It is unpredictable what the Erdoğan government will do before and after the elections in Turkey. If he stays in power, he will implement his invasion plans in Rojava, said PYD leader Salih Muslim.
Salih Muslim, co-chair of the Democratic Unity Party (PYD), spoke to ANF about the effects of the parliamentary and presidential elections taking place in Turkey on 14 May and on the possibility of a new attack against the autonomous region of North and East Syria.
Elections will be held in Turkey on 14 May. What can you say about these elections and their possible consequences?
The 14 May elections in Turkey are very important. The ruling regime has brought Turkey to bankruptcy in the economy, but also in politics, diplomacy etc. The fascist regime plans to annihilate the Kurds and attack both Rojava and Başûrê Kurdistan (South Kurdistan). It calls on everyone to help them in its war against the Kurds.
Today there is an opportunity to democratically remove this fascist government. This opportunity is offered to the people of Turkey on 14 May. Not only the Kurdish people, but all peoples living in Turkey have the opportunity to get rid of this government. However, the question is whether a dictator like Erdoğan will allow a democratic election and give up his position. In 2015, he annulled the elections and turned Turkey into hell. There is a chance he will do it again. It seems difficult for him to relinquish power as a result of a democratic election. He will do what he can to keep his seat. There is even the possibility of a civil war. The danger is obvious. It's a delicate process. We don't know how the elections will go, but they will change Turkey's future in every way. Either the problems in Turkey will be solved democratically, or fascism and a sultan system will continue to rule. This does not only affect the Kurds and the peoples of Turkey. All people in the world should be aware of the importance of this election. It is unpredictable what this fascist government will do. It can wreak havoc anywhere and disrupt many things. For better or for worse, Turkey's elections will pave the way for historic change.
They say the government will do whatever it takes to win the elections. Does that include the possibility of an attack on Rojava?
The attacks against Rojava and Başûr are taking place under the pretext of alleged "security concerns", but they are about the Kurds. They are based on the fact that the government does not want to solve the existing problems. The elections are also very important for Rojava. If this fascist government wins the elections, it will complete its invasion plans against Rojava. Its goal is to occupy all of Syria. The elections therefore have a direct impact on Rojava and the Syrian issue. The current government has not allowed the problems in Syria to be solved. It wants to set up an occupation zone stretching 32 kilometres inland along the border of Northern and Eastern Syria. A corresponding map has already been submitted to the United Nations. If this government remains in power, it will implement this plan, so the elections have a direct impact on us.
Before the severe earthquake with epicentre in Kurdistan on 6 February, which affected both Turkey and Syria, it was said that the Turkish state would attack Rojava. Do these threats still exist?
Before the earthquake, it was said that the Turkish state could attack the region in a short time. There are still predictions of an invasion coming. Turkey will attack the day it finds the opportunity to do so. This has nothing to do with politics, it is carried out by Turkey's Interior Minister Soylu and MIT chief Hakan Fidan. The Taksim attack in Istanbul was the most visible example of this. As long as this government and its ministers exist, they could start a war at any moment. We continue our preparations to resist without considering the possibility that the situation may have eased.
According to official figures, more than 50,000 people lost their lives in the earthquake, with some sources assuming 100,000 fatalities. Despite this, the Turkish state has not stopped its attacks. Drone flights take place along the border line every day, and attacks are carried out incessantly. So let us not be fooled into complacency. This government knows neither morality nor justice nor measure. It also uses chemical weapons that are banned around the world.
How will a defeat of the AKP-MHP government in the elections affect the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which works with this government?
The government of Başûrê Kurdistan and, in particular, the KDP have taken everything related to oil and the economy into their hands. They made oil and big business deals with Erdoğan and his family. These are now coming to light. A French court has stopped the oil deal with Erdoğan's son. Under the Iraqi system of government, you cannot sell oil to an outsider. The international arbitral tribunal in Paris has condemned Turkey for this issue. There are other things that are not known yet, but they could come to light tomorrow and the day after, things which have to do with collusion with Erdoğan and his family...
The fall of Erdoğan and the AKP government would affect both Turkey and Başûr and change the balance in the Middle East. The departure of fascism would have a major impact on Başûr.
