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People in Iraqi Kurdistan and North and East Syria have reacted to attacks by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), in cooperation with Turkey’s National Intelligence Organisation (MİT), on Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) locations.
The Turkish military launched an operation against Haftanin in Iraqi Kurdistan in July. The PKK has criticised KDP on the grounds that it was in cooperation with the Turkish military. Both sides accuse each other of misconduct and tension has increased between the two parties. Meanwhile, the KDP has deployed its armed forces against the PKK in the Gare region.
Citizens in Ranya (Ranyê) protested KDP’s attacks against the PKK in Iraqi Kurdistan. A group of intellectuals and activists alongside people from the region organised the action. Müfeq Ömer spoke at the event and said, “We declare that public opinion and all Kurdish people are openly against any attempt at a civil war”.
Ömer also stated that Ranya was a centre for uprisings and revolutions and the people of Ranya were against civil war among Kurdish people, adding that the civil war was a significant betrayal and threat to the future of Kurdish people.
Ömer called for all political forces and parties to act responsibly and take a clear stance.
Reactions in North and East Syria
On 10 November, 28 political parties made a joint statement on the tension between Kurdish forces in Iraqi Kurdistan.
The press statement was presented in the Diplomatic Research Centre, located in Qamişlo, and was read by Kurdish Left Party chair Mihemed Mûsê.
Drawing attention to the soaring tension between the KDP and PKK, Mûsê said, “That tension will affect all Kurdistan, especially North And East Syria (Rojava). It means that the achievements gained as a result of paying heavy costs will be endangered. We know the results of Kurdish civil war from our history. Any Kurdish parties will gain nothing by that war. Negotiations for a solution to the issues between the PKK and KDP must begin immediately. Kurdish achievements may be squandered unless both sides engage in dialogue as soon as possible”.
Calling for the KDP and PKK to begin a dialogue, Mûsê stated that the enemies of Kurdish people have tried to escalate the conflict between the two. Mûsê reiterated the KCK’s statement regarding the need for dialogue and underlined that the solution was only possible through dialogue, adding that violence would not solve any problems.
