In the third part of this interview, Besê Hozat, co-chair of the KCK Executive Council, asked "why does the international community turn a blind eye and solely watch while Kurds are being massacred on daily basis." 

The first part of this interview can be read here, and the second here. 

What is the special position of women in this context, and what special role do women play in the struggle to solve the Kurdish question?

Women are the foundation of society. In the words of our leader, the woman is the essence of sociology. Women are the basic force, the constitutive force, the subject, and the constructive force that makes up society. No solution, no work, and no struggle can be successful without women being active and the subject of the process. Our struggle is a woman-centered struggle. As women are liberated, society is liberated – life is liberated. This is the basic philosophy and principle of our struggle.

There is intense oppression, genocide, and violence against women. Feminicide is being practiced against women. It is because women are the main subject, the leading force in change, transformation, and democratization. By liquidating this power, democratization and liberation are tried to be prevented. For this reason, the women’s liberation movement is being tried to be broken, its will destroyed and surrendered. Women’s quest for freedom is being suppressed, and they try to prevent it. This is the main reason for the intense violence against women.

The democratic solution to the Kurdish question, the democratization of Turkey, and the democratization of the region offer a liberating environment for women. Because women are the biggest losers in this war, the ones who suffer and are victimized the most. If this war comes to an end, if the Kurdish question finds a democratic solution and Turkey becomes democratized, if the fascist, monist, and genocidal state structure is overcome, and a democratic republic is established, women will be the biggest winners. An enormous area of freedom will open up for women. That is why women need to make a great contribution to this process. They really need to take the lead in this process in a strong way. Everywhere, in Kurdistan and Turkey, the Kurdish women’s movement and the women’s movement in Turkey must wage a joint struggle. Women must wage a united and integrated struggle for an honorable and meaningful peace, for the democratic solution to the Kurdish question, and for the democratization of Turkey. This struggle must be strong and must be continued with determination. It will play a decisive role for the women’s movement to be the subject and pioneer of this libertarian, egalitarian, and democratic process. I call on all women to participate in this process.

While discussions about possible developments continue in Turkey, the war continues unabated. Especially the war in North and East Syria. How do you assess this?

As Rêber Apo has put it, if this process does not evolve on political and legal grounds, it is impossible for the war to end. The failure to put the process on a political and legal basis stems from the policy of insistence on war. As long as this insistence on war continues, this process cannot turn into a political and legal process.

Currently, the Turkish state is waging a serious war against the Kurds and the peoples of the region. A war of genocide and occupation is being waged in North and East Syria. On a daily basis, there are reports about civilians that have been deliberately targeted by the Turkish state. Civilian centers are being bombed. These constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. How can one talk about peace or a settlement process for the Kurds and the peoples of North and East Syria while a genocidal war is going on? That is why this situation cannot be called a peace process or a solution process. It cannot be called that. And no one can claim that. Because the genocidal war continues with all its intensity. It continues everywhere. North and East Syria is one concrete example of this.

The gangs and mercenaries organized by the Turkish state – all of which are ISIS remnants – are waging a genocidal war against the peoples of North and East Syria. This reveals how little seriously the current government approaches the process and how much it strives for war. So far, 22 civilians have been murdered at the Tishreen Dam and the Qereqozakh Bridge alone. On this occasion, I commemorate Bave Teyar, Menice Haco Heyder, and all the martyrs with respect, love, and gratitude. Also, many fighters of the YPG and the YPJ, and the SDF in general, have given their lives in this resistance. I commemorate them all with great respect, love, and gratitude. A magnificent resistance is being put up in that region. This resistance broke the attacks, and the mercenaries and their gangs are now in shambles. They have no will to fight any longer, so it is the Turkish state that is constantly conducting airstrikes. It is no longer able to force its mercenaries and gangs on the ground to fight. They are broken, scattered. So now their remnants, and the remnants of ISIS, are being gathered and are being dragged into the war. Turkey is releasing the ISIS members it has in its prison and which they have kept for tactical purposes. And they are driving those murderers and rapists against the peoples of North and East Syria.

I would like to take this opportunity to address the international powers. A coalition has been formed against ISIS. And this coalition has formed an alliance with the SDF to fight against ISIS. Yes, they fought against ISIS together for a while, and some operations continue from time to time. However, Turkey has been carrying out attacks against the bridge of Qereqozakh and the dam of Tishreen for months. This is nothing that started just some weeks ago. This attack started long before. But ok, let’s take it from November 27th. They are waging a war against the Kurds there with the remnants of ISIS. So if this coalition is organized to fight against ISIS, why isn’t it waging a joint struggle against this together with the SDF? Why doesn’t it take a stance? Why does it turn a blind eye and solely watch? On a daily basis, Kurds are being massacred.

The peoples of North and East Syria are being massacred. The crime of genocide is being committed. All civilian centers are being hit, living places are being hit, and infrastructure is being hit. This is a war crime; this is a crime of genocide. So why don’t they raise a voice? All coalition forces are there. America is there, Britain is there, France, Germany, and all of them are there. They all have units and forces there in some form or another. This is happening in front of their eyes. The Turkish state is driving ISIS against the Kurds. Since you have formed a coalition with 72 states to fight against ISIS, why don’t you take a stand? Why don’t you fight against them together with the SDF? Why don’t you take a clear stance against the Turkish state? The Turkish state is driving ISIS against the Kurds. Together with ISIS, it is waging a genocidal war against the Kurds. There is a great hypocrisy.

There has been great resistance and a very important result has been achieved. The will of the mercenaries and their gangs to fight has been broken. Now the Turkish state is trying to avenge this by bombing and massacring civilians. It is waging a war of revenge. It directly deployed its own soldiers, but again it failed to achieve a result.

Since we are already talking about the war and resistance in Northern and Eastern Syria, today is also the tenth anniversary of the liberation of Kobanê. What can you tell us about the resistance back then and what influence it still has today?

Indeed, it is the 10th anniversary of the Kobanê resistance, and on this occasion I would like to commemorate all the resistance fighters who gave their lives within the resistance of Kobanê with respect, love, and gratitude by commemorating Arin Mirkan. It was a glorious resistance and a great historic victory that was won in Kobanê. It was after the resistance of Kobanê that ISIS went downhill. In this sense, the Kobanê resistance was a resistance of humanity. In Kobanê, Kurds resisted not only for their own rights and freedom, they resisted for all humanity, they resisted for all peoples. And this was embraced all around the world. On November 1, World Kobanê Day, the peoples of the world stood up, as well as in all the parts of Kurdistan. In other words, the Kobanê resistance developed a great national unity and solidarity among Kurds. It brought the conscience of humanity together. The socialist and democratic forces of Turkey showed a great example of solidarity and unity. In this course I also want to commemorate the 33 socialist young people who were massacred in Pirsus (tr. Suruc) by ISIS.

The spirit of Kobanê, the spirit of resistance, fed and grew the spirit of resistance of all the peoples of North and East Syria. It strengthened and nourished the resistance tradition of humanity. Now, something similar to that spirit is being experienced at the Qereqozakh Bridge and the Tishreen Dam. Our people are resisting with the spirit of Kobane. But still, every resistance has its own uniqueness. Every resistance has its own characteristics. And so has the resistance of Tishreen and Qereqozakh. It is very strong, and tens of thousands of people pour to Tishreen to be part of the resistance alongside the SDF.

Our people of North and East Syria, our people of Rojava, have developed a resistance and struggle along the lines of the strategy of revolutionary people’s war. The reality of the people fighting is the people’s stance that we see in North and East Syria, that we see in Rojava. It is the people’s struggle. I congratulate and salute this resistance stance of our people. It is very valuable, very precious. In a very glorious and honorable way, they defend their land, defend their honor, and defend their existence and freedom. This must continue and grow stronger. This is essential for survival. The spirit of resistance in Kobane has also nourished this spirit. It has added strength and has created a culture of resistance. Through that culture, this resistance continues and develops everywhere. As a result, of course, in the face of this resistance, no matter what level of attack, it is not possible for the enemy to get results. It is clear that it is not getting results.

This brings us to the developments in Syria in general, as well as to the reorganization of the Middle East, which is currently being driven forward by the imperial hegemonic powers and regional powers. How do you assess these?

Turkey is creating an atmosphere as if it has won in Syria, as if it has achieved a great victory. But it will become even clearer in the future that this is hollow and empty. Their propaganda may deceive some people now. And sure, they may have achieved some short-term gains, but these gains will not last long. This is very clear. That is something we highlighted before, and that we will highlight again. They will not let Turkey swallow Syria. Turkey’s aspiration is that it will establish its full hegemony over Syria and, based on this, build full dominance over the Middle East, thus becoming a hegemonic power. That is merely a fantasy. A ridiculous idea that the current hegemonic powers do not allow.

As a matter of fact, Iran’s influence has been broken in Syria, as well as in Lebanon. Iran has lost significant power in the region. Turkey was in a serious competition with Iran. It was engaged in a hegemonic struggle over the region. And now, Iran, its rival, has declined, but however, at the moment, a new serious rival of Turkey, especially in the Arab arena and in the Middle East, is Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has serious influence on HTS. It is increasing its influence in Syria. It has a serious sphere of influence in the south of Syria. And it currently has intense relations with the Damascus administration. At the same time, Saudi Arabia developed strong relations with Israel. It was included in the Abraham Accords as a crucial part of it. These relations are developing even further. Saudi Arabia is gradually trying to become a hegemonic power in the region, and thus is making serious reforms within itself. Today’s Saudi Arabia has changed a lot. Under the reign of King Salman, many reforms have been made and continue to be made. Saudi Arabia has fully integrated itself into the global system and is further developing this process. Syria will be designed on the basis of Israel’s interests and security, and Saudi Arabia will have a decisive role in this.

If the Turkish state insists on its current policy, its current limited influence in Syria may be completely broken, it may disappear. Indeed, if Turkey continues with this mindset, with its policy of Kurdish hostility and Kurdish genocide, without considering anyone’s interests, and by turning everything around its own axis of interest, it will be the biggest losing power in the region. In the current situation, it has already suffered a certain loss. They are trying to do everything through deception and deceit. They were conducting an intense discussion and immediately rushed to Damascus to sit down with the HTS administration and make agreements, focusing on the increase of Turkey’s influence in the Mediterranean. There are serious efforts and attempts to frustrate Turkey’s efforts. For example, the agreement between Greece and Southern Cyprus and the agreements between Greece and Egypt and Southern Cyprus undermine and frustrate such attempts by Turkey. The Gulf countries and especially Saudi Arabia are also trying to increase their influence over Syria and thereby exclude Turkey. As I mentioned, most of all, Saudi Arabia is currently trying to increase its influence in the region in collaboration with Israel.

The current government should not deceive society or fool itself. The Kurdish genocide policies are constantly losing Turkey. Kurdish hostility leads to Turkey’s isolation. If Turkey does not give up these policies, it may completely lose the little gains it has made in the region and in the world. This mentality and these policies are isolating Turkey in every sense. Other claims and discourses are part of psychological warfare, aimed at deceiving the public. They create the impression that Turkey dominates the Middle East, Africa, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia. With these policies, Turkey continues to be the losing side in the region.

At the same time, in Kurdistan and the Middle East, Kurdish national unity is coming back to the agenda under the conditions of the Third World War. If Kurdish unity is achieved, the Kurds can play a very crucial role in the redesign of the region. They can gain their political status and identity and secure their existence and freedom. However, if the Kurds remain fragmented and scattered, they may remain ineffective in this process. Right now, history offers golden opportunities for the Kurds. The Kurds are the most decisive power in the region. They are a fundamental actor in regional politics and balance. In this conjuncture, the democratic unity of the Kurds is of vital importance. There is no problem of unity among the people. The national consciousness, unity of spirit and emotion, is quite strong. When there is an attack somewhere, solidarity and reflexes develop everywhere.

In the face of this strong demand for unity, all efforts for it must be supported. We also support these efforts. There are efforts in this direction in Rojava, and these are very valuable. We are ready to make every contribution to support national unity. This process is a fundamental task for achieving democratic unity.