PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) Executive Council Member Murat Karayılan spoke on the current affairs in a special programme he attended in Stêrk TV.

Karayılan commented on the issue of raising the South Kurdistan flag in Kirkuk and said the followings:

“Turkey raised hell when the decision to raise South Kurdistan flag alongside Iraqi flag in Kirkuk was made. Erdoğan bases his current war plan against us on starting a war in Shengal or other regions together with KDP. Therefore, he does not say “We will enter Kirkuk” that much openly and harshly but he says what he wants to say through MHP Leader Devlet Bahçeli.

Bahçeli recently said that 'Barzani can never be an ally but he will only account to the pelt underneath our feet”. He uttered these words for the KDP leader, which clearly reveals that they are enemies of the Kurdish people. They would manifest this stance of theirs more openly if it wasn't for us today. It is us that defend northern, southern and other parts of Kurdistan today. If it wasn't for us, they would certainly say 'We will enter Kirkuk'. This is what they mean to. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım defends already that 'The UN should treat this issue'. With these words, he means 'The Turkmens there must be defended, our troops must march there'. They will do this eventually anyway. They would try to march to Kirkuk now if it wasn't for us but now that they are in war with us and they want to have the KDP fight alongside themselves against us, they cannot express such intentions of theirs openly. They just utter threats by speaking softly but carrying a big stick.”

Karayılan also spoke about the upcoming referendum of April 16 in Turkey, stressing that a new period will begin in Turkey should the peoples of Turkey vote 'No' and this 'No' outcome triumph over 'Yes'.

Karayılan continued: “A 'No' outcome of the referendum will mark the beginning of a new era in which all the authorities will not be held by one single person, democratic methods will be discussed and such pursuits could develop. This will be a huge blow against the fascist wave that the AKP-MHP alliance wants to enhance. The AKP-MHP will go into a decline and the way to social democracy will be paved. For this reason, this referendum could become a ground for new beginnings. To this end, our people should work with hope and commitment, and manifest their 'No' stance in an organized manner. It appears at the moment that 'No' will triumph. Should there be no fraudulence and trick, 'No' will triumph in both Kurdistan and Turkey. This is what the course of affairs indicates at the moment.

This wave of fascism is an atrocity for the Turkish people as much as it is for the Kurdistan people. They want to perpetuate the system of fascism and consolidate the dictatorship which is a danger for the peoples of Turkey and all the otherised circles, Alevis in the first place. For this reason, all the circles in Turkey should consider these points and say not 'yes' but 'no' to them. Everyone that opposes dictatorship should be able to say 'no'. Everyone should listen to their conscience and make the right choice.”