Duran Kalkan, a member of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) Executive Council, presented his perspectives – during a Medya Haber interview – relating to the recent situation in Shengal (Sinjar), the takeover by the Taliban in Afghanistan and Turkish incursions into Southern/Iraqi Kurdistan.
Assessing the developments in Shengal (Sinjar), Iraqi Kurdistan, after the agreement in October 2020 between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Kalkan indicated that the Yazidi people of Shengal would never be left alone against genocidal attacks.
“They were alone in the attack in August 2014. They will never be left in the same position again,” he said. “At least they will not be alone against fascist, genocidal attacks. Nothing can prevent the PKK and the Kurds from providing such support.”
Criticizing countries for supporting the October agreement calling for the dissolution of the autonomous administration and self-defense units in Shengal, he also made a self-criticism, saying that the attacks on Shengal should be countered more effectively, referring to the Turkish airstrikes on 16 and 17 August, when two people were killed in a strike targeting a vehicle in the old market of Shengal, and eight people were killed in a medical centre in another strike a day later.
“Where were they while Turkish planes hit the hospital? What did they do against it? Nothing,” Kalkan observed, adding: “Everything is happening in front of everyone. I’m not concerned with who did what. What are WE going to do? This is the question. Why is Turkey carrying out airstrikes? Why is America silent? Why isn’t Iraq protective? Why is the KDP collaborating? There’s no need to talk about these things. We ourselves are not effectively implementing preventive measures. We’re faced with serious attacks which can’t be tolerated.”
Kalkan also commented on Turkey’s attempt to invade parts of South Kurdistan and the role played by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in the process.
“The KDP is maintaining its negative policy. This is one of the reasons which prevent bigger blows on the invaders and repelling them. Everyone must be aware of this,” he said.
In the TV interview, Kalkan commented on the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, criticizing the United States’ policy of exporting democracy by use of force: “An approach considering foreign intervention a step towards democracy, or which tries to implement the principles of capitalist modernity or the European principles of freedom in Afghanistan cannot counter the Taliban. You can’t fight the Taliban effectively with such an approach.”
