KCK Executive Council member Sabri Ok, spoke in a special program broadcast on Stêrk TV. In the second part of the interview he spoke about the elections in Turkey as well as the siege of Maxmur and the attacks on Shengal.

The first part of the interview can be read here

In this election, 3 alliances came to the fore. The Turkish state is entering its 2nd century with these alliances. Where is Turkey headed? What kind of a future awaits the country?

The fascist mind of the state obviously wants to maintain its power in the 2nd century along the same lines of the past and with the same mentality. All their efforts and preparations were made accordingly. There were alliances, but only in name. The National Alliance has already disintegrated. An alliance without principles, without criteria, without values will disintegrate just like the National Alliance does and will not get any results. This alliance has changed its language and strategy with regards to Rêber Apo, our movement and the Kurdish people, especially in the May 28 elections. It is not possible to act in such an unprincipled, pragmatic and narrow way. This will not offer anything new to society in Turkey. The most important thing is the AKP's People's Alliance. Look at those in the alliance: Each of them has a mission and a role. It is an alliance based on how they will continue the mentality of occupation, how they will reject the will of the Kurdish people, even break it if they can, and how they will destroy the mentality of democracy. It was established especially against the PKK which represents the will of the Kurdish people. HÜDA PAR was given a role [in the alliance] for this reason. It plays the role of an Islamist Kurdish identity, but in essence, it is a partner of the occupying AKP. They want to pave the way for HÜDA PAR. In the past, Hezbollah was given a role, now HÜDA PAR has been given this political role. They want to influence the Kurdish society, obstruct the HDP and present HÜDA PAR as an alternative. But these efforts will be fruitless.

The Kurdish people know very well who have been working, resisting and struggling for the existence and freedom of the Kurds. The Kurds are still in a state of resistance 24 hours a day and pay the price every day. It is clear that the state will not get results in this way. The KDP also played a role here. The KDP immediately congratulated Erdoğan. They were clearly in favor of the AKP government. This alliance was formed against the Kurdish people. Our people are aware of this. They must act and respond accordingly. In the political history of the Turkish state, there is no tradition and culture of radical opposition, of taking to the streets against occupation and the government, of rising up with society and fighting for democracy like in other countries. Neither the CHP nor others have this tradition. There are hundreds of reasons for society to rise up, but instead they are blocking society. They prevent the development of a radical opposition. In fact, they serve the state. Unfortunately, this is the reality of Turkish politics.

Yet, revenge is very much a characteristic of the Turkish state. That is why it attacks the Kurdish people, Rêber Apo and our movement so brutally. It attacks the Kurdish people and their values with a mentality of ordering them to not think like this again, to never rebel again and to not defend their existence. You might remember what they did to Mustafa Suphi and his friends in the Black Sea, especially to Maria Suphi, Mustafa Suphi's beloved wife. This was also revenge. They wanted to say that you cannot create an ideology against the Turkish state, that you cannot fight. The People's Alliance represents this mentality. It is very clear what will happen in the coming period. The oppression against the Kurdish people, the peoples of Turkey and the democratic forces will continue. They will prevent democratic politics from breathing. They have already trampled on democracy, law and justice. The fascist Dictator Erdoğan does not care. They will do whatever it takes for their interests and the continuation of their power.

Most importantly, Turkey's geopolitical position and its NATO membership are a historic advantage, a golden opportunity for the government and they are using it well. It has always been the politics of the Turkish state to play with existing balances. In World War II, only one state was not harmed and that was the Turkish state. It pursued a policy of remaining neutral. Now, with its state experience, it is playing with the balance between NATO, Russia, the Middle East, the Arab powers and Iran. In other words, it is using all of them for its own interests and will continue to do so in the future. But now the gap is narrowing for them too. They are already heavily dependent on NATO and the US militarily and economically. That's why their relations with Russia and China are not real. It is not clear to whom and when they will turn their backs. Both the Turkish state and Russia know this, but they continue to make use of the current situation. Therefore, when it comes to democracy and the freedom of the Kurdish people, they use whatever means necessary.

The US and Europe remain silent towards this. Actually, they are not really satisfied with the fascist AKP mentality. But the Turkish state has the advantages I just mentioned. It is a NATO member. That is why they continue to make ends meet and do not oppose it. In the coming period, the Turkish state will want to promote a restoration in its Syria and Middle East policy. In other words, it will develop new relations with all Middle Eastern countries. It wants to catch some breath in this area. The only condition for the Turkish state in Syria will be the destruction of Democratic Autonomy [Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria] there. They will be prepared for everything if the Syrian state accepts this condition. But the Syrian state has reasons not to accept this. The example of Hatay is still very much alive. The Turkish state will base its entire policy on how to prevent a democratic Turkey and break the will of the Kurdish people. They will oppress and persecute even more.

Another alliance is the Labor and Freedom Alliance. It is the most important and honorable alliance. This alliance will determine the role, mission and future of the Kurdish people and the peoples of Turkey together. As the name suggests, the Labor and Freedom Alliance is very valuable. But no mistakes should be made with regards to the growth and approach of this alliance. This is important. There is a dialectic of the Kurdish people and the peoples of Turkey: Turkey's democratization depends on the solution of the Kurdish question. The same holds true for the reversal of this equation: It is not possible to solve the Kurdish question without democratizing Turkey. In other words, both the democratic forces in Turkey must acknowledge this reality and the Kurdish people, even those who consider themselves nationalists, must see it too. That is why Rêber Apo has called this situation a Gordian knot, and it really is. Alexander the Great cut the Gordian knot with his sword, which opened the gates of Asia, initiated a new historical period and thus changed the course of history. If the Gordian knot is cut and the Kurdish problem is solved, the whole Middle East will be democratized.

This is why the solution of the Kurdish question is so important. For this reason, the Gordian knot cannot be solved based on a narrow perspective by considering this only as a Kurdish issue. It is also not possible to solve the problem if the democratic and socialist forces of Turkey do not see this Gordian knot. Therefore, the Labor and Freedom Alliance is very important and meaningful. Both the Kurdish people and the democratic and socialist forces of Turkey must take part in this alliance. The future of Turkey lies here, the freedom of the Kurdish people lies in this alliance. This alliance must not be jeopardized by small calculations and narrow perspectives. Everyone should think bigger, work more, make greater efforts and participate in the strengthening of the alliance. This alliance was not only established for the elections. It is based on the democratization of Turkey and the solution of the Kurdish question. It should not limit itself to parties only. Democratic NGOs, the laborers and workers of Turkey and Kurdistan and all those in favor of freedom and democracy who suffer harm from the fascist government must take part in the alliance. The struggle continues. There will be local elections in 8 months. The fascist AKP government is facing the bill of a huge economic crisis and is trapped in narrow politics. So not everything has gone as they wanted. If morale is high, if there is a strong will, a strong goal and a good organization, there are opportunities to shorten the life of this occupying government even more.

There has been an attempt by the Iraqi state to lay siege to the Maxmur refugee camp in South Kurdistan/North Iraq. Şengal [Sinjar] is also under regular attacks by the Turkish state. What is the overall concept behind this siege and these attacks?

Our people of Maxmur and Şengal have paid a great price for years. Our people of Maxmur had to leave their lands and come to South Kurdistan years ago due to the attacks of the Turkish state. They changed their place many times until they eventually came to Maxmur. The people of Maxmur are a resistant people who protect their identity, culture and language. They have not bowed down until today. I would therefore like to salute our resisting people of Maxmur, convey my respect to them and wish them success. As I said, the Turkish state is a vengeful state. It wants to take revenge on Maxmur and Şengal because of ISIS. ISIS was defeated in Maxmur and Şengal. The Turkish state and AKP financed and supported ISIS in every way possible. There is visual proof of this. Maxmur took a stance against the ISIS attacks. Without Maxmur’s resistance, ISIS would have entered Hewler [Erbil]. Barzani went to Maxmur to greet and congratulate the guerrillas. This is the kind of role that Maxmur has played. During the ISIS attacks, neither the Iraqi army, which today puts pressure on Maxmur, nor the Peshmerga were there. The people of Maxmur resisted based on their own courage and will and thus obstructed ISIS.

The Turkish state is putting pressure on the Iraqi government, threatening that if Iraq does not evacuate Maxmur and put pressure on the refugee camp, Turkey will cut off the water and end trade with the country. Instead of resisting, the Iraqi state has opted to give in. Ten thousand civilians, old people and children live in Maxmur camp. At the same time, the Turkish state has occupied Iraqi territory and annexed dozens of places. The Iraqi state is silent against all this, but decides to take a stance against Maxmur. This is not right and cannot be accepted. In fact, we know that the Iraqi state is not doing this voluntarily. This is due to the Turkish state's pressure on Iraq. But the Iraqi state should also have its own criteria. What harm has come to them from Maxmur camp? On the contrary, the people of Maxmur have fought and paid the price for humanity, for the Iraqi state and for South Kurdistan in the war against ISIS. The Turkish state's strategy is to dismantle the camp. According to Turkey, there should not be such a camp. We don't know if the Turkish state will really be able to do this. But our people of Maxmur must definitely continue their resistance. And our people in general should support this resistance wherever they are. The people of Maxmur must be supported in every legal, political and humanitarian way. The Iraqi state must also give up its siege attempt. Whatever the problem is, there is the Maxmur people’s council, there are the administrators of Maxmur, they should sit down with them and talk to solve the problems through dialog. Any attempts other than this are not right.

The same goes for Şengal. Recently, they bombed the city center in Şengal with armed drones. Everyone knows what the situation today would be like if it had not been for the guerrilla and the Ezidi people's resistance in Şengal. Here as well, the Turkish state supported and financed ISIS and thus caused the massacre of the Ezidi people by making ISIS attack Şengal. Iraq could not do anything at that time. And everyone knows that the KDP fled on the first day. Today, they talk about how Şengal belongs to them and how they are the owners of Şengal. How can this be? Is there no justice, no rights and no law? That is the mindset of the Turkish state. They are putting pressure on the UN and are preparing a plan together with the KDP. And they are using the PKK as an excuse. We have repeatedly made clear that the PKK is not there. Yes, the PKK fought in Şengal. It fought there for humanity and for the Iraqi state. It defended our Ezidi people. But when the PKK had fulfilled its duty, it announced publicly that it was withdrawing its forces. The Ezidi people have gone through 72 genocides which is why they are rightly skeptical of everything. They want to ensure their own security. Based on Iraqi law, of course.

This is an issue that can be resolved through negotiations. Not with the pressure and violence of the Turkish state. Our Ezidi people survived a great massacre and of course they will defend their rights. They will undoubtedly protect themselves within the framework of Iraqi law and find a solution to this problem. Iraq must not accept the pressure of the Turkish state. Iraqi society, politics and parties must first and foremost protest against the Turkish state's occupation. Whom does the Ezidi community harm? They only want to protect themselves and continue their existence. This reality must be acknowledged.