Date: Fri, 24 Mar 1995 20:59:14 GMT
Kurdistan Committee of Canada
2487 Kaladar Ave. Suite 203
Ottawa, Ontario, K1V 8B9
Tel: (613) 733-9634
Fax: (613) 733-0090
E-mail: kcc@magi.com
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)
