The KCK Foreign Relations Committee regarding the ‘National Consensus Project’ for Kurdish unity, initiated by 200 intellectuals, academics, and politicians in Southern Kurdistan.
More than 200 personalities and organizations from Southern Kurdistan (Northern Iraq) have launched an initiative for Kurdish unity. Among the signatories are writers, journalists, activists, former Peshmerga fighters, lawyers, human rights defenders, academics, as well as former parliamentarians such as Munira Osman and Shamam Shawki. Supporters also include former Swedish MP Rebwar Hassan, the organization Azadbûn, and the Kurdish Choir of France.
The KCK said in its statement: “First of all, we salute the magnificent enthusiasm of our people on the occasion of this year’s Newroz. Our people are flocking to the Newroz venues taking place under the slogan ‘Freedom for Rêber Apo, Democratic Kurdish Unity’ and once again celebrate the Kurdish people’s Newroz with Rêber Apo [Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan].
At a time of critical and historic developments in Kurdistan and the Middle East, the ‘National Consensus Project’—published by over 200 prominent figures in South Kurdistan for the democratic unity of the Kurds—has been an extremely meaningful, important, and valuable initiative. As a movement, we salute this declaration, made with great effort, dedication, and a sense of responsibility, and we declare that we wholeheartedly support it. We first and foremost affirm that we will fulfill every duty and responsibility that falls upon us with great enthusiasm and determination.”
The statement added: “It is a fact that the Kurdish people have been a proud, resilient, brave, and steadfast people throughout history. However, due to the policies of denial, assimilation, oppression, and ‘divide and rule’ imposed by multiple powers on Kurdistan—and particularly because of their inability to overcome historical fragmentation and achieve unity—the Kurdish people’s just uprisings and struggles have not yet culminated in victory. Indeed, the policy imposed on the Kurds following the First World War left them in a state of neither being dead nor alive. But the time has come for our people to reverse this tragic history. All developments make it imperative for the Kurds to establish their own internal democratic unity as soon as possible. For the process we are experiencing is one that, beyond the ordinary, presents the Kurds with significant threats and dangers as well as crucial opportunities and possibilities.”
The statement continued: “Armed with their historical consciousness and sense of patriotism, the Kurds—especially in recent months—have spoken out with one voice and one political will across the four parts of Kurdistan and abroad, emphasizing the importance of national unity and calling upon all Kurdish parties, political forces, and all segments of society to unite democratically. It has become clear that the Kurds are in greater need of democratic national unity today than at any time in history. This political will and this call, expressed wherever our people are present, cannot under any circumstances be ignored or treated as ordinary. The Kurdish people must secure the democratic unity that history has made imperative for us in order to attain a democratic, free life. As long as Kurds are not free in every part of the country, the gains of no part can and will be secure. This is easily understood from what has been witnessed in Rojava, the developments in Rojhilat, the dozens of missile and drone attacks launched daily against Başûr, and the situation in Bakur, where policies of denial and rejection still prevail. The democratic unity of the Kurds must be viewed as being of both vital importance and an indispensable value for the future of the Kurds.”
The statement underlined that “it is of the utmost importance that all faith-based and social groups in Kurdistan—including the women’s and youth movements, political parties, artists, intellectuals, and academics; in short, everyone aligned with a patriotic stance—join the call for national unity issued by the over 200 prominent figures and provide strong support. As a movement, we once again affirm that, just as we have in the past, we will continue to play a constructive, unifying, and facilitating role in this matter and fulfill the responsibilities that fall upon us; we once again extend our greetings to the group initiating the ‘National Consensus Project.’”