Kurdish guerrilla forces have taken the initiative in their struggle against Turkish military actions, employing successful tactics against “fascist MHP gangs” hired by the Turkish government for the suppression of Kurds, argued Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) executive Duran Kalkan in an interview with Medya Haber TV on Wednesday.
In his detailed narrative, Kalkan didn’t mince words about the conditions faced by Abdullah Öcalan, stating, “Everyone suffers from the system of torture, isolation and genocide. Abdullah Öcalan has been resisting genocide for a quarter of a century.” He highlighted the ongoing denial of legal and family visits to Öcalan, a stark violation of his human and legal rights, underscoring the broader disregard for Kurdish rights within Turkey’s judicial system.
Kalkan also pointed to the international aspect of the Kurdish struggle, particularly the campaign for Öcalan’s freedom, which has garnered global attention. “The global campaign aiming for the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan is developing with new activities in Kurdistan and all over the world,” he noted, emphasising the widespread support for Kurdish rights.
“The guerrilla has the initiative! The Turkish state did not listen, now they cannot protect and cannot retreat,” Kalkan claimed, highlighting the strategic setbacks faced by Turkish forces in light of guerrilla warfare. Furthermore, Kalkan criticised Erdoğan’s administration for bringing Turkey to what he describes as “the brink” through policies that he views as both genocidal towards Kurds and detrimental to Turkey’s standing in the international community.
The use of mercenaries in conflict zones was another critical point raised by Kalkan, who argued, “Those fighting here are not ordinary soldiers. They are fascist MHP [Nationalist Movement Party] gangs hired with money and specially organised for the massacre of Kurds”, underscoring Turkey’s deployment of non-regular forces for its operations in Kurdish areas.
Kalkan’s discourse extended beyond the immediate conflict, touching on the legal and human rights issues surrounding Öcalan’s imprisonment and the broader implications for Kurdish autonomy and regional politics. He called on the international community to recognise and support the Kurdish struggle for autonomy and rights, emphasising the need for global solidarity against Turkey’s oppressive policies towards the Kurdish population.
