Martyr Rûstem Cûdî Refugee Camp Foreign Relations Committee member Bêwar Ünver said that the Maxmur resistance was successful but the danger still continues and drew attention to the pressures of the Iraqi state.
Martyr Rûstem Cûdî Refugee Camp (Maxmur) Foreign Relations Committee member Bêwar Ünver spoke to ANF about the Iraqi state's attempt to surround Maxmur and the resistance to the attacks.
Ünver said that the Iraqi army tried to surround the camp with armored and military vehicles on 20 May, and added: "The Iraqi army blockaded the camp with armored and military vehicles on 20 May, together with the police. When the people saw this, they stepped in front of the armored vehicles and defended their will against the Iraqi army by using their democratic rights. Day after day, the resistance grew. After 30 years, the people will never accept that wire fences are built around the camp, surrounded by towers, ditches are dug.
Our resistance made the Iraqi government reconsider its decision. This resistance brought good results. Righteous resistance will always result in victory. Resistance brought success. The struggle and will of the people led to results from the meetings. The Iraqi state had previously said that only one group did not want these towers but, on 20 May, they saw the will of the people. The people had a very strong will."
Ünver said: "The Maxmur resistance proved once again that the will of this people cannot be broken by oppression and cruelty. Everyone from 7 to 70 took their place in the resistance. This situation shocked the Iraqi state. The Maxmur resistance both pushed the Iraqi state back and got the Kurdish public opinion to react. Without the resistance, the Iraqi army would have surrounded the camp in a matter of hours."
The UN is under the influence of the Turkish state
Criticizing the UN's attitude towards oppression and sieges, Ünver said: “The UN recognized us as political refugees from 1994 until 2014, when the ISIS attacks took place. But after the ISIS attacks, they left instead of protecting the camp. Since then, they have not protested to the attacks on the camp, to the pressures, and to the KDP's embargo. Many talks were held, but the UN preferred to remain silent. They left unanswered the reports we sent from the camp. It is obvious that the UN is acting under the influence of the Turkish state."
Ünver continued: "After the siege attempt on 20 May, the UN returned again as a result of the resistance of the people of Maxmur. The struggle of the people in the camp against the Iraqi soldiers forced the UN to return to the camp. The UN came to understand the situation in the camp, to document the violence perpetrated by Iraqi soldiers and the injury of a young man. The UN must fulfil its duties and responsibilities within the framework of international law. There are some talks with Iraq on this issue, and time will tell how these will turn out."
Emphasizing that the Turkish state's attacks against Maxmur continue, Ünver added: "There is no doubt that the attacks carried out by Iraq and the Turkish state will not end. We may encounter such attacks in the coming days. Attacks on the camp are linked to the concept of war. The fascist AKP-MHP government will continue to attack the camp and the gains of the Kurdish people. The people of Maxmur will resist as they have resisted until now."
Ünver underlined that "the institutions and people in Maxmur have long brought the issue of security to the agenda of the Iraqi government, the UN, civil organizations and the public. In 2014, ISIS gangs attacked the camp and a heavy price was paid. Since 2017, the Turkish state has been carrying out airstrikes. The Turkish government and ISIS launched coordinated attacks from the ground. Many martyrs were killed and injured in these attacks. We have always put this on the agenda of the Iraqi government. According to the Iraqi government constitution, they are responsible for the needs of political refugees as well as for their defense.
The Maxmur resistance was supported by our people abroad as well, who put pressure on the Iraqi government. But we should be careful. In addition to negotiations about a solution to the problem, there is pressure from the other side to turn it into a crisis. The Kurdish people should be careful. It is unclear what will happen tomorrow. As the people of Maxmur, we are in favor of solving problems through dialogue. Iraq should not be a part of the dirty politics of the Turkish state. They should not accept oppression and act voluntarily. The UN must also fulfil its duties and responsibilities."
