Duran Kalkan, member of the KCK Executive Council, about the latest developments in Kurdistan, the Middle East and the world, including the misleading policy of the CPT with regards to Abdullah Öcalan´s imprisonment, the dangerous attitude of international and regional powers towards the Kurdish question, Abdullah Öcalan´s willingness to solve the current crisis democratically, major recent attacks by the guerrilla forces in South Kurdistan/North Iraq and the latest meeting of Turkey´s Nationals Security Council.

Wrong Information Provided by CPT Regarding Last Visit to Imrali

“The situation [on the Turkish prison island İmralı] is extremely critical and sensitive. The recent Asrin Law Office’s statement changed the agenda completely. Now, the agenda is focused on the situation in İmralı and the health, security and freedom of Leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan]. In previous interviews, we evaluated the CPT’s [European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment] latest visit to Turkey and İmralı. The CPT itself openly stated that a visit had recently taken place but that they had not seen Leader Apo. “Don’t ask anything else. Be satisfied with that,” was the CPT´s message. This is how we evaluated this issue in our last interview. Now, with the new statement of the Asrin Law Office, the situation has become clearer and we can see that the latest information provided by the CPT is not true. This is a very serious situation. It is very serious that such information has emerged after an organization like the CPT made a statement saying “I went and met him [Abdullah Öcalan]”. To state that there was no such meeting, to contradict the CPT’s statement that they met Leader Apo is a situation that can turn everything upside down. If this is true, we are faced with a dangerous situation. We have no way of proving whether this is true or not. Either the CPT, as the institution that provided this information, will clarify the issue and immediately shed light on the facts, or the lawyers and the family need to be allowed to go to İmralı immediately. They need to go there and have a meeting [with Abdullah Öcalan]. Unless this happens, there is absolutely no clarity. Currently there is absolutely no information. There is absolutely no information about İmralı. Previously, it was said that the CPT had gone and met with him [Abdullah Öcalan] but that they were not able to say anything else. But now there is a statement saying that Leader Apo did not show up for a meeting. That there simply was no meeting. These are all rumors, assumptions and interpretations of various circles. Some people say that Leader Apo did not meet with the CPT as a sign of resistance. But who saw this and how do they know this? There is nothing like that. Was a meeting requested with Leader Apo? That is not clear either. So all this has nothing to do with real facts. The truth is that all these rumors have no coherent basis. There is simply no concrete, clear and precise information about Leader Apo or the other comrades imprisoned in İmralı. In other words, there are only interpretations based on assumptions. But what is the actual situation? How can it be that an organization like the CPT says that it has visited İmralı, but now others say that this is not the case. Everyone says something according to their own interests. In other words, they are trying to use the situation in İmralı for their own interests. There is no concrete information about this issue. There is complete uncertainty. Leader Apo is not allowed to explain anything about his own situation, but others talk a lot. They evaluate, comment and try to use the situation for their own interests. How is this possible? They don’t let him have any meetings and don’t recognize the law. But what are these rumors about? How can things be kept in the dark like this?”

Current Wrong Approaches to Kurdish Question

“This is a very dangerous situation. Therefore, I would like to underline the following points once again: First of all, the Kurdish problem is a serious problem. Those who say that they will address it, express their opinion about it and make a contribution must first and foremost be serious. This problem cannot be used as a tool for any political interests or games. Those who think that they can do so and make political gains will burn themselves. They will end up getting trapped while trying to make some minor political gains. On the other hand, those who say they want to solve the problem can only do so if they approach it with great seriousness, act in a holistic manner and do not use this issue for simple political or economic interests. If they do not play games, they can pave the way for a solution. This is the primary condition for solving the issue at hand. Other efforts are also needed in order to solve it. We don’t want to create the impression that just based on such an attitude the issue will solve itself. Different efforts are needed as well. Paving the way for a solution requires a serious and holistic approach, free from all kinds of simple political interests, games and tricks. But we cannot see anything like that at the moment. We are faced with a serious misunderstanding and self-deception. Everything is being simplified in Turkey. And Europe is playing games. There are a lot of conflicts of interest. These forces play daily tricks and games. They use everything as a tool for their interests. This is what they understand as politics: cheating, games and making simple gains.”

Need for Prevention of Yet Another Genocide by Turkish State

“For 100 years they have shed the blood of millions of people. They have brought humanity face to face with extinction. They have put the system in a deadlock, crisis and chaos. We can say that the Kurdish problem lies at the root of all of this. There is a mentality and politics that created the Kurdish problem. What is this mentality and politics like? It is fascist, colonialist and genocidal. This colonialist, fascist and genocidal mentality and politics have brought the Kurdish question to the current situation. The Kurdish problem, which is the source of all other problems, is most clearly embodied in the form of this mentality and politics. This is how this system has emerged. A system that has brought humanity to the brink of extinction, that has kept it under the threat of nuclear war, that has robbed it, that has made people live in a state of starvation and on the verge of death. Those who try to continue playing games more will burn themselves. This is how urgent the situation is. Why? Because a people’s existence is at stake. A genocide is being carried out against the Kurdish people. Today the target is the Kurdish people, but everyone is affected. Before, genocides were committed against Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians and others. And tomorrow it will be other peoples. This will not only remain limited to Kurds. Those who think so are mistaken. Therefore, we are faced with a dangerous situation. We are definitely warning everybody about this. It is up to them, but they will burn themselves. This is not an issue to be used for simple interests. The right approach, a serious approach, a holistic approach is essential for this. Not only a holistic approach of the current government and of Turkish politics. A holistic approach of global statist, power-oriented politics is a must. Without this they won´t be able to solve this issue. This will only deepen the crisis and chaos they are currently experiencing. They will drown in this chaos. That is why we are warning everybody.”