The “annihilation plan” delivered by the Turkish government against Kurds has failed, said Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) Executive Council member Murat Karayılan on Monday, in the wake of the first round of Turkey’s May elections.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its far-right ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have spent the last eight years attempting to annihilate the Kurdish movement and its people, said Karayılan in an interview with Dengê Gel radio.
“Their intention was to liquidate the revolutionary forces, eradicate the gains, and thereby disperse and disempower the people,” continued the commander of the People’s Defence Centre (HSM). “However, the elections have shown that their plan did not materialise.”
The Kurdish movement is currently going through a historic phase, emphasised Karayılan. It is engaged in a challenging struggle not only in Turkey but in all regions inhabited by Kurds. He criticised AKP and MHP officials who had identified themselves as “war experts,” and for propagating “false claims” before and after the 14 May elections stating that the ruling coalition had secured a victory. “They wanted to win, but they didn’t,” said Karayılan.
“They planned to eliminate all guerrilla forces in Northern Kurdistan. They aimed to erase the Autonomous Administration [of North and East Syria] and eliminate the gains of the Kurdish people in Rojava. They planned to dismantle the autonomous administration of the Yazidi community in Shengal [Sinjar]. They intended to disperse the will of our people in Mexmûr [Makhmour], even though it is a refugee camp, aiming to bring it down because it represents a will and refuses to surrender to anyone. Despite spending Turkey’s entire income and launching numerous attacks over the past eight years, where are the results? None of these plans have been realised,” Karayılan explained.
The commander argued that alleged false statements made by the Turkish government “exposed their lies” and proved that gains made by the Kurdish movement and the guerrillas were still in force. “It is true; we have paid a price, suffered losses in some places, and they may have achieved certain results in some areas, but overall, they did not achieve their goals,” he said.
Karayılan attributed responsibility to the AKP government for Turkish soldiers that had lost their lives in conflicts against Kurdish fighters. He also stated that the PKK’s decision to observe a ceasefire following the February earthquakes was still in effect. He went onto criticise Turkey for continuing attacks despite the Kurdish forces’ declaring a ceasefire. “The AKP-MHP conducted their entire election propaganda based on Kurdish hostility and the death of Kurds,” said Karayılan.
“Thus, there is a government that desires massacres against us to cement its regime. Why? Because a certain mindset and perception has already been established in society; they have conducted propaganda as if we were enemies of Turkey, as if we were going to divide Turkey. However, it is known that this is not the case. We have previously expressed that we aim to democratise Turkey and develop voluntary unity among the peoples in Turkey.” The PKK’s top official continued, “We want to promote real fellowship, unity, and democracy based on freedom and civil equality… It is they [Turkey’s ruling AKP-MHP alliance] who promote discrimination and division.”
“Nevertheless, they portray us as separatists and make accusations against us according to their own perspectives. They want to build their power on the bloodshed of Turkish and Kurdish children,” Karayılan said.
