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To the press and the public opinion
Our region, the Middle East, is going through an important change. Day after
day the events unfolding show us that nationalism and anti-democratic
positions are the main actors behind the confrontations, leaving us in an
impasse without any hope for a solution to the problem.
The only correct position to adopt in the region is the one that follows the
principles of dialogue and democracy with respect for all the religious and
national differences that form a part of the modern democracy.
We know that the main problem, that has a major effect on all the other
problems in the region, is the Kurdish one. In the countries where the
Kurdish problem exists, the politics of oppression of the Kurdish population
significantly reinforces the anti-democratic forces of the region.
Otherwise, the solution of the Kurdish problem can function as a catalyst
for the further democratisation of the region.
As a movement we have demonstrated many important efforts and achieved much
in the search for a democratic solution of the Kurdish problem. To obtain
this objective, our Leader issued proposals and appeals on several
occasions. Despite the fact that our efforts have never received an adequate
response, they didnt fall without result. On the contrary, our efforts
created important developments in the understanding of the Kurdish problem
and its importance within the regional situation.
Since the resistance of the Kurdish population against the attacks of the
Turkish government in 2003 in particular, our Movement for Freedom made
important progress in relation to maturing of democratic outlook within the
organizations and in the position of the guerrilla forces. The movement has
reached the point where we are able to resist strongly the politics of
denial and oppression of Turkey. In addition, the struggles for freedom
against the regimes of Iran and Syria have grown stronger. This development
in the four parts of Kurdistan enables the Kurds to be in a strong position
to have an important influence on regional stability and international
politics.
Within this framework the relation between the Kurds and the Turks became a
major issue in the region. As a result of this evolution, the solution of
the Kurdish problem will have its impact on the international situation. It
is within this context that different forces made declarations and appeals
on several occasions for a ceasefire. Among these are the recent written
declaration of the US on 15th August, the Federal Republic of Iraq and the
Regional Government of South Kurdistan. In Turkey several appeals have been
made by different organizations, first of all by the DPT, also by
intellectuals, writers, Mothers for Peace, religious leaders of Kurdistan
and musicians. Some of these appeals have been made through the press,
others by different diplomatic means.
In contribution to these moves, our Leader made a new declaration concerning
the political progress and our movement issued on 23rd August a declaration
to announce the beginning of a process for a democratic solution. Following
these declarations, several meetings have taken place and appeals were made
with the same aim; they accelerated the possibility of entering a new
successful period of peace. In order to support this development, our Leader
made an appeal for a ceasefire on behalf of our movement. It was not made
public until the 7th September 2006.
After the suspension of the military actions carried out by the HPG
(Movement for the Defence of the People) 15 September 2006 and in line with
the demand of the Executive Presidential Board of Koma Komalen Kurdistan
(Democratic Confederation of Kurdistan), the first meeting of the 2nd
assembly took place between the 24-25th of September. At this were gathered
the President of Kongra Gel, the permanent commissions, the Executive Board
of Koma Komalen Kurdistan, the committee of the Movement for the Defence of
the People and the board of command of the HPG. During this meeting the
appeal of Leader Abdullah Ocalan has been discussed after which we arrived
at the following decisions:
1.The declaration of the ceasefire has been decided to start on 1st of
October 2006. According the steps that will be taken and how events will
develop, the period of the ceasefire will continue.
2.There will be no use of arms as long as our forces are not attacked, but
in case of an attack in order to annihilate our forces, they will defend
themselves by all means.
3.During the whole period, there will be no military activity with the
exception of the activities that fulfil our logistical needs and to
safeguard our natural security.
4.According this decision, the board of command of the HPG, the position of
our forces, their movement and their programme will be reorganised in
relation to the reality of ceasefire.
5.All the officials, organizations and institutions within the movement for
Democracy and Freedom in Kurdistan will at every level (ideological,
political, practical) contribute to the success of this ceasefire. In
addition, all the tasks and programmes will be re-arranged in accordance
with the decision of this declaration.
6.This decision concerns all the forces of the Koma Komalen Kurdistan.
Nobody will take an opposite position; everyone will strive with utmost
efforts to contribute to the success of this period.
On the 28th September 2006, following the decisions of the assembly, the
Leader of Koma Komalen Kurdistan, Apo (Abdullah Öcalan), declared once again
to the public and the movement the decision of a ceasefire. I am prepared
to do all that is necessary and call on the HPG to announce a ceasefire.
This period of ceasefire is hugely important. In reality, once this step is
taken we have a lot to do.
As clarified and supported by all our national organizations, the decision
can now take official effect.
The decision of our Leader Abdullah Ocalan and our movement is a decision of
all our national democratic organizations. The decision concerns them all.
This means that those who are not within our movement but claim to act in
the name of the Kurdish people and especially those who claim to be
affiliated with Abdullah Ocalan should act accordingly and demonstrate an
attitude according to the appeal of our Leader. The same applies to the
armed forces not active within our system.
They, who do not respond to our appeal and cause damage to the cause of
freedom of our people, must know that our movement will take a position on a
national level.
Our people, having assessed our struggle for freedom successfully, paid many
efforts and achieved much, has act in a decisive way for the ceasefire.
They have to do what has to be done to obtain a democratic solution and a
free union. The work for a democratic solution has to be pursued in the
strongest terms; our people have to show their clear determination for
peace.
We will carry out our work for this aim of a positive outcome in order to
create the conditions for a life within a democratic and free union and to
solve the problem within the borders of Turkey. Our people will more than
ever in their history refuse to bow to the politics of denial and violence;
if necessary they will defend themselves. The step towards a ceasefire that
we have made is of historical importance for the union and its continuation
between two nations. Now that we have a chance for peace, we will make use
of it fully. By contrast they who want to provoke feelings of hostility
between the nations, who are at the side of war, that is the nationalists
and chauvinists, can be the cause of dangerous relations. Thats why all the
democratic organizations, the press, the intellectuals, artists, in fact all
who desire peace, should take the path that we have chosen. Nobody should
remain on the sidelines; everybody has his task to perform.
It is obvious that the Turkish Government and its army cannot solve the
problem by the violence as it already tried this so many times. Politics of
surrender or destroy have inflicted only harm to our people and caused the
destabilization of our region. A democratic solution by means of dialogue
will in contrast clear the way for a democratic development that can only be
positive for Turkey, if only Turkey responds positively towards the
ceasefire.
The success of the ceasefire that we have developed will benefit our people
living in the four parts of Kurdistan. It should be obvious that as long the
Kurdish problem in Turkey is not resolved, it will not be resolved in the
other parts either and the gains already obtained will not last. For this
reason the PUK and the PDK, indeed all the Kurdish forces, should contribute
to this period and make the necessary efforts to enable it to succeed. The
governments of the region, such as Iran and Syria, have to abandon their
current position and should realize that a democratic solution is not
possible as long as there is no peace with the Kurds. As it should become
clear that the process of a ceasefire will benefit these countries as well,
it will have a positive influence on the whole region.
It should be recognised that achieving peace and stability in the Middle
East is the biggest guarantee for peace and stability in the whole world.
Neither the US, nor the other international forces, should adopt the methods
of violence to resolve the Kurdish problem. They have to approach the
problem within the framework of a democratic solution. This will create a
peaceful result in the region and the world. The positive indications that
we received and the process of ceasefire that we started will develop a
democratic process and stability in the region.
Despite the adoption of democratic means and dialogue to achieve a solution,
it is simply unjust that the Turkish Government considers our movement to be
terrorist and insists on means of violence. This political decision for
violence adopted by successive Turkish Governments resulted over the decades
in many massacres and a massive exodus of our people. This violence never
obtained any result, but simply left the region in a state of conflict.
It is for this reason that the governments that engaged themselves in the
alliance of three in coordination against the PKK should not consider
our movement as a terrorist one and should abandon all plans for
liquidation. It is obvious that the problem cannot be resolved by means of
violence, as events in the past have already repeatedly shown on many
occasions. The leading powers have to reconsider their approach to the
problem by considering our project for a democratic solution; this is the
best way forward. The US and especially the Iraqi Government, that knows as
no other the Kurdish problem, should play a constructive role in the process
of a ceasefire that we have launched.
>From our side, we have done and will do all that is necessary to make this
ceasefire work. As the party that stands for the development of a democratic
period and for stability, we appeal to all the concerned governments to take
responsibility in the interests of all the people, including the Kurdish
population, within the framework of this democratic project.
30.09.2006
Koma Komalen Kurdistan (Democratic Confederation of Kurdistan)
Presidential Board