As a member of the KCK, Duran Kalkan spoke on current topics in a special program on Medya Haber TV. Among other things, Kalkan addressed the Turkish attacks in the run-up to the presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey on 14 May and referred to the attack on Mazlum Abdi on 7 April in Sulaymaniyah. The attack on the commander-general of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) was not the first of its kind, Kalkan said, quoting Abdi who said: "How many times have I been subjected to similar attacks, all of which have failed?"

Kalkan went on to say: "They not only attacked Mazlum Abdi, but many leading personalities in north-eastern Syria." The Turkish state has openly acknowledged its crimes on several occasions. The Kurdish movement must take protective measures against this, “but the whole world must also recognize this reality. There has to be an attitude and behavior against Kurds," Kalkan said.

Connection between the attacks and the elections

Kalkan pointed out that the attacks and assassinations carried out by the Turkish state are election-related: “AKP-MHP fascism mobilized MIT and counter-guerrillas to find and shoot the PKK leadership. They want to use this to win the elections on 14 May, that's quite clear. They've done it in the past and it's had some impact. In order to get votes from racist, chauvinist, fascist and nationalist circles, they want to eliminate part of the PKK leadership and prominent Kurds. Tayyip Erdoğan's election propaganda today is entirely based on this. The method he is using for his re-election to the presidency is the massacre of the Kurds fighting for freedom.”

Erdoğan himself spoke to the PKK

At the same time, Erdoğan denounced political competitors for alleged ties to the PKK, said Kalkan, adding that there were talks between the Turkish state, Abdullah Öcalan and the PKK in the years 2013 to 2015 and the previous peace negotiations in Oslo. "Erdoğan himself had the most relationships with the PKK. The AKP had relationships. I mean, they also went to Imrali. They had so many meetings with Rêber Apo [Abdullah Öcalan], they sent so many envoys to Qandil. These representatives were sent by the Erdoğan government. Everyone knows that. The Erdoğan government also sent its representatives to the talks in Oslo. The head of MIT who is responsible for all these massacres went there and had talks. And now some people are being pressured as if being associated with the PKK is a crime."

Discrediting political competition

In order to discredit the political competition, the government constantly speaks of alleged "terror connections". The real issue, however, is the prevailing injustice, inequality and the genocidal attacks on the Kurdish movement, said Kalkan, adding: "The Kurds don't count for the regime. They should be destroyed. However, thirty million Kurds, maybe even more, live within the borders of the Republic of Turkey. According to Tayyip Erdoğan, they have no identity, no name, no language. He says there are no Kurds and if there are, they should be killed. Those who call themselves Kurds go to prison or end up dead. The Kurds are not allowed any other alternative. People need to see that fact and show some empathy. They should put themselves in the Kurds' shoes and think about what they would do if the same were done to them. You have to be realistic. We are forbidden to speak. However, as the PKK, we support all liberal and democratic forces. We will crush the AKP-MHP fascism. This fascism will definitely collapse. A lot of people say that, and so do we. Freedom and democracy will win."