People's Defense Forces (HPG) Command Council Member Amed Malazgirt attended a program on Stêrk TV on Sunday and spoke about the Turkish state invasion attacks. In the program prepared and presented by Kurtay Serhat, Malazgirt made striking statements on the invasion attacks against Southern Kurdistan and the threats of an operation against Qandil.

TACTICAL PLAYS

Malazgirt said the threat of an operation against Qandil and Erdoğan’s election calculations are connected: “In particular, the AKP government thinks they can gain votes from fascists and circles who oppose Kurds by putting the PKK on the agenda in this most recent process, so they ignroe the Kurds. Of course these are all tactics and plays by the AKP government and Erdoğan.

THEY TEST MOST RECENT WEAPONS ON US

Malazgirt spoke about the level of the war and the situation on the field and stated that intense air strikes continue still.

Malazgirt said: “They are testing the latest technology, most recent weapons on our friends. These are all true. But the situation is not as they make it out to be.”

NO CASUALTIES IN AIR STRIKES

Malazgirt stressed that despite such intense bombing with fighter jets, there are no casualties in the air strikes: “Erdoğan claims that he carried out an aerial operation against Qandil with 24 jets, and that they dealt a heavy blow to the PKK with this operation. We have had no losses in these attacks. These attacks were mostly focused around the villages where the civilians live. The main goal was to force the civilian population in the Qandil region to migrate.”

TURKISH ARMY’S MERCENARIES ARE NO GOOD

Malazgirt stressed that they have 35 years of guerilla experience and that they know how to defend themselves against such attacks.

Malazgirt continued: “Erdoğan has been in government since 2002. So he’s been governing the country for the last 16 years. We, on the other hand, have been fighting the Turkish state for 35 years. This experience in war is enough for us to defend ourselves against these attacks. It’s not like the Turkish state could disband us all these years but didn’t. In my opinion, the Turkish state waged a more extensive war against us during the ‘90s. Today they are using mercenaries and train their soldiers as they see fit, but they are not successful despite all that.”

TURKISH ARMY’S SITUATION IN THE SOUTH

Malazgirt also spoke about the Turkish state’s position in Southern Kurdistan and said:

“They say they entered Southern Kurdistan, they are holding the Boti Hil in the Barzan territory last year. It used to be our crossing line. Now they are present in that region, and so are we. Almost every day our friends carry out actions against the soldiers on that hill. This spring, in March, the Turkish army carried out an operation in the area we call Geliye Reş. We had some losses there. Xakurkê State Commander Comrade Agiri and a group of our comrades were martyred. The Turkish state took some positions on hills in the region, and this operation continued up to Lelikan Hill. It is true that the Turkish army entered some hills. They have set up positions on some hills. But since the first day they came, our forces have constantly carried out extensive actions against the Turkish army with casualties from them. For instance, the action against the Abdalkovi hill was very effective. The action against the Ali Direj strait as well. Our comrades attack with a sacrificing spirit and marched towards the enemy soldiers, and returned with the weapons taken from these soldiers. Footage from this action was shared to the public. Even if we don’t count the assassinations and similar actions against Lelikan Hill, there have been extensive and effective actions against that hill. With these actions, the Turkish army was dealt a heavy blow. Our comrades still continue to hit the Turkish army hard in this region. They haven’t succeeded like they claim. They say they are close to Qandil, but the closest they are is the Lelikan Hill. They want to advance.”

THERE IS MILITARY STOCKPILING OVER SEMDINLI-HAKKARI

“According to our information, there is military stockpiling into the region over Şemzinan and Hakkari,” said Malazgirt and pointed out that the Turkish state is preparing for an operation: “They are stockpiling weapons there, especially armored vehicles and some new technology weapons. In short, the Turkish army is preparing for an operation. Of course we have preparations for this situation as well. The Turkish state wants to move the war over to Southern Kurdistan. But we will not allow this invasion attempt by the Turkish state. Our effective actions against the positions of the Turkish army will continue.”

“WE WON’T LET THE TURKISH STATE ADVANCE IN SOUTHERN KURDISTAN”

Malazgirt said, “We will absolutely not allow the Turkish army to advance in Southern Kurdistan, whatever the price may be we won’t give up our struggle. The Turkish state will see the result of all that they have done.”

AKP WON’T GET AWAY WITH WHAT THEY DID

“AKP won’t get away with what they did,” said Malazgirt and added that the AKP regime has been insulting the Kurdish people everywhere. He said, “The AKP thinks our guerilla and our movement is losing strength. But the day will come when they will have to answer for what they did. What Erdoğan is doing now is hollow bullying. The PKK will end this hollow bullying.”

HEWLER’S AND BAGHDAD’S STANCE AGAINST THE INVASION

Malazgirt also spoke about the federal Kurdistan Region Government and the central Iraqi Government’s stance against the invasion and said:

“As we have seen, there is a silence. There should be a stance that is positive for Kurds. This invasion should not be accepted. Like I said in my previous comments, this is not an issue of the PKK. Turkey can always find an excuse to legitimize the invasion. I believe that the regional government knows that the PKK is just an excuse in these invasion attempts. The people of Southern Kurdistan have displayed great resistance against invasions throughout history. Southern Kurdistan has a great spirit of resistance. The people of Southern Kurdistan can see the truth. The people of Southern Kurdistan, its youth and even the peshmerga will not accept this invasion attempt by the Turkish state. There will be great protests among the Southern Kurdistani people.”

“The fact that the Turkish state sees the gains Kurds have achieved as a threat, not just the PKK can easily be seen by anyone. So, the Iraqi state could say ISIS members come in from Turkey and place soldiers within Turkey’s borders and build bases there. If the Turkish state would accept that, the Iraqi state would too, Iran could do it as well. Iran could say there is a threat against them coming from Turkey, so they will build bases within Turkey’s borders. Would Turkey accept that? No, it wouldn’t. So I don’t think Iran will accept this situation.”

THERE SHOULD BE NO VOTES FOR THE AKP FROM NORTHERN KURDISTAN

Malazgirt concluded his words with a call for the June 24 elections and asked for zero votes from Northern Kurdistan for the AKP: “Whatever happens, there should be no votes for the AKP in Northern Kurdistan. Every Kurd must remember all these, and put their hand to their conscience when they vote. After this, the AKP should have no foundation left on which to organize itself. To throw the AKP out of Kurdistan is a duty for all Kurds.”