Deputy Vice President of Southern Kurdistani Parliament Gorran Movement, who protest the Turkish state’s invasion of Afrin and invasion attacks against Southern Kurdistan, Dr. Bahar Mahmud stated that they as a movement they won’t be greeting the enemies of Kurds. Tevgera Azadi (the Freedom Movement) Presidential Council Member Seyid Xalid Mustafa criticized the silence of some Southern parties and the government, and demanded they take a stance against the invasion. Meanwhile, citizens from the Raperin region stated that they are ready to resist like in Afrin, and demanded that the government and political figures show leadership.

Gorran Movement Southern Kurdistani Parliament Deputy Vice President Dr. Bahar Mahmud spoke about Turkey’s Consul General Hakan Karaçay being rejected by the Gorran Movement’s President Ömer Seyid Eli.

GORRAN MOVEMENT REJECTS ANKARA’S DEMAND

Mahmud spoke to the ANF and stated that they expect the stance of the Gorran movement leader from all political parties in four parts of Kurdistan, and said: “Our president Ömer Seyid Eli rejected Turkey’s Consul General to Hewler Hakan Karaçay’s request for a meeting. This stance means we will not be greeting the enemies of Kurds. We expect Kurdish parties in all four parts or Kurdistan to base their stance on this approach by our leader. Because the period we are going through is a process where us Kurds need to show a united stance and voice. We expect this from all our parties. If we continue to show a divided front, we won’t be able to realize any of the dreams the Kurds have.”

THERE WILL BE NO MEETINGS AS LONG AS THE INVASION CONTINUES

Mahmud pointed out that the Turkish state on tines with the invasion attacks in Afrin on one hand, and launches new invasion attacks against various regions in Southern Kurdistan on the other and said: “The Turkish state attacks Afrin and carries out massacres. As long as the Turkish state continues with these massacre attacks and the invasion, we will not accept any meetings with the representatives of the Turkish state in any form. Because we consider these attacks against Afrin to be attacks against ourselves. As the massacres continue in Afrin, they launched new invasion attacks in various areas in the South. Protection of borders is under the regional government’s supervision. The KDP is responsible for this. If the KDP and our government don’t fulfill their duties, we as the other political parties will launch initiatives to defend our borders and prevent the invasion at the level of the Iraqi government.

ALL POLITICAL PARTIES MUST TAKE A STAND

Azadi Movement Presidential Council Member Seyid Xalid Mustafa spoke about the invasion and massacres in Afrin and Southern Kurdistan, and called on the Southern Kurdistani government and political parties to take a stand.

Mustafa pointed out that the alliance between Russia and Turkey to invade Afrin is starting to creep into Southern Kurdistan: “The invasion and massacre attacks that began on the deal between Russia, Turkey and Iran are now trying to continue in Southern Kurdistan. Our Southern Kurdistani government and many political parties show silence on this matter. We need a meeting where all political groups in Southern Kurdistan will come together to talk about these invasion attacks. In this meeting we should come to an agreement on a stance against these invasion attacks with a national stance. Turkey now has made very clear that they are leading a new campaign to invade all Kurds and all four parts of Kurdistan. The Turkish state takes advantage of the silence of our government and the void they have created. We need to fill this void through the political parties coming together.

THE PEOPLE ARE ANGRY

In Southern Kurdistan, targeted by the Turkish state’s invasion and massacres, the people are angry. Raperin region resident Ivan Eli said the following on the anger against the invasion: “There was a historic resistance against the Turkish state’s invasion attacks against Afrin. The Turkish state now turns toward Southern Kurdistan. We as citizens of Southern Kurdistan are ready to resist these attacks like in Afrin. We as the people are ready for this. We are only waiting for somebody to lead us.”

Sara Hoşyar from the Raperin region said they don’t accept the silence of the Southern Kurdistani government and several political parties in the face of these invasion attacks. Hoşyar said, “We expect the government to react to this invasion. We expect these political parties and the government who remain silent  to break their silence and take a stand.”