KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) Executive Council Co-Presidency issued a written statement on the detention of Amed Metropolitan Co-Mayors Gültan Kışanak and Fırat Anlı. KCK described the detention of Amed Co-Mayors as the last phase of the AKP government’s anti-Kurdish policies, and said that it is the proof that the AKP “does not tolerate Kurds’ existence, voice or will.

KCK said: “The AKP government attacks Kurds everywhere, and arrests the Co-Mayors of Kurds’ capital in order to say “I don’t acknowledge your will, I don’t acknowledge anything of you, I will do everything to wipe you off history.” Words no longer have a meaning for Kurdish people, who will resist these AKP attacks to the end. Kurds can only defend their existence at this point.”

"OUR PEOPLE MUST RESIST ANTI-KURDISH POLICIES"

In its statement, KCK said “The Co-Mayors in Kurdistan were detained only because they are Kurdish, they defend the free and democratic life of Kurdish people, and they reject the AKP’s genocidal and colonialist policies. These attacks do not target any single Kurdish political thought or movement, but all Kurdish people. Those that do not view these attacks as attacks on the existence and the free and democratic life of Kurdish people are either purposefully ignorant or treacherous collaborators. Some people have tried to legitimize and normalize these attacks as attacks on the PKK and HDP as opposed to Kurdish people. These people have either numbed their brains and hearts with their enmity towards Apo and the PKK, or have reached the peak of treason in Kurdish history.”

Regarding Kurdish traitors, KCK said “Currently, the first duty of several Kurdish traitors has been to reduce Kurdish people’s backlash against the genocidal government of the AKP. Our people should avoid these discourses and resist the AKP’s anti-Kurdish policies. Kurdish people should put up barricades against the AKP’s attacks. Struggle against the AKP government is struggle for Kurdish existence. It will be a historic carelessness to not see this truth. Everyone must resist the AKP government’s attacks on the local will of Kurdish people, Co-Mayors, and struggle against appointed trustees. This struggle is the most legitimate and right struggle of Kurdish people.”

"PEOPLE OF AMED SHOULD SHOW ITS CHARACTER OF RESISTANCE AGAINST GENOCIDAL COLONIALISM"

In its statement, KCK Executive Council emphasized that Amed has always been the honor of Kurdish people, and continued: “The people of Amed have never accepted attacks on their honor and the will that represents them, and they have seen attacks on them as not only attacks on North Kurdistan but on all Kurdistan. Amed has always put up a historic resistance in the face of attacks on Kurdish people, such as the MHP leader Türkeş’s attempt to conquer Amed in 1975. Inmates in Amed Prison Number 5 carried out the historic prison resistance against the attempt to break the will of Kurdish people. Despite the risk of paying a heavy price, the people of Amed rose up when HEP Amed Provincial President Vedat Aydın was murdered in 1992. Children, women and men of Amed rose up and showed that they are the representatives of Kurds’ will for a free and democratic life when 14 guerrillas were massacred with chemical weapons in March, 2006. People of Amed such as the legendary commander Çîyager and Axîn, the freedom symbol of women of Amed, displayed the resistance spirit of Sheikh Said and showed that the will of the people of Amed cannot be broken when the AKP government launched a war on the anniversary of Lausanne Treaty under the disguise of restoring order in Amed’s Sur district.

The AKP government’s attack on Amed Co-Mayors is an attack on Amed’s historic spirit and will. As the symbol of all Kurdish people’s will for a free and democratic life, the people of Amed should rise up and carry out its historic role as the leader of Kurdish uprisings. With its attack, the AKP government aims to break the patriotic spirit of Amed and the will of all Kurdish people. All people of Amed, particularly young people and women, should rise up on the streets and display the resilient character of Kurdish people in Amed against genocidal colonialism. All Kurdish people, their allies, and the forces of democracy should see that the attack on Amed is an attack on themselves, and rise up everywhere in order to show solidarity with the people of Amed.”