HPG Commander Serhat Erzurum evaluated the details of the conflict that took place on May 24 between Democratic Party of Iran peshmergas and HPG-YJA Star guerrillas in Medya Defense Areas.

HPG Commander Serhat Erzurum spoke to ANF on the details of the conflict that took place on May 24 between Democratic Party of Iran peshmergas and HPG-YJA Star guerrillas in Medya Defense Areas. Erzurum underlined that those who insisted on provoking failed to reach their goal.

Erzurum emphasized that one would need to know the particularities of the Xinêre region where the conflict took place in order to understand what happened between Democratic Party of Iran peshmergas and HPG-YJA Star guerillas on May 24. Erzurum stated that PKK guerillas have been fighting enemy forces in Xinêre and Lolan for more than 30 years. This region has historical importance for the PKK because the August 15 initiative was planned here and the area has a cemetery for PKK martyrs. The struggle of these guerillas that sacrificed their lives for their people and freedom adds to the sentimental importance of Xinêre and Lolan.

Stressing that the PKK has been the only force positioned in Xinêre over the past 30 years, Erzurum stated that it was their first encounter with Democratic Party of Iran peshmergas. Erzurum said that this encounter did not emerge spontaneously and despite their low level of mobilization, the Democratic Party of Iran may have had another agenda.

THEY SAID ‘WE WILL CROSS OVER TO IRAN’ BUT…

HPG Commander Serhat Erzurum stated that 20 peshmergas from the Democratic Party of Iran entered the area approximately 15 days ago and did not initially camp in a permanent location. When the peshmergas asked for permission to cross over to İran via the Xinêre-Lolan region, the PKK movement granted them permission. However, instead of crossing over to İran, the peshmergas positioned on strategic hill across from PKK guerillas. In response, PKK avoided armed confrontation and set up a committee to speak with the peshmergas. This committee included civilians living in the region and met with the peshmergas on May 10 to understand why they stationed in the region and insisted on setting up camp in the middle of a central area of the PKK. When the committee met with peshmerga officials, members of the committee saw that the peshmergas had a satellite phone. In the meeting, committee members explained that setting up a permanent camp in the midst of PKK areas without any political or diplomatic interaction would be inappropriate. Peshmerga commander Rebaz Kemal responded by saying that they would use the area frequently from now on and in no possible way would they leave their camp. When the PKK-led committee explained that the procedures for setting up such a camp would require political and diplomatic arrangements, Kemal insisted on not evacuating their settlement. At the end of the meeting, the committee gave the peshmergas a deadline for leaving the area. The two sides later met on May 17 and 23.

‘PESHMERGA COMMANDER REBAZ KEMAL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENED’

Erzurum stated that the Democratic Party of Iran came to the meeting with a perspective based on war and conflict. The PKK-led committee never stopped insisting on dialogue or planned to attack the peshmergas. According to Erzurum, this is because the peshmergas did not constitute a big threat, with 20 fighters in Xinêre and around 100 fighters in Kelaşin. Erzurum emphasized that all they did was to stand their ground and it was the peshmerga commander Rebaz Kemal who is responsible for the armed confrontation on May 24.

OVER THE PHONE, THEY WERE GIVEN THE ORDER ‘SHOOT THEM AND MOVE ON’

Erzurum stated that when they met Rebaz Kemal, he told them that the peshmergas would use their guns if necessary. Erzurum described these words as provocative efforts and argued that they show how the Democratic Party of Iran is not concerned with the national struggle of Kurdish people.

According to Erzurum, the peshmergas’ main goal was to create armed confrontation and use the death of peshmergas in such a confrontation for their political purposes. Erzurum also stated that they heard the peshmergas receive the order of “shoot them and move on” from someone called Azad.

Highlighting the PKK reality and the recent developments in Kurdistan, Erzurum said that people in Rojhelat (Eastern Kurdistan) are rising up, resistance in Rojava (Western Kurdistan) is making permanent gains, guerillas in Başur (Southern Kurdistan) are fighting ISIS, and progress is made through the PKK resistance in Bakur (Northern Kurdistan). Accordingly, the PKK reality and presence across all parts of Kurdistan strengthens and even leads the national unity of Kurds. Erzurum emphasized that thousands of Kurdish people have joined the PKK in all four parts of Kurdistan and examining the backgrounds of PKK martyrs alone reflects the national quality of the movement.

Erzurum stated that other movements are aware of how far behind they are in terms of national representation and such provocations are connected with this awareness. Erzurum added that the peshmergas are manipulated by other forces and their goal was to force the PKK to inflict losses upon themselves.

SOME SOUTHERN MEDIA OUTLETS BEGAN TO BROADCAST EVEN BEFORE THE CONFRONTATION BEGAN

According to Erzurum, some Kurdish movements only think about themselves and have connections with non-Kurdish actors or states. Some of these actors are those that are unsettled by the recent gains across Kurdistan and would like to reverse this process through provocative acts. Erzurum said that these non-Kurdish actors often manipulate Kurdish groups to carry out provocations, especially against the PKK. This policy of anti-propaganda and defamation took the form of arguing that the PKK prevents other Kurdish forces such as the Democratic Party of Iran in their fight against oppressive states such as Iran. Erzurum emphasized that one can describe the recent event as a provocation merely because a news channel from Southern Kurdistan covered the armed confrontation and claimed that 2 peshmergas were killed and nearly 10 peshmergas were injured hours before the confrontation actually took place!

In response to accusations about PKK hostility towards other Kurdish parties and organizations, Erzurum underlined that they are in solidarity with any Kurdish organization that defends Kurdish national interests and strengthens Kurdish people’s self-defense. Erzurum described the PKK as a movement and a military force that fights for the freedom and democracy of all peoples, and argued that the recent provocation aimed at defaming the PKK and convincing the people of Rojhelat that the guerrillas are in cooperation with the Iranian state. However, Erzurum says that this attempt failed because the people of Rojhelat know the PKK well, are aware of such defamation campaigns in recent history, and continue to contribute to the movement despite such campaigns.