On 20 August, two serious traffic accidents shook Northern Kurdistan. In the province of Antep, a fire truck, a TV broadcasting truck and an ambulance collided and at least 15 people were killed. On the same day, a truck ploughed into a crowd in Derik district of Mardin. Subsequently, a second truck, which was completely overloaded, drove into the people gathered around the accident. The truck's brakes had apparently failed.

"Not traffic accidents, but deliberate massacres"

On the occasion of these dramatic events, the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) said: "As a result of traffic accidents in Derik and Antep, 35 people lost their lives and dozens more were injured. These incidents have caused the deepest consternation in us. We wish God's mercy to those who lost their lives and offer our condolences to their families as well as to the entire Kurdish people. We wish the injured a speedy recovery." The KCK does not see the accidents as tragic coincidences, but holds the AKP/MHP regime responsible: "These accidents, which are allegedly due to negligence and lack of control, are in fact part of the war against the Kurds. Negligence and lack of control are a consequence of this war. Therefore, it is necessary to consider these road accidents as deliberate massacres.”

"Policy of the regime is based on Kurdish murder"

Pointing out the anti-Kurdish attitude of the AKP-MHP government, the KCK said, "Their policy is based on the murders of Kurds. They are hostile to language, culture, identity, nature, in short, to everything that concerns Kurds, and all possible methods are used to ensure their destruction. The regime murders in many different ways. Massacres of Kurds are not only carried out in Northern Kurdistan and Turkey, but everywhere where there are Kurds, especially in Southern Kurdistan, Rojava, Shengal and Maxmur. The AKP/MHP fascists declare every day that they will invade Rojava, South Kurdistan and Shengal, that they will invade and destroy Maxmur camp, and they constantly carry out attacks on these places. Only three days ago, four Kurdish youths were killed in an attack in Hesekê, Rojava. Most of these youths are children who have lost their mothers, fathers and relatives to the attacks of ISIS and other mercenary groups linked to the Turkish state. The place they were in was where they studied and lived. Although this was known, this place was targeted. The massacre in Hesekê was perpetrated by the AKP/MHP regime. Again, less than a month before, nine Arab civilians were massacred in Zakho in Southern Kurdistan. The AKP/MHP government and its fascist leaders announce with joy every day how many Kurdish guerrilla fighters have been killed. Every day, bodies of murdered Kurds are coming out of the prisons. The people who are fighting for the freedom of the Kurdish people are not only thrown into prisons, they are also killed in prison. In short, all this reveals the anti-Kurdish character of the AKP/MHP regime and shows that all its efforts are aimed at killing and destroying Kurds.”

"War against nature as part of the war against Kurdistan"

The KCK statement continued, “The AKP/MHP regime is also hostile to nature in Kurdistan and considers its destruction as part of the war against Kurdistan. The deforestation and overexploitation that is being carried out on the forests of Şırnak is part of this war policy. It is insufficient to consider these actions only as exploitation of nature. It is undoubtedly the destruction of nature. However, this should be seen as part of the anti-Kurdish genocidal policy. The main reason behind this is hostility towards the Kurds.

"Massacres of Derik and Antep are an expression of the war policy"

The massacres in Derik and Antep are also an expression of this policy. For the regime, the death of Kurds always represents a success. Therefore, no security measures are taken at companies or controls are carried out in Kurdistan. Kurdistan is exploited by the companies of the fascist regime. There is no doubt that the Kurdistan Freedom Movement and the Kurdish people will hold these fascist looters, monopoly companies and structures accountable, as well as the AKP-MHP.

"Be in solidarity - be vigilant"

It is very important that all people in Kurdistan, especially the people in Mardin and Antep, stand in solidarity with the relatives of the victims. The people of Kurdistan must support themselves with their own means and defend themselves in an organised struggle against AKP/MHP fascism. Only in this way can this massacre be clarified and brought to justice. The attitude of the AKP/MHP, which is actually responsible for these massacres, should not be accepted. Their statements and actions are aimed at the special war. They behave like murderers who attend the funeral of the victims in order to hide their crime. The AKP/MHP regime is waging a special war to prevent the Kurdish people from uniting and fighting in the face of genocide. The democratic public should also be sensitive and attentive in the face of this situation and educate society more to expose the AKP/MHP's anti-Kurdish reality. As the Kurdish Freedom Movement, we again wish God's mercy for the dead and a speedy recovery for the wounded. We offer our condolences to all the people of Kurdistan for this painful situation and share their grief."