The Executive Committee of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) issued a statement on the severe earthquakes of 6 February in the Turkish-Syrian border area. The statement released on Sunday includes the following:

'The Kurdistan Freedom Movement and the Kurdish people have been struck and shaken by another great catastrophe just before the anniversary of the international plot of 15 February 1999 [Abdullah Öcalan's abduction to Turkey], the 'Day of Genocide against the Kurds'. In this great earthquake, which we can call the disaster of the century, dozens of cities and towns and thousands of villages were severely damaged. Thousands of buildings collapsed, tens of thousands of people lost their lives, hundreds of thousands were injured, and millions of people were affected. These are the results we know about on the fifth day after the disaster. The consequences, even with the impact of the harsh winter, are perhaps much more serious than known.

WE SHARE THE PAIN OF ALL THOSE AFFECTED

The Kurdish people and the peoples of Turkey and Syria have suffered very serious damage as a result of the earthquake of 6 February, the epicentre of which was Maraş. We, Kurds and the peoples of the Middle East and all humanity, have suffered heavy losses and our pain is great. First of all, we share the pain of all those who were affected by the earthquake and those who felt its effects. We wish Allah's mercy on those who lost their lives in this great disaster and a speedy recovery for those who were injured. Our condolences go out to all our people, especially the relatives of the victims, the peoples of Turkey and Syria and all humanity. We thank all those who participated in the mobilisation and provided assistance to reduce the damage, alleviate the suffering and heal the wounds of this great disaster. We believe that our peoples and humanity will overcome this pain.

THE STATE AND THE GOVERNMENT KILL WITH DECEIT AND LIES

An earthquake is undoubtedly a natural disaster that comes from the depths of the earth. It is not yet known exactly how much events on the earth's surface influence this situation. However, mankind now knows exactly where earthquake zones are located. It is known that the line where the earthquake occurred on the morning of 6 February is a significant earthquake area. The main reason for the serious consequences is the fact that the settlements were not built earthquake-proof and no serious measures were taken for a possible earthquake. Moreover, it is now clear that the tens of billions of dollars collected from society for years as earthquake tax were not spent for this purpose, but were given to looting AKP/MHP supporters. So, it is not the earthquake that kills, but the state and the government that deceive the public with fraud and lies.

THE AKP/MHP GOVERNMENT IS MAINLY RESPONSIBLE

Let us content ourselves for the time being with the observation that earthquakes are a natural disaster. However, it has also been shown that the AKP/MHP government, contrary to its announcements, has in fact not taken any measures. The earthquake of 6 February has revealed and unmasked the reality of the AKP/MHP government in all its aspects. The reality is this: Firstly, the government did not take any precautions against the earthquake and for this purpose gave the money collected from the people to its own supporters. Secondly, the institutions set up by the government for such disasters are inadequate in dealing with the earthquake. In other words, the AKP/MHP government did not adequately carry out the necessary relief and rescue measures after the earthquake and left the society to its own devices. For these two reasons, the government is mainly responsible for the damage and the number of deaths. Thirdly, by declaring a state of emergency, the AKP/MHP government is trying to politicise the aftermath of the earthquake and extend the life of the government on this basis.

PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE THEIR DESTINY INTO THEIR OWN HANDS

The solidarity shown by our people so far has played an important role in sharing and alleviating the suffering, even if it is not entirely sufficient. Especially after overcoming the initial shock, it is clear that a very important solidarity has taken place at the level of mobilisation. Even the state of emergency of AKP/MHP fascism could not prevent this situation. However, it is appropriate to point out the following points: Clearly, it is not right for societies to entrust their lives and fate to the state to such an extent. Instead of asking the state for help after a disaster, it is clearly better to take one's fate into one's own hands beforehand. The fascist AKP/MHP government has fulfilled the requirements of a state and used the money supposedly collected for earthquakes for its own benefit. The reality of the state and the government at stake must be properly understood by all peoples. Instead of asking the state for help, people should take their destiny into their own hands and organise themselves as a society.

A QUESTION OF HUMANITY

From the very first moment, our freedom movement has called on all peoples and humanity to show solidarity. Based on the understanding that social solidarity keeps alive, we have especially asked our people abroad as well as in South and East Kurdistan to help North and West Kurdistan. Knowing that nothing can be expected from the state, our movement has instructed all revolutionary and patriotic forces to take part in the rescue work and rubble removal in the course of mobilisation. The principle is that all those who call themselves human should share their resources with those who have suffered from the earthquake. In order not to add new sufferings to those caused by the earthquake, all revolutionary forces have been called upon not to take offensive actions until they are attacked. This attitude of our movement will continue until the heavy suffering caused by the earthquake is alleviated and eliminated.

CALLING AKP/MHP FASCISM TO ACCOUNT

It is quite clear that AKP/MHP fascism was once again caught red-handed with the 6 February earthquake. It has been exposed how the government looted the earthquake tax collected from the people for its supporters and invested it in the war against the Kurdish people. Now it wants to use the consequences of the earthquake as a justification for war and prolong its stay in power by imposing a state of emergency. Undoubtedly, all the peoples of Turkey, especially the Kurds and the revolutionary democratic forces, will not let this opportunity pass and know how to suffocate AKP/MHP fascism in the suffering it has caused. They will hold AKP/MHP fascism accountable for all its actions, one by one. They will not allow the elections to be postponed because of the earthquake and they will bury fascism in history.

SOLIDARITY IS A NECESSARY CONDITION FOR SOCIETY

Clearly, both the severe earthquake and the harsh winter conditions will extend the efforts to heal the wounds and alleviate the suffering over a long period of time. Not only in removing the rubble, but also in repairing the severe damage caused by the earthquake, our people must show the necessary solidarity and live in a state of constant mobilisation. They must share the food in their hands, the house they live in and the goods they use with the people who suffered from the earthquake. This is a necessary condition for an existing people and a functioning society. We believe that our people will always live with such an attitude of solidarity and sharing.

They say that in every evil there is also good, and we hope that the earthquake disaster will also contribute to freedom. Our movement has already fought for freedom in the struggle against the consequences of the Wan earthquake as well, and we hope that it will be victorious in the struggle against the consequences of this earthquake and ensure the freedom of Kurdistan and the democratisation of Turkey based on the physical freedom of leader Öcalan. In this way, the movement and the people will be able to alleviate the heavy suffering we have experienced.

In this context, we once again share the pain of our people and call on everyone to constantly and increasingly show solidarity and share with those who have suffered from the earthquake."