Adel Murad, co-founder of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) who is currently heading the party’s Central Council, spoke to ANF on Turkey's attacks on the Kurds and the KDP's policies, and emphasized that "the KDP values Turkey, not us”, an approach that bothers the Kurdish people.

“KDP FLED, PKK AND PUK PESHMERGAS FOUGHT ISIS”

Murad recalled that Turkey has several military bases in South Kurdistan, and continued: "Currently, the Turkish state has 19 military bases in South Kurdistan. Zakho and surrounding territory has become a Turkish base. They are bombarding Qandil and its surroundings every day. They attacked Qereçox two days ago. This area is part of Rojava. Again, they attacked Shengal. The people in Shengal are Iraqi Êzidîs, not Êzidîs from Syria or Turkey. They are all Iraqi Kurds. YBŞ are not Kurds from Turkey or Syria. They are all Iraqi Kurds.

KDP had 10 thousand armed force in 2014, but it fled and abandoned Shengal. ISIS came and murdered many people, kidnapped the women and girls whom they later sold in the streets. But it was the PKK to come and rescue them. Even Hewler would have been lost if it hadn't been for the PKK guerrillas and PUK peshmergas in and around Makhmur. Masoud Barzani came and thanked the PKK members there afterwards. Now, how does he dare to tell them to leave? Why should they leave? 20 peshmergas fell as martyrs during the latest attack. And they are saying that Turkey would not have attacked if PKK were not there. This is wrong. This is a pressure on PKK. It is Turkey's policies.”

“KDP KEEPS THE MONEY IN EUROPEAN BANKS”

Murad emphasized that the KDP has become dependent on Turkey, and said "KDP members do not help us. They like Turkey and act with them. I think this the reason is economical. The oil of Kurdistan is sold to Turkey. Nobody knows where this money is. It is not transparent. There is a lot of money in question.

According to an Iraqi oil analyst I talked to 4 days ago, KDP has sold $93 billion worth of oil to Turkey over the past 3 years. But today, people are poor and they can receive their salaries once every 4-5 months. Nobody knows where this money is. Actually, I know where it is; in European banks. They say now that they will build a Kurdish state and this money will be used for that purpose. Well, I am hungry. What use is a state when I am hungry?"

“KDP WANTS TO BUILD A HEADQUARTERS IN SHENGAL”

Remarking that Turkey is being isolated by the entire world today, Adel Murad stated that: "Turkey is in no good situation. Their relations with Iraq, Syria, Iran, the rest of the Middle East, America, Europe and western countries are bad. They are losing every day. There are many internal conflicts. Erdoğan wants to establish a new Ottoman system and he guarantees this system with the presidential system. However, Turkey has good relations only with the KDP. Turkey is the one that brought ISIS to the Middle East, and wants to make ISIS fight against Kurds.

KDP cadres and people are not happy about this politics with Turkey. They are against it. However, KDP officials act together with Turkey because the KDP wants to build a headquarters in Shengal. This is their only goal. KDP has considerable relations with Turkey and is economically dependent because they have got money in Turkey. This is why they cannot oppose Turkey. In my point of view, dark days are ahead of us in Kurdistan. We have neither judiciary nor parliament at the moment. The regional president's term is over but remains in power illegally."