Cemil Bayik, KCK Executive Council co-chair spoke about the need to end internal and external support for the AKP-MHP government, the heavy social consequences of Turkey´s war in Kurdistan and the possibility for Syria to solve its problems with the Kurds.

End of internal and external support for the AKP-MHP government

“Their true face has been revealed. Now everyone understands what they are really like. They did not come to power as they claim. The system of capitalist modernity brought them to power. Because this system had a goal. Turkey is a NATO country and they wanted to achieve their goals in the Middle East with this country. For this reason, the AKP and Erdoğan were specially prepared. With the system´s help and according to its goals, the AKP came to power. The AKP told very big lies to deceive everyone in Turkey. Everyone believed them in a way and many people in the country helped the AKP. They came to power with help from outside and inside the country. The AKP had the support of capitalist modernity because they wanted to make Turkey a role model for the Middle East, especially for the Arabs and the Islamic world.

Just like the AKP deceived the people of Turkey, it also deceived the other forces. Since capitalist modernity supported the AKP-MHP, this government was able to push its agenda forward. In order to achieve its goals, it established relations with IS and Al-Nusra. The AKP-MHP helped, trained and strengthened these Islamic proxy forces in every possible way. They used these forces especially in Syria, but also in Iraq and other countries. And they still continue to do so. Together with these Islamic proxy forces they caused great destruction in the Middle East. Realizing that capitalist modernity no longer supports them as it used to, this government has started to cause problems for the system of capitalist modernity. That is why it is no longer respected abroad. Because the AKP has really plundered Turkey. The forces of capitalist modernity have recognized that Erdoğan has done everything only for himself and his family.

The AKP has increased Turkey’s social problems. The Turkish state and all its institutions are bankrupt today. People have become poorer and poorer, while the rich have become richer. They have created a huge gap between themselves and society. The AKP may have been a party at first, but it no longer is today. It has become like a mafia organization. Just as the mafia does injustice, carries out illegal actions and commits murders, the AKP is doing the same in Turkish society. They have gotten rid of the constitution and international law. They have created great fear, oppression and injustice in Turkey. This is why the AKP has reached its end now.

The AKP formed an alliance especially with the MHP. By allying with the MHP, they also took over the MHP policy. There is no difference anymore between them and the MHP. All their initial talk about democracy and freedom has come to nothing. The people have realized this and don’t want to carry this burden anymore. That is why the AKP is finished now. The AKP sees Rêber Apo, the PKK, the Kurdish people, women and the guerrillas as the reason for their demise. They see the democratic politics represented by the HDP as the reason. That is why they are angry at Leader Apo, the PKK, the guerrillas, Kurdish women and the HDP. The HDP works for the democratization of Turkey, the solution to the Kurdish problem, the Alevi problem and the women’s problem. It also works for the solution of economic and ecological problems. But the government does not want these problems to be solved. They are against democracy, freedom, women and Alevis. Therefore, the AKP-MHP’s politics are directed against the HDP´s politics just like the HDP’s politics are against them.

Recently, they decided to obstruct the HDP from receiving aid from the treasury so that it won´t be able to start its election campaign. Because elections are coming up in Turkey. The HDP’s position is decisive in these elections. That is why their primary goal is to obstruct the HDP. This way, they think they can remain in power. It is very clear that they want to shut down the HDP. They are making preparations for this. Thus, they want to prevent the HDP from taking part in the elections and create divisions among the Kurds so that they can stay in power. They also want to obstruct those who want to ally with the HDP. In other words, they are using all their means to block the HDP. But they will not succeed. They shut down many parties in the past, but the Kurdish movement has only gotten stronger day by day in the field of democratic politics.

Many organizations have recently said that they will help the HDP. This is undoubtedly the right thing to do. The HDP needs to trust the people on this issue and thus defeat the dirty plans of the AKP-MHP against the Kurdish people and the peoples of Turkey. The HDP has been working on this basis until now. This is very meaningful. If there was another party in the HDP’s place and the AKP-MHP and the Turkish state had put this much pressure on it, this party would not have been able to cope and would have failed. The HDP´s stance against the AKP-MHP oppression is really honorable. The democratic and socialist forces of Turkey and all honorable Kurds also look at the HDP in this way and support it. The HDP, which has pursued democratic politics with determination and courage until today, needs to strengthen its alliance from now on. It needs to move forward by strengthening the Labor and Freedom Alliance.

Heavy social consequences of Turkey´s war in Kurdistan

“The cost of the war has been very big for the peoples of Turkey. The Turkish state is using both internal and external resources for this dirty war. Its fate depends on this war. They stay in power by continuing the war, especially against the Kurdish society. The AKP-MHP is doing the same. All means have been put at the service of the war. They lie and conduct intense propaganda in order to get results. Along with this, they try to destroy society with methods such as heroin, prostitution and spying. This is the policy of the state today. They carry out this policy against the Kurdish people in Kurdistan. Because their aim is to eliminate the Kurdish people. In order to achieve this, they encourage the Kurdish youth to engage in prostitution, heroin and spying. Maybe people weren´t aware of this until now, but today both the Kurdish people and the people of Turkey have realized the reason for all the hunger, poverty and oppression. Turkey’s social, economic and political problems are a result of this dirty war. The weapons they used in Zap and Avaşîn [areas in South Kurdistan/North Iraq] were not even used during the 10 years of the US in Vietnam.

Just like this war is weakening them domestically, internationally the Turkish state’s reputation is diminishing as the truth is being revealed more and more. There has never been a period in the history of the Turkish state when it was so disrespected. It is the AKP-MHP that did this. The AKP-MHP has trampled on all laws. They claim to be building a new Turkey. But in fact, they want to build fascism in all areas and have organized many gangs for themselves. These gangs steal, commit murders and make arrests. Everything is legitimate for them. It is very clear that Turkey cannot continue like this. Not only the Kurdish society, but also the society in Turkey cannot accept this. Even the states that have helped the AKP-MHP so far cannot help them like before anymore. The AKP-MHP government has become a huge burden to society and the international arena. I therefore believe that the AKP-MHP government will fail in the upcoming election.

Possibility for Syria to solve its problems with the Kurds

Recently, there were reports in the press that Russia, Turkey and Syria held talks. These talks are said to be taking place at a high level. But the problems between Turkey and Syria are huge. As everyone knows, these issues cannot easily be solved. Syria should not be hostile towards the Kurds. If it becomes an enemy of the Kurds, this will bring about the end of Syria. Syria has survived until today thanks to the Kurdish struggle. If the Kurds had not fought against Al-Nusra and IS, Syria would not exist today. Syria has survived and has not been divided, the regime continues because of the Kurds’ struggle. Syria needs to recognize this.

The Islamic proxy forces have destroyed all of Syria. Not only Syria, everyone outside Syria is aware of this. Who trained these forces? Who helped them? Who gave them weapons? It is the Turkish state that controls them. Everyone knows this. The Turkish state will never give up on these Islamic proxy forces. When they say that they will solve their problems with Syria, they are simply lying. They want to deceive Syria by saying this. The aim of the Turkish state is to massacre the Kurds. How will it achieve this goal? By luring Syria into becoming part of its policy. Syria should not become a tool in this. If Syria gets involved in this policy, there will be no difference between Syria and Erdoğan.

Why does Turkey urgently want to hold a meeting? Erdogan wants to take some steps with regards to Syria and use this to win the upcoming elections. Russia has its own interests in the alliance between Syria and Turkey. Turkey also pursues its own interests. Its goal is clear: Turkey says that the Kurds should have no status in Syria. According to them, anything related to the Kurds needs to be eliminated. Syria’s interest does not lie in the extermination and genocide of the Kurds. Syria’s interest is to ally with the Kurds and solve its problems with them. Syria must not fall for the games of the Turkish state. Erdogan has played with the future of Syria. They helped the Islamic proxy forces to defeat Syria. Erdoğan is behind all the massacres committed by these proxy forces. Erdoğan is behind all the destruction in Syria. That is why Syria should not play along with Erdoğan’s election games. If Erdoğan wins the elections, Syria will suffer the greatest harm.

“Of course, the Kurds can also suffer harm, but Syria will suffer the most. The Erdogan regime does not want Syria to remain the same. It wants to change Syria with the help of the Islamic proxy forces. The Kurds have protected Syria until today. Maybe they have also made some mistakes. Therefore, Syria may have some criticisms with regards to the Kurds. But this should not reach a level of hostility. The Turkish state is already hostile towards the Kurds, democracy and freedom. But Syria, which might have some criticisms against the Kurds, should not make the situation reach a level similar to Erdoğan’s hostility. If Syria does that, it will bring about its own end. I believe that Syria will not become a tool of this dirty policy. Instead, it will develop relations with the Kurds and solve its problems with them. This is what will ensure the integrity of Syria. Therefore, this is what I would like to call on Syria to do.”