Hundreds of people from South Kurdistan, who face the threat of massacre after the Turkish army’s air strikes, rose up against recent attacks. Tens of hectares of forests have been on fire after the air strikes that began on July 24. Guerrillas and civilians try to put out the fires, which claim the lives of animals as well as plants.

Areas ranging from North to South Kurdistan, from Qandil to Behdinan have been bombarded during AKP’s army’s attack on Kurdistan since July 24. Forests from Lice to Xakurke have been set on fire, and 8 civilians were brutally massacred in Qandil’s Zergele village. People of South Kurdistan, particularly those living around Behdinan, have lost their living spaces and livestock due to the AKP attacks and terror.

Turkish state continues to show enmity as it targets Kurdistan nature and all animals and plants living here. AKP has denied Zergele massacre and its role in killing civilians, but can no longer hide its crimes against humanity. Residents of South Kurdistan spoke to ANF on the cruelty and terror they have endured. Families that we spoke to in the highlands of South Kurdistan said that they would never abandon their lands, condemned all-out attacks targeting Kurdish people, and called upon the government of South Kurdistan as well as the entire world to break their silence against recent massacres. Below are the statements that the residents of South Kurdistan gave to ANF.

KURDS MUST HEAR EACH OTHER OUT

Sultan: We were in the field, warplanes bombarded our houses and us. When the planes bombed us, we left our belongings behind and started to escape. No one looked after us, planes would not have bombed us otherwise. We will not abandon Kurdistan even if we are bombed, we will defend our lands even if they try to wipe out every Kurd on earth. We are all Kurdish, the Turkish state should have been warned and protected. How will we win if Kurds do not hear each other out?

Zerê: Warplanes started to bomb us and frighten our children around 23:00 at night. We were all scattered, they continued their air strikes for 4 nights. Our lives are in danger, many of our neighbors escaped the bombings and slept out in the field. We will not leave our lands and move somewhere else even if they bomb us everyday. Nobody should support those that drop bombs on Kurdish people, this cannot happen. We are also Kurdish, but the Government of South Kurdistan never visited or checked upon us.

BOMBS RAIN ON KURDISH PEOPLE

Xakim û Gulê: We do not want bombs and warplanes flying over us, we want to live ordinary lives like everyone else. Those who govern us do not look after their own people, we are forced to scatter across the fields and this is cruelty.

We want to live in our houses comfortably and this is our right. What they are doing to us is cruel and sick. Turkish planes fly over us at night, and we wonder whether we will die then or during the morning. They do not let us be, everywhere around us burned to ashes because of the bombings. Bombs killed our livestock but we will never abandon our lands. We will stay here even if they attack with bombs, cannons and rifles. These lands belong to nobody but our ancestors. Nobody, even the KDP, visited us and asked how we were since the bombardments. No one wonders if we are dead or alive, only the guerrillas visit us and help with our needs. PKK asks us how we are doing, we immediately think of visiting the guerrillas when bombs drop. We feel secure around the guerillas, but they do not usually allow this for our own security.

IT IS BETRAYAL TO NOT PROTECT THE PEOPLE

Mam Ramazan Sofi: The struggle for Kurdistan continues both in the region and the world. We have to defend our lands against the enemy. We will not abandon our lands even if warplanes constantly fly over and bomb us. We will not leave here no matter what the enemy says. Our lands from Qandil to Zaxo and Xakurke have been bombed for days no, civilians are massacre in their own lands. Nobody comes and takes care of us. Government of South Kurdistan has not visited us, we have only seen the guerrillas so far. All of our fields are burning, we have to protect our children and families. We had to relocate temporarily for security reasons, but we will not abandon our lands. It is always the poor folk that die, this must be brought to account. It is betrayal to not protect the people and resist these attacks.