Many Kurdish politicians and intellectuals have been sharing their criticism of the KDP’s aggressive attitude towards the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) since early June.
Following the call of Kurdish artists in Europe for the KDP to “withdraw forces” and “take a stance against Turkey”, an international degelation called the International Delegation for Peace and Freedom in Kurdistan, members of which were prohibited by German authorities to travel to Iraqi Kurdistan whilst some of them were deported by the KDP authorities from Erbil (Hewlêr) as they arrived.
Kurdistan National Congress (KNC) has also formed a delegation and established some dialogue in Iraqi Kurdistan.
“The people of the region experience a very harsh situation. The region is under bombardement. The achievements which have been gained after such huge sacrifices are now under threat. Inner conflict only helps to amplify the danger,” said Zeyneb Murad, the co-chair of the KNC.
Murad said that they find it important when PKK’s Murat Karayılan said that they would not be a part of a Kurdish civil war. “Such statements are very important in this process. We expect the same attitude from the KDP. A civil war does not serve the benefit of the Kurdish people. There is no winner of such a war. This is our red line,” she said.
Murad warned that Turkey wants to “trigger a civil war” in the region. “A possible civil war would serve Turkey and only Turkey would gain from it. When Turkey failed in the operations, they have applied this resource,” she said.
She went on: “We cannot say there is a civil war now, but we are on the verge of it. The deployment of KDP forces in Metina on 6th June was a step towards this. This was not a responsible action on the KDP’s side.
“The attitude of the KDP harms the achievements of our people. This is Turkey’s occupation plan and they want to achieve this plan by creating a conflict amongst the Kurds. We have seen that many Kurdistani parties show a responsible attitude with this regard. We believe that all parties and sides should stop the forces who are in an attempt to start a civil war.”
Murad shared information about the KNC delegation: “On May 20 we came together with numerous political parties. Our works have started in Erbil and continued in Suleymaniyah. We have also estabslihed dialogues in Halabja [Helebce], Khanaqin [Xaneqîn], Kirkuk [Kerkûk] and Ranya [Ranyê]. We act in an attempt to prevent a civil war and to initiate dialogues.”
The KNC co-chair shared her comments on the prevention of the international delegation for peace by the KDP authorities in Erbil. “When the delegation was prevented, Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Interior issued a scandalous statement. They said this delegation came to unsettle the region. This is absolutely not true and such a statement needs to be criticised. This delegation wanted to go and investigate the villages which have been targeted by the Turkish offensive,” she said.
“This delegation,” Murad further noted, “came here to promote peace and freedom. They have come not only just today, but this very delegation played a crucial and meaningful role in the time of the attacks on Afrin [Efrîn], Ras al-Ayn [Serêkaniyê] and Sinjar [Shengal]. We find the works of the delegation meaningful.”
Murad urged all Kurds and friends of Kurds around the world to “take a stance against the occupation.”
“The friends and enemies of the Kurds know it very well that Turkey is no friend of the Kurds. If we treat our enemy as our friend, we would be so wrong. Turkey could never, ever be a friend to the Kurds with such a mentality. Any party that gives support to their occupation is an enemy of the Kurds,” she said.
“As the KNC we see the solution in dialogue. There are historical conflicts and hostilities in the region. We know that there are great conflicts between Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran, but when it comes to the Kurds, they all unite. So let us all Kurds sit around a negotiation table.” She said.
