The people of Maxmur, who were forced to seek refuge in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) in the 1990s due to the fascism of the Turkish state and lived under harsh conditions in the camps, come under attack once again.

Maxmur People's Assembly co-chair Hacı Kaçan spoke to ANF about the freedom march and the attacks against Maxmur. Kaçan remarked over the attack on the Martyr Rüstem Cudi camp on June 5, saying, “If it were not the holiday season, there would have been a great massacre. Because the place where the attack took place was very close to the school and sports field. As the people of the Maxmur Camp, we submitted dozens of reports and petition to the United Nations (UN). But unfortunately, they were only contented with condemnations. We urge the UN and the Iraqi government to oppose these attacks."

Kaçan continued, "The Turkish state has so far carried out attacks targeting villages in Kani Masi, Qandil and many other regions of southern Kurdistan. Dozens of civilians have died as a result. We call on all Kurdish people, political parties and Kurdish leaders not to remain silent towards these attacks. We will continue to fight for our leader Öcalan until the end. Our struggle continues in Shengal, Maxmur and dozens of other regions.

COLLABORATIVE KURDS SUPPORT THE TURKISH STATE

“Turkish fighter jets have attacked our camp many times in the last five months, killing and injuring dozens of civilians. These attacks are carried out with the help of the collaborative Kurds. Despite all the attacks, our people have never stopped resisting. ISIS became a part of the attacks in 2014. These schemes were especially organized by the Turkish state. The Turkish state wants to subjugate our people. But our people have never surrendered since they are loyal to leader Öcalan and the Freedom Movement and they have frustrated all schemes.

We have been reporting on the attacks since 2017. Children and families are in great jeopardy. These attacks are carried out by ISIS and the Turkish state. In the meantime, a huge embargo is imposed on the camp by the KDP. The policies of the ruling AKP-MHP in Turkey have failed as a result of people's struggle. For this reason, they took sides with Azerbaijan and attacked Armenia. They occupied many territories. We know very well that these attacks will continue, because we demand our rights, and we will continue to fight for them until the end.”

MAXMUR IS CONTINUOUSLY TARGETED BY TURKEY

“There are 12 thousand civilians living in the camp. The UN and the Iraqi government know the situation in the camp. Our door has always been open to the free press. What upsets us is that even though the UN is supposed to provide security in the camp, it remains silent towards the attacks. Furthermore, the Iraqi government and the Kurdish parties do not protect the camp enough. This makes us even more sad.

There have been many meetings with the KDP so far, but unfortunately no request has been answered. Iraq should not allow these attacks against the people of the region. If the US, Iraq and human rights institutions remain silent, it means that they are partners in these massacres.”

WE WILL CREATE A FREE LIFE

Kaçan reminded that the camp was established due to the war policies of Turkey. “There was a policy of genocide against the Kurds in the 1990s. Thousands of villages were evacuated, and thousands of people were displaced. Many Kurds went to Turkish cities, thousands of Kurds went abroad, and thousands of others came to this region and became refugees in their own lands. This freedom march started in 1993-94. It aims at protecting the identity, culture and language of the Kurdish people.”

In the first years, we settled in Maxmur due to the attacks of the KDP and the Turkish state. The hostile attacks against our people have not stopped since the day we migrated from our villages. Currently, thousands of Kurds, politicians and mayors are in prison in Turkey and northern Kurdistan. However, the Kurdish people have never given up their identity and mother tongue. The Turkish state wanted to subjugate us, but we have always insisted on an honourable life.”