The co-presidency of KCK’s Executive Council declared support for the protesters in Southern Kurdistan and called upon all political powers to take responsibility to resolve the problem.

“With these protests people showed that they are not happy with the politics of Bashur (Southern Kurdistan). The people demand a democratic way of political life that they can be directly involved in politics” the statement read.

Highlights from KCK statement are as follows;

“It is rightful and legitimate that the people demand democracy and act in a way that manifests that. But approaches that might cast a shadow on this rightful and legitimate movement and lead to violence should be avoided. Democratic demands should be voiced through democratic actions. Our people should avoid burning and destroying while expressing their democratic demands, and those who hold governing power should not use violence against the people. Our people should be aware that there are forces that will abuse and skew their rightful and democratic demands and be careful.

People rising up for democratization is something that will make all Kurds proud. Democratization is achieved through the people rising up and embracing democracy everywhere. In that sense, the political parties that hold governing power now should see having such a people a source of strength and something to be proud of, that will be the best approach. A roadmap that will resolve the emerging issues in dialogue with the people and all political parties can come up.

At this point, social and political problems that go beyond the power of any one or two political parties have emerged. In that sense, it is not possible to find solutions to problems outside of a democracy movement that will include the widest array of societal groups and a democratic program. On this basis, both the people and social groups who rose up for democratization and the political powers that hold governing power now and all political movements acting in such an understanding will benefit the people of Bashurê Kurdistan and Kurdistan as a whole.

On this basis we consider our people’s democratization protests to be meaningful and valuable, and call on all political powers in Bashurê Kurdistan to a responsible approach, keeping current dangers in mind, for the political stability of Bashurê Kurdistan.

Our people in Bashurê Kurdistan are protesting with the demand for democratization. We offer our condolences to the families of people who lost their lives in these protests and we wish a swift recovery to the wounded. The Kurdish people are the people who suffered the most oppression, tyranny and massacres in the Middle East. They have resisted colonialism, genocide, oppression and tyranny with a great price paid, and have achieved even the smallest national democratic rights through a great price.”