and created free people and humanity against slavery. Some may be sad on the anniversary of the PKK and think, ‘How will we celebrate this anniversary? The PKK has dissolved itself.’ However, the PKK dissolved itself to produce a solution. In essence, the PKK is an attitude towards life, a philosophy, a spirit, and a paradigm. This struggle has been going on for 52 years under the leadership of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan and the martyrs. We must define the PKK correctly and celebrate this anniversary with even more enthusiasm than every other year. The PKK is not merely an organization but a means of building freedom, equality, science, and the existence of women and youth.
The struggle based on the ‘Call for Peace and Democratic Society’ has entered a new phase. Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan is leading the way. The people and the martyrs are leading the way. Those resisting in the prisons are leading the way. This is the PKK. The PKK is freedom, equality, science, and women and youth building their own existence, consciousness, and self-realization. That is why the anniversary of its foundation is a day of celebration for us; it is the people’s celebration. The PKK may have dissolved itself, but it is still a day of celebration of the Kurdish people, freedom, women, youth, resistance, consciousness, and existence.”
Avesta pointed out that “throughout history, days like these have been meaningful for all peoples. August 15 is a celebration; July 14 is a symbol of resistance. May is the month of martyrs. November 25 is commemorated as Heval Bêrîtan Day. The PKK united these days. Our people should welcome the ongoing process, this celebration, with the spirit of resistance, struggle, social and communal organization, and on the basis of the ‘Manifesto for Peace and a Democratic Society.’ One should greet this celebration with enthusiasm, morale, and motivation with this consciousness and spirit. On this basis, I am already celebrating this anniversary through the spirit of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s life, creativity, and organization; to all prison resistance fighters, freedom militants, freedom guerrillas, and our people who say “PKK is the people, the people are here”; to our Kurdish people, and to all international revolutionary and democratic forces. My call to our people is: welcome this day as a celebration of freedom, and greet it with morale and motivation.”