In the third and last part of her interview with Medya Haber TV, Besê Hozat, co-chair of the KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) Executive Council, spoke about the situation of Kurds in Rojhilat and the need for national unity. The first part of this interview can be read here and the second here.

How do you assess the situation of the Kurds of Rojhilat (Eastern Kurdistan/Western Iran) in particular? Will the organizations in that part of the country actively engage in armed struggle? Where should the focus on the struggles of the people in Rojhilat lie?

As far as we can tell, the Kurdish people have certain preparations in place, but as long as no force attacks them, they will not attack either. They will protect themselves, defend themselves, and strive to maintain and secure their existence and freedom. But no matter what force attacks them, they will respond with the most effective response and carry out the struggle. This is the fundamental spirit and understanding of the Kurds’ struggle. We have seen this approach in the statements and attitudes of the Kurds of Rojhilat (Eastern Kurdistan/Western Iran). In Rojhilat Kurdistan – and this also applies to Kurdistan in general – national unity is decisive. It is decisive to act together, to develop and carry out this process with a common policy, a common understanding, and a common approach. There have been various calls from Rojhilat organizations on this issue. These calls should not remain mere words, they must be put into practice, and must truly take shape. A common national unity stance and practice should emerge among Kurdish organizations. This will have a huge impact on the Kurds’ victory. National unity is very important for the Kurds in this process.

Some work in this regard has been done lately, which is very valuable. Just a few days ago, there was a national unity conference for Kurdish women in Southern Kurdistan. This is a very important initiative. It has happened before in other places. Workshops are being held in many places, and various meetings are taking place. There was a general Kurdish national conference in Qamishlo. This needs to be developed everywhere, in every part, and needs to be turned into a general Kurdish national congress and unity. This is a historical process. The Kurds must respond by developing national unity and will gain a lot from this.

Beyond what you have already mentioned, how do you assess the current situation in Kurdistan, the situation in society?

There is tremendous plundering in Kurdistan, there is a ecocide going on, and it is part of the genocidal policy towards the Kurds. The ecocide is generally continuing in the world, but Kurdistan is one of its centers, but there is also a struggle against it. In many places, there are protests against the new mines, power plants, dams, and the plundering of nature. Now they have started digging wells in many places. They claim to be extracting oil, gas, and shale gas. They have left no part of nature untouched. It is an ecocide. The reactions against it remain feeble. There needs to be a stronger response. The struggle against ecocide needs to be understood as part of the necessary self-defense. There needs to be a strong struggle in Dersim, Botan, Serhed (tr. Serhat), everywhere.

Policies serving the same cause are being implemented against society. Drugs, prostitution, and espionage are rampant. We always discuss politics, but there are also social issues that can truly be described as gangrene. There is intense special warfare. The corruption and degeneration of society is excessive. These are being carried out as part of a cultural genocide, as part of the sociocide. To a certain point, there is awareness, sensitivity, organization, and a stance of self-defense on this issue. However, it is fragmented, scattered, and weak. It needs to be strengthened. There have been marches against this in many places, and they are meaningful, but it is necessary to develop this sensitivity further, spread it throughout Kurdistan and Turkey, and turn it into a comprehensive social struggle, a struggle of self-defense.

There is also terrible violence against women. Actually, there is multidimensional violence. Therefore, women’s self-defense is crucial. Organized, united women’s struggle is vital. Therefore, it is necessary to unite into a comprehensive struggle, a struggle for self-defense, and to carry it out consciously and organized. Only then can we repel these attacks of special warfare and break their impact.

In this regard, educational work is of great importance. That means raising awareness on this issue and educating and organizing society, children, youth, and women. Organization and education must be carried out hand in hand; action and education must be carried out hand in hand. This needs to be carried out more strongly. We truly celebrate every effort that is made in this regard, but as I said, it needs to be carried out in a more organized and stronger way.

Now that we have reached the end of our conversation, is there anything else you would like to add?

I would like to take the opportunity to commemorate Heval Zîlan with great respect, love, and gratitude. Heval Zîlan’s approach stands for the path to freedom, and her stance is a manifesto of freedom in terms of the struggle for women’s liberation. I have had the opportunity to get to know Heval Zîlan’s passion for freedom, her quest for freedom, her stance, her sacrifice, her devotion, her loyalty, and her attitude towards life quite closely. Heval Zîlan was a planned, disciplined, goal-oriented, and determined personality. Her understanding and comprehension of leadership, and her participation in the reality of leadership, were flawless. Her loyalty to our leader was boundless, and her understanding of the reality of the leader, the way she joined his struggle, and her implementation of it were truly flawless. This is an attitude and a line that should be taken as a basis for all women comrades, all women, our people, our society; that is, for everyone who is fighting for freedom. And we must carry out the struggle for peace and a democratic society on this line with great determination, resolve, passion for freedom, commitment, high participation in the truth of leadership, correct participation, and loyalty, and we must definitely achieve success. The most correct loyalty to our Heval Zîlan and being worthy of her is also connected to this.

The month of June is a month in which we have historically given great martyrs. There are Sema Yüce, Filiz Yerlikaya (Gulan), Bêrîvan Zîlan, Raperîn Amed, Leyla Wan, and Hanım Yaverkaya, who were with us in the early years of our struggle. All of them fought with that spirit and that belief in the line of Heval Zîlan and fell heroically fighting for it. They were strong comrades with a passion for freedom, loyalty, a commitment to struggle, and determination. There are also many valuable male comrades who fell as martyrs this month. For example, Heval Helmet (Diyar Xerîb), who was also a member of the KCK Executive Council. We worked together for a long time. He was truly a valuable comrade. His understanding of our leader was very developed and very strong. His feelings of patriotism were very deep. He was a true patriot, a very honest and pure comrade. I remember him with great respect, love, and gratitude. He is a symbol of the national unity line of South Kurdistan. The national unity work must develop along the lines of Dr. Sirvan, Helmet, and Viyan.

Again, I commemorate comrades Fazıl Botan, Ali Piling, and Ferhat Şiblî, who were also martyred this month. I remember them all with great respect, love, and gratitude. I remember all these comrades and, through them, all the martyrs of the revolution and freedom with great respect and love. We will work with all our strength and energy until our last breath to bring their struggle to success; we will fight, and we will definitely succeed.