Kalkan: Attacks, massacres, arrests prove AKP perpetuates war

In a special program on "Medya Khabar" TV, Kalkan asserted that the delay in the statement expected from Leader Abdullah Ocalan on February 15 was not due to the Kurdish movement.

Kalkan noted that the Turkish state's attacks on the Medya defense areas and North and East Syria, the massacres committed against journalists, and the arrests and detentions in North Kurdistan demonstrate that the AKP does not wish for conflicts to end.

Below are the assessments made by Duran Kalkan, member of the PKK's Executive Committee:

"The international conspiracy attack that took place on October 9, 1998, and later on February 15, 1999, aimed at eliminating Leader Apo, the Kurdish people, and all of humanity through him, was, in fact, one of the most brutal, cruel, and unjust international conspiracies in history. For 26 years, our movement, our people, and our friends, under the leadership of Leader Apo, have waged a heroic struggle. First and foremost, I salute the Leader of this struggle, Leader Apo. I also remember with deep respect, love, and gratitude the self-sacrificing martyrs who formed a ring of fire around the Leader and defended him under the slogan ‘You cannot block our sun.’ I congratulate our people and our friends who have been resisting for 26 years.

The struggle and protest activities against the conspiracy were strong on its 26th anniversary. The significance of this year was similar to that of 1999. Violence was present then, but this time it was not. However, the 26th anniversary of the international conspiracy was stronger in terms of mass participation, transparency, and demands. Wherever Kurds and their friends were present, protests were organized, filling the streets and squares with hundreds of thousands of people. The demands were clear: the immediate end of the torture and annihilation system in Imrali, ensuring the physical freedom of Leader Apo, and creating conditions for him to work freely. By doing so, they responded to our movement’s call. I salute and thank all those who participated and supported the protest activities condemning the international conspiracy on its 26th anniversary. The event held in Strasbourg and in many parts of Europe and beyond was very large and meaningful. The participation of friends was also strong, and their messages were powerful. Once again, the activities in Rojava, from Aleppo to Kobani, from Raqqa to Derik, Qamishlo, and all the cities that demanded Leader Apo’s physical freedom, were enthusiastic and had massive public participation. These were highly significant. Protests were held from Europe to Makhmour and the cities of North Kurdistan. I salute these protesters, especially those in Strasbourg and Makhmour, and I wish victory to our patriotic people and our democratic friends in the 27th year of the struggle against the conspiracy."

"The documentary about Greece"

"In fact, its role in the global campaign was decisive. The global campaign for freedom that began on October 10, 2023, spread across all parts of Kurdistan and the world. This had an impact, especially with the decisive influence of Leader Apo’s messages during meetings, which we observed in mass events.

Additionally, a documentary has been prepared about the conspiracy concerning Athens. The press also made great efforts in this regard and in organizing events. A documentary was prepared about October 9 concerning Italy, and now a documentary is being filmed about the Greek capital, Athens. These documentaries are important. In reality, there were no unknown aspects of the conspiracy in the general plan. Leader Apo provided as much information as possible. Information emerged through research and reports. Leader Apo conducted a deep and detailed analysis, explaining clearly who orchestrated the conspiracy and how they carried it out. Some of its parties and their exposure were crucial for us.

What did we see in both cases? We saw that America played the main role in the conspiracy. The Italian Prime Minister at the time clearly stated, ‘The American president pressured me to hand Leader Abdullah Ocalan over to Turkey.’ Now, those who took Leader Apo to Greece also openly admit how America pressured them. It has become clear that the February 15 conspiracy was planned in Greece. They took Leader Apo there under the pretense of a political meeting, but in reality, there was a scheme to abduct him like an act of piracy. All these statements constitute a crime. If international law existed, a case would have been opened against the U.S. administration at that time.

“The U.S. Administration must correct the conspiracy"

We had already spoken about the documentary on Italy, but this became even clearer in the documentary about Athens. They had a clear plan. Laws were violated, and a crime was committed. However, today, there is no longer such a thing as international law or a world governed by it. Of course, in this world, there is no law for the Kurds. The Kurds have never benefited from any law, which is why no one speaks about these injustices. Everything remains as it is.

We said it back then too: the U.S. administration must correct this injustice. They must apologize to the Kurdish people and work to end the system of isolation and genocide."

For their own interests, they attacked the will of the people for freedom and tried to eliminate it. Is this acceptable? The U.S. administration at the time should have revealed the facts and taken a stand at least, and not remained silent. Yet, they are still silent, which hinders solving the Kurdish issue, democratizing the Middle East, and democratizing Turkey. Of course, this is why they orchestrated the conspiracy; their goal was to eliminate Leader Apo through the conspiracy. Through Leader Apo, they sought to eliminate the PKK and prevent the resolution of the Kurdish issue, hindering the democratization of Turkey and the Middle East. As a result, they isolated him and have continued to do so for 26 years. Had this conspiracy not been executed and the struggle followed the path of Leader Apo, the peoples of Turkey and the Middle East would be living in peace and prosperity now, creating democratic spaces and opening the door to free life and democratic governance.

How is the situation now? The Middle East has become a lake of blood, with organizations and states collapsing every year, and new organizations and states being created. To maintain the occupation, they have turned every place into lakes of blood. They are in the midst of trying to control the patriarchal power and the state system, which is why Leader Apo has been imprisoned in Imrali for 26 years, and they still want to continue this.

In fact, this attack aims to obstruct democracy, freedom, and the brotherhood of peoples. Therefore, there is no need to mention it again, but we must never forget what the conspiracy is, who carried it out, and why it has lasted for 26 years. What has happened in the Middle East with these attacks? Everyone should know these things well and never forget them. Now, the great resistance over 26 years has thwarted the goals of the conspiracy, meaning the main things they wanted to do have not been achieved, but the war and conflict in Kurdistan and the Middle East have continued.

Now they are asking, to what extent has the struggle revealed the conspiracy, who are the parties that have not revealed it, and what does the failure of the conspiracy mean? There is no aspect that cannot be understood. Completely thwarting the conspiracy means ending the system of torture, isolation, and genocide in Imrali and ensuring Leader Apo's physical freedom. What does this mean? This means the freedom of the Kurdish people and the democratization of the Middle East. The democratization of Turkey and the Middle East also means a phase of revolution and the democratization of the world. These things are interconnected like flesh and bone. How does the conspiracy continue to this day? The system of torture, isolation, and genocide continues in Imrali, along with the isolation of Leader Apo, meaning the continuation of the Imrali system. The system of torture, isolation, and genocide means the attack of the international conspiracy. We have mentioned this before. The struggle against the international conspiracy has reached an advanced stage, and its level in Kurdistan and the Middle East is deep, spreading all over the world.

Leader Apo's freedom is very close now. The struggle against the international conspiracy has turned into a movement for democracy and freedom, and this struggle will become stronger, more expansive, and more profound in the 27th year. We seek to achieve the desired results in the 27th year, which we describe as the final year. The 27th year of struggle will be the year when the physical freedom of Leader Apo is guaranteed, and this is our desired goal. We must ensure that Leader Apo can live and work in free conditions. This is our goal for the 27th year in the face of the international conspiracy. All our people, women, youth, and all patriots in Turkey, democratic forces in the Middle East, and all our revolutionary friends and humanity must see this goal in this way. In fact, ensuring Leader Apo's physical freedom and defeating the international conspiracy is very close now. If we wage an effective and broad struggle in the 27th year, we will definitely achieve victory. This is our main goal, and everyone should focus on this desired goal. In this case, we must develop the global freedom campaign aimed at achieving Leader Apo's physical freedom more effectively and bring it to all spheres with quality and impactful activities, making the 27th year the year of victory. I wish victory to all who struggle on this path.

The delay in making the Imrali statement is not due to us.

Some information has been received about this issue, and we, in turn, are following it. In fact, some parties clearly and explicitly stated that the statement would be made on February 15th, and this spread among the public. However, February 15th has passed, and no such statement was made. We do not know why this situation occurred, and we are also trying to understand. What we know and would like to say is that this situation was definitely not caused by us. In other words, there was no obstruction or delay from our movement. Who caused this, how did it happen, and why did this happen? Perhaps we will understand in the coming period, but it is unfortunate that promises were made, and in the end, such a result emerged. This should not have happened this way.

On the other hand, our comrades made statements regarding the operation launched by Leader Apo, and there were statements about this issue by Comrade Jumaa and Comrade Helen. In fact, we had no information about the operation before, and we had initially said that we were unaware of it. However, we were recently informed through meetings held with Leader Apo, who sent a message, and comrades have disclosed this matter. What we learned is that Leader Apo is very clear and determined to solve the Kurdish issue based on freedom, to establish democracy in Turkey, and to bring change and transformation to Turkish state policy and society. We have seen this from the information we received.

We are also determined in this regard, and our movement has issued statements repeatedly, with all institutions and organizations forming our movement issuing statements on the anniversary of the conspiracy, expressing their stance. The PKK also issued a statement in this regard, discussing how they read the operation, how they handle it, and their position towards it. They have stated this explicitly. We have always said that we have acted according to the decisions of Leader Apo, and our stance will certainly be the same from now on. Some are talking nonsense, and many are speaking nonsense. No one should pay too much attention to this kind of talk because it is ineffective and should not be listened to. We are determined, and I can even say that some opposing parties want to obstruct this, but no matter what they do, even if they explode in rage, the freedom of the Kurds will be achieved, and democracy will be established in Turkey. Those who seek to be an obstacle to Kurdish freedom, who try to stir up and intensify contradictions and conflicts between the Kurdish and Turkish peoples and feed off them, will be defeated. We can say this clearly.

There are also activities and actions by the delegation in South Kurdistan, where they have held meetings with officials in South Kurdistan. We, in turn, are following these developments. In any case, as we mentioned, we consider the efforts of the delegation important. The delegation has held meetings with parties in Turkey, North Kurdistan, and now with parties in South Kurdistan. We consider this important and follow these meetings with care and interest. The messages provided and the ongoing meetings are also important, and we are confident they will be positive. There may have been contradictions and conflicts in the past, but now a very critical situation has emerged in Kurdistan and the Middle East, and this situation will continue to worsen in the upcoming periods. The Kurdish politics is at a level where it can understand this, and we are confident it will express its stance regarding the existence and freedom of the Kurds. We believe their positions will be positive.

To be continued...

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ANHA