Statement By PKK General Secretary

[kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu]

Reply-To: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu
From: Arm The Spirit <ats at etext.org>
Subject: Statement By PKK General Secretary On The Invasion Of South Kurdistan

Kurdistan Committee Of Canada
2487 Kaladar Ave. Suite 203
Ottawa, Ontario, K1V 8B9

Tel: (613) 733-9634
Fax: (613) 733-0090
E-mail: kcc at magi.com


March 24, 1995

Statement From PKK General Secretary Abdullah Ocalan Concerning The 
Turkish Invasion Of South Kurdistan

	It is rather important to gauge correctly the recent provocations 
that are taking place in Turkey. A weakening government, faced with 
resignation, has formed a new coalition with the Popular Republican Party 
(CHP) and, in the meantime, is committing atrocities via dark circles to 
make itself invaluable.
	First there was the massacre in Zaxo, then came the unprecedented 
brutal attack on the residents of Gaziosmanpasa, and finally this latest 
operation, all designed to prolong a government in crisis. In their own 
words, this operation is far more comprehensive than the one the Turkish 
government undertook in Cyprus some two decades ago. It is part of a 
meticulous plan to achieve certain ends. Before the Turkish troops 
invaded Cyprus, the Turkish government had noted that "there was a state 
of  war between the Turks and the Greeks; we moved in to secure peace". 
Again, in South Kurdistan, a state of tension was the moment of 
opportunity for the government in Ankara. In Zaxo, there was a powerful 
explosion, an act of barbarity was committed. Also, the Turkish 
government meddled in the internal affairs of the Federated Kurdish 
State, urging the warring parties to fight on so that its own entrance on 
the scene would be smooth.
	We also know that the government in Ankara was having secret 
meetings with the government in Baghdad. Its goal was to choke the 
Federated Kurdish State. The army got its way and the so-called civilian 
government of Tansu Ciller in Ankara was obliging in every sense, 
notwithstanding the loss of confidence the government was facing because 
of the worsening economy.
	In a sensitive city like Istanbul, in a poor shantytown like 
Gaziosmanpasa, where opposition to the government is the rule rather than 
the exception, the attack which culminated in a massacre was part of a 
plan to achieve certain ends. The logic was that "the government in 
Ankara should not be forced to resign; if it does, chaos will ensue". 
There was also the issue of the Alevi community, who were rapidly 
responding to the call of the Kurdish national liberation struggle. The 
message for them was: "If you continue doing what you are doing, you will 
be crushed." The attack on Gaziosmanpasa was a stepped-up version of the 
unsolved murders that are taking place in the country daily.
	The same logic was at work in Zaxo: "In a chaotic period, 
massacres do take place and the sane thing to do would be to move in to 
provide for the safety and security of the people. Just like in Cyprus, 
where there seemed to be a need for the invasion of the island by the 
Turkish army to provide security for the people." They seem to say that 
they are more effective at "protecting" the Kurds than are the forces of 
Operation Provide Comfort. The message is that Turkey wants to remain in 
the area. In their own words, "We will stay here so long as there is 
political instability." In other words, they would like to be the 
government in the area. Notwithstanding their claim, this is not a war to 
hunt down PKK fighters; the messages emanating from Ankara prove that.
	With these steps, they hope to prolong the life of the Ankara 
government; they want to silence the opposition. With this outward 
operation, they want to prevent the reactions of a population unhappy 
with its economic and social problems. In other words, they have assuaged 
the reaction. The upshot is that the government is in place and the army 
is content. What they want to leave behind are the economic, social, and 
political problems. It is not that they want to crush PKK bases, rather 
it is the crisis facing the Turkish Republic which has forced them to 
undertake this largest military operation in the history of the country 
in order to cover up their own mismanagement.
	We are urging the progressive and democratic international 
community not to remain silent to these acts of massacres and outright 
occupation by circles whose ideas smack of fascism. It behooves them to 
note the implications of such a blatant military act that condones the 
domination of one people over another. We want to emphasize that the 
United States government is secretly supporting this massacre by the 
fascist Turkish government. We want the United States government to 
withdraw its support from this dirty war and provide opportunities for a 
political solution to this problem. It is incumbent on the part of the 
mass media to bring out the truth behind these developments. These are 
the facts; the news that is emanating from the Turkish army does not 
dovetail with our observations.
	The occupation forces have not targeted our areas. The members of 
the Turkish armed forces have entered Zaxo, a city of civilians and 
Kurdish peshmergas. They have also surrounded the camps of Kurds who had 
fled Turkish state terror back in Turkey. These people are being 
terrorized. Those who are saying "the operation is limited in scope and 
will not harm civilians" are misleading the public. The outsiders who are 
saying "the operation should be limited in scope" are condoning the 
attack and watching it. These are double standards.
	Our resistance is primarily in the North. In South Kurdistan, 
there are revolutionary forces who are uniting behind a national front. 
They, too, have a history of resistance. They are becoming an alternative 
force in the area. We, the PKK, are supporting this development. We are 
not taking part in these developments but the democratic forces are 
enjoying our support. There are Kurdish patriots who would like to see 
their program implemented and their sovereignty secured. Also, it is not 
so easy to close in on the PKK guerrilla fighters. We are determined to 
fight a long-term guerrilla war, trap the enemy forces, and turn the area 
into a grave-site for them. As of now, a few hundred Turkish soldiers 
have been killed. Our losses stand at 11 fighters killed. We were 
prepared for this war and our morale is high. We were expecting this 
military operation. We responded in a language which the enemy 
understands but in a manner which they did not expect. In close battles, 
we have stopped the movement of the army and in some areas we have forced 
them to retreat. They will never be able to surround us completely or 
curtail our free movement. We can with certainty note that with our 
guerrilla tactics we will deny victory to the Turkish government's 
favored policy of a "military solution" whose basis has always been force.
	In this spirit, we wanted to inform you, the public, to draw your 
attention to the war, and to convey to you our greetings.

Abdullah Ocalan,
General Secretary of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)


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