["DHKC-INFORMATION CENTER" <dhkc at dircon.co.uk>] ATTACK

[ozgurluk at xs4all.nl]

WHO  ATTACKED? 
WHY? 
WHAT IS THE MATTER?

On 24 March 1999,  PKK (Kurdish Workers Party) supporters attacked  DHKC
(Revolutionary People's Liberation Front) supporters in London. 
3 DHKC supporters who were distributing newspapers and leaflets, entered a
café where PKK supporters were  present. The leaflets were about the recent
massacre in Istanbul where 13 civilians were killed. This action was
supposedly carried out by a group called the Kurdish Nationalist Revenge
Forces which have not been heard of before. After the DHKC supporters left
the building, a PKK supporter confronted them and said "you cannot
distribute these leaflets here, we gave you no permission, we will
confiscate them" The reply of the DHKC supporters was "you did not carry
out the massacre therefore it has nothing to do with you, if there is a
problem you need to speak to one of our responsible friends".  When the
situation got out of hand due to the reaction of the PKK supporters, our
friends told them that they would not distribute the leaflets but would
continue to sell their newspapers. Meanwhile, 3 more PKK supporters had
arrived and snatched the leaflets. In a very short time, a total of 15-20
PKK supporters, including two pillagers who are well known by the people of
their dirty deals, attacked the DHKC supporters with batons.

During this pre-organised attack one of the attackers, who is known as
their leader, was declaring that this "action" was being done by the ERNK
(National Liberation Front of Kurdistan). Another one was swearing and
saying "we will not let you  sell papers  in this area anymore".   After

the attack they retreated in an organised way. 
One of our friends was hospitalised and suffer  temporary amnesia and
others were injured.

After the attack , DHKC supporters arrived and visited the area's shop
keepers with the bloody papers and leaflets to inform them. 

This event is proof of a very dangerous mind. The mentioned leaflet was
about the recent attacks targeting  people. The title of the leaflet was:
"Those who commit the massacres against the people have nothing to do with
the freedom of the Kurdish people, nor with the essence of revolution and
progress"

This is very clear. Do PKK supporters have a different opinion? If they do,
they should make it public. They say "we did not carry out the attack but
our people did. Our people do not want you to distribute this leaflet" This
is a comedy. None of the forces have the right to attack people on the
behalf of people and try to legitimise it by self content judgement. 
Where does this understanding lead to?

The truth is stubborn. We will continue to write and tell the truth with
determination and persistence. These type of "actions" are wrong. The enemy
takes  advantage of it. Moreover, they have the potential to incite hatred
between the peoples. No one with common sense can consider these as being
legitimate or justified actions. The opposite means to  have the
responsibility before history and our peoples.
The correct attitude of the PKK supporters would be to evaluate these type
of actions as harming the rights and liberties of the struggle of the
Kurdish people. But they have preferred to attack DHKC supporters in London
, who openly declared such actions as harmful. This is a mixed up way of
thinking , which declares everyone who does not agree with you as the
enemy. This is irresponsible. This is the anxiety of covering up ones own
weaknesses. Only those, who do not trust their own thoughts, try to prevent
the thoughts of others by violence. There can be no gain with such
attitude. 

The revolutionary movement has always been sensitive with these matters
throughout its history. Despite the fact that our cadres and supporters
were martyred during  attacks my certain left groups, especially before
1980, there was no retaliation so as to avoid an armed clash within the
left. Instead, the policy of exposing was preferred. Because such a clash
would mean harming the revolution and could be used by the enemy. This time
we will not behave differently. By all means the PKK supporters in London
have made a mistake. Also the question of "while you are living side by
side with fascists who were celebrating the kidnapping of Abdullah Ocalan,
what is the aim of attacking DHKC supporters?" arises. 

After the event, a meeting was held with the representatives of the ERNK
and  other left organizations. The ERNK representatives accepted their
wrong doing and gave their word  not to repeat such a mistake again.   But
still refused to make their words public. 

Also in the past we have been confronted and attacked by PKK supporters
during a panel of left organisations. 

WE ASK!

What is your aim?
Have you fulfilled it?

DHKC do not consider those who take the side of people as enemies. DHKC
considers them as friends. But without restricting ourselves, we shall
continue to criticise those who make mistakes. There is no other way. We
will not be held responsible for negative developments in the future. We
are not such a force which can be silenced by force. Those who know us are
our witnesses.

DHKC
REVOLUTIONARY PEOPLE'S LIBERATION FRONT
REVOLUTIONARY PEOPLE'S FORCES IN THE UK
28 MARCH 1999         


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