In an interview with Radio Denge Mezopotamya, Murat Karayılan, a member of PKK Executive Committee spoke about Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan’s isolation in Imrali Island in Turkey and the guerrilla war in Northern Kurdistan.

Karayılan described the Imralı system as “an annihilation concept”, remarking that the practices in Imralı are not ethical. He pointed out that;

“Imrali system is a system of torture, genocide and annihilation. The hostility, torture and genocide developed against Kurdish people’s leader is an attitude against Kurdish people at the same time. Our people are aware of this. Therefore they take action against these policies that we cannot describe as only isolation. Our people in Europe and Kurdistan have efforts in that regard. I salute everyone who have taken part in the demonstrations and actions.

Especially our people in Northern Kurdistan should know that the practices against our leader Apo are against all our people, and our enemies want to make some achievements. Therefore we as people should have a stance against these brutal practices and fulfil our duties.”

TURKISH STATE SUFFERED A STRATEGIC DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF GUERRILLAS

Karayılan expressed that Turkish state suffered a strategic defeat against the guerrillas in Northern Kurdistan and continued: “The Turkish state is fighting with the guerrillas for 34 years. During this time it always said “we will finish them off this year, we will finish them off this month, we are hitting, capturing, killing them.” They carry a continuous propaganda and psychological warfare in that regard. But in fact Turkish state has suffered a strategic defeat at the hands of the guerrillas. They couldn’t finish off the guerrillas. The guerrilla organization expanded, spread in all parts of Kurdistan and now it has become a regional power.

Now the AKP-MHP state is trying to regain what has been lost. How they do this? In fact they have no power to fight against the guerrillas. Guerrilla made an impact and they have no force capable of direct fight against guerrillas. The Turkish state has suffered a defeat in this regard. They retreated from a direct war. 

AKP-MHP state is fighting with technological, intelligence and psychological methods. What do we mean with technological. We mean the warplanes. Ninety percent of the war in Kurdistan is now carried out with warplanes. They fight with warplanes. They can’t do anything on the land” Karayılan explained.

TURKISH SOLDIERS RUN BACK WHEN THEY SEE THE GUERRILLAS

Speaking about large scale land operation against guerrillas, Karayılan said: “Why are they carrying out large scale military operations? It’s not to search, find and fight with the guerrillas. They want minor engagement with the guerrilla, they escape and call the warplanes to bomb the area. Their only duty is scouting. This is what the war has become nowadays.”

20 TURKISH SOLDIERS KILLED IN CILO MOUNTAINS

Informing that at least 20 Turkish soldiers were killed in Cilo mountains between Hakkari and Şırnak provinces, Karayılan continued; “If that minister (Süleyman Soylu) always tells the truth in his statements, I invite him to tell about what happened on 21st of September in Cilo mountains during an ambush by the guerrillas against his soldiers. They suffered more than 20 causalities. Those who survived were lost, they were wretched. I mean they were crushed. They couldn’t keep that operation going. They say the operation continues but it’s crushed. However, the minister doesn’t talk about this.”

Karayılan mentioned another incident in Hakkari, where he said Turkish soldiers were ambushed by guerrillas and more than 10 soldiers were killed on 23rd of September. According to the information Karayilan gave, the ambush was set up on the road between Hakkari and Çukurca.

TURKISH STATE SEES THE KILLING OF CIVILIANS AS SUCCESS

Regarding the recent killings of civilians by Turkish state, Karayılan said: “Now, they advocate killing of civilians at the highest level. Erdogan is openly defending the killing of villagers. Our people were martyred in Tale village in Hakkari. After that civilians were hit in Lice. Turkish army shoots people in their village, in their field and say that “they are guerrillas”. They lie. And they also see this as a success. This shows the reality of the AKP-MHP. These are enemies of people. Their practices are clear hostility. Recently our people were hit in Bashur (Southern Kurdistan) in Behdinan. Turkish state sees the killing of Kurds as a natural right.

How long his will continue? It’s up to us. We have to bring them into account for these actions. Bringing them into account will be a historic one. We have to say “stop” to all these. This is what the guerrillas are trying to do.”