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March/April 2015 , Issue 1 | Volume 9
KHRAG NEWS
KHRAG
Kurdish Human Rights Action Group South Africa
Volume 9 | Issue 1 | March/April 2015
www.khrag.org
Editorial
FORWARD WITH
THE STRUGGLE
Huge multitudes of Kurdish people gathered for Newroz celebrations in Ahmed
(Diyarbakir) in Turkey on 21 March. See story on page three
Peace process in Turkey
moves up a gear
A join statement by the Kurdish
People’s Democratic Party and the
ruling AKP has given new impetus
to the peace process in Turkey.
THE statement was issued last month (see full
statement on page 4).
This is the latest in a series of developments
that have marked the on-off peace process that
would seek to resolve the Kurdish question in
Turkey and beyond.
Following the collapse of the Oslo Peace Talks
in 2011, Archbishop Desmond Tutu with the support of a number of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates
and international leaders, in December 2012,
made a call on the then Prime Minister of Turkey,
Tayyip Erdogan and the PKK leader, Abdullah
Ocalan, to resume the peace talks.
The talks were resumed in January 2013
between the Turkish government and Ocalan.
The talks resulted in a declaration on Newroz (21
March 2013) by Ocalan announcing a ceasefire
and the unilateral suspension of the armed struggle and the withdrawal of the PKK armed guerillas
from Turkey. The ceasefire has held since then.
In September 2013, Erdogan reciprocated by
announcing measures for a reform package that
was aimed at kick-starting the peace process.
This was followed in July 2014 by the passing
of the legal framework, the aim of which was to
legitimize the peace process and normalise the
political situation in the country.
In September 2014 ISIS, which was part of the
coalition forces in Syria fighting the Assad regime
and supported by the West and certain Arab
countries attacked KOBANI, a Kurdish dominated
enclave in Syria with heavy artillery, tanks and
armoured vehicles which they had seized from the
Iraqi army. The attack was repulsed by the Peoples
Defence Units (YPD) and the Women’s Defence
Units (YPJ)
However the attack on KOBANI had negatively impacted on the peace process in Turkey
and had resulted in the talks being stalled. There
were rumours that the Turkish government was
supporting ISIS, which they denied. However on
1 October 2014 a delegation from the HDP who
had visited Ocalan in prison issued a press statement on behalf of Ocalan on the siege on KOBANI
and the peace process. In the statement Ocalan
emphasised that the reality of KOBANI and the
Peace Process is indivisible. He affirmed that the
...Continued on page 2
THE struggle by the Kurdish people for
self-determination is reaching a crucial
stage.
In Turkey, where the biggest group of
Kurds live – some 20 million of the 40
million global Kurdish population – the
prospects for a peaceful negotiated
settlement are looking up.
Last month, the HDP and the ruling
AKP had a joint press conference and issued a joint statement on the elements
of a peace process. For the last few
years there has been an on-off peace
process which included a unilateral
ceasefire by the Kurdistan Workers Party
(PKK) and legislation being passed in
the Turkish parliament that provides a
framework for peace talks.
The expansion of ISIS to the Kurdish
areas of Syria and Iraq stalled the peace
process with the Kurds accusing Ankara
of giving support to the Islamists. This
the Turkish authorities vehemently
denied.
The celebration of the Kurdish New
year had a distinctly political flavour as
millions of Kurds gathered to express
their cultural rights and assert their
demands for full political rights.
Newroz was celebrated across the
Middle East and Europe and also in
Cape Town, South Africa where the
Kurdish Human Rights Action Group is
based.
The challenges are huge: political
prisoners must be released, including
Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan and
exiles must come home. Anti-terror
legislation must be scrapped and a
new constitution has to be drafted and
adopted.
As in South Africa, there is likely to
be a period of instability with antipeace forces trying to create havoc.
The leadership of Turkey and the
Kurdish movements have to manage
the next phase skilfully in order that a
just peace may ensue.
As we at KHRAG have previously
said; Peace will be hard to accomplish,
but there is no other alternative.
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Volume 9 | Issue 1, March/April 2015
Signature campaign supported across the world
10.4 MILLION PEOPLE DEMAND OCALAN’S RELEASE
MORE than 10 million people worldwide
have put their support behind a campaign to
release Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan from a
prison in Turkey.
Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) was abducted in Kenya in
1999 while he was heading to South Africa
to seek political asylum. He was sentenced to
death in Turkey for treason, a sentence which
was later commuted to one of life imprisonment. He has been held on an Island prison
Imrali, off the Istanbul coast, ever since.
The international signature campaign went
all over the world - to Africa, the Middle East,
Asia, Australia, Latin America and the USA.
The petition has also been signed by wellknown figures in the world such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, philosopher Immanuel
Wallerstein and Irish leader Gerry Adams, to
name a few.
The Kurdish Human Rights Action Group
in South Africa started its own signature
campaign on Human Rights Day in 2012 and
collected thousands of signatures. KHRAG
then joined the international campaign, which
was spearheaded by The Freedom For Ocalan
group, based in Cologne, Germany.
The campaign calls for the release of
Ocalan and for human rights for the Kurdish
people. The Kurds have suffered various forms
of oppression ever since Kurdistan was carved
up by the British and French after the First
World War. A long struggle for self-determination has been waged over many decades.
The petition was handed over to the Council of Europe on Friday 13 February. Father
Matt Esau, vice-chair of KHRAG, was present
and describes what happened.
“When we stood outside the Council of
Europe on Friday 13 February 2015 at 10.30
on that cold autumn morning the determination of the Kurdish people who were there
- some had walked for twelve days across
Europe - was one of resolute determination”,
he said.
“In the continuing imprisonment of Mr
Ocalan, in solitary confinement, the Council
of Europe had failed the Kurdish people by
taking no action to have Mr Ocalan released
and removing him and the PKK from the ’Terrorist list,” he said.
On Saturday 14 February between 50, 000
and 80,000 Kurdish people converged on
the city of Strasbourg, France and marched
about 5 kilometres to a sports stadium for a
rally which started at 1pm and ended at 7pm.
Included in the march were representatives
from England, France, Germany, Brussels and
South Africa. The rally was as clear as the day
before, standing in their traditional clothing
in the autumn sun, Kurds and their supporters
danced and sang and called for the release of
Abdullah Ocalan.
Kurds and their supporters gathered in Strasbourg, France for a rally and to
hand over a petition to the European Union.
Addressing the crowd, Father Esau said;
“We had Nelson Mandela in prison for 27
years. South Africans protested had rallies and
support from the International community
including the Kurdish people in calling for his
release and the unbanning of our liberation
movements. Nelson Mandela was imprisoned
on Robben Island. So is Abdullah Ocalan
imprisoned on Imrali Island! Nelson Mandela
did not renounce his people! Abdullah Ocalan
did not renounce his people he is still leading
his people from Imrali. Nelson Mandela was
released from prison after twenty seven years
and he became the first President of a united
South Africa. Abdullah Ocalan must be released now, 15 years is too long! He must be
released so that he can be part of negotiating
a new future for the Kurdish people and for
Turkey. Release Ocalan now! Now is the time!
‘Ke na ko’ “
...Continuation from page 1
peace process is still on track. He said that
the priority is to frame a Road Map and an
Action Plan to implement the terms of the
Legal Framework adopted by the Turkish
parliament in July 2014.
In June 2014 the Chairperson of the Kurdish Human Rights Action Group led a factfinding mission to Turkey on behalf of the
International Peace and Reconciliation Initiative (IPRI) on the status of the Peace Process.
The Executive Summary and the Findings and
Recommendations can be downloaded from
the IPRI website: www.ipr-initiative.
com The Report concludes as follows:
“The successful conclusion of the peace
process can also contribute to the democratization of the Turkish state and its society.
It can have a positive and beneficial effect
and impact on the neighbouring countries
that are experiencing conflict and strife. The
circumstances in the neighbouring countries
dictate that Turkey finds a lasting solution
to the Kurdish problem in Turkey to enable it
to contribute to peaceful political solutions.
Turkey cannot play a meaningful role in the
Middle East whilst the Kurdish issue in Turkey
remains unresolved. Let us resolve this issue
for the common good of all.”
On 28 February 2015 the HDP Imrali
prison delegation who consulted Ocalan and
representatives of the AKP government held
a joint press conference on the peace process. Details on the statement including a 10
point programme put forward by the Kurds
are contained in a story on page four.
The joint press conference and statement
by the Kurds and the Turks – the first after 40
years of conflict – represents a positive sign
for the prospect of peaceful resolution of the
Kurdish question.
3
March/April 2015 , Issue 1 | Volume 9
Newroz celebrated in Cape Town
Millions around the world mark Kurdish New year
KURDS across the world celebrated the Kurdish New Year on 21 March with greater vigour
and in bigger numbers than ever before.
In Diyarbakir, Turkey, the heartland of the
Kurdish population, more than two million
gathered for festivities. Newroz was also
celebrated in Iran, Iraq, and Syria and across
Europe where there are big expatriate Kurdish
communities.
Newroz has great cultural and social value
and in recent years it has become an opportunity for Kurds to assert their demands for
political freedoms.
In Cape Town, the Kurdish Human Rights
Action Group, working with local Kurds
marked Newroz at the Cape Town Festival in
the Company’s Garden and at Baran’s Kurdish
Restaurant.
Kurds Alina Jabbari and Cido Yildiz donned
Kurdish outfits and distributed leaflets about
the history of Newroz. Later, about 40 people
from Haven night shelters enjoyed some
Kurdish food and watched a movie at Baran’s.
Many Kurds and their South African supporters joined in at both venues.
The Kurdish New Year is celebrated during
the spring equinox on 21 March.
Newroz, the ancient annual festival,
symbolises the triumph of light over darkness,
the celebration of new life and freedom from
oppression. Newroz dates back 5000 years.
After the First World War, Britain and France
partitioned Kurdistan, leaving the Kurds
without a homeland. Since then, Kurds have
been culturally and politically oppressed. As
a result, Newroz was not openly celebrated
until recently.
Throughout Kurdistan and elsewhere,
Newroz celebrations in a previous year
Cido Yildiz, Elizabeth Schutter and Alina Jabbari in the
Company’s Garden, Cape
Town, South Africa, where
Newroz was celebrated.
The lit fires represent victory over evil
millions of people gather each year to enjoy
music, food, dance, and the opportunity to
celebrate Kurdish cultural traditions. Others
celebrate it as exiles from oppression far away
from their oppressive homelands.
This is year 2715 on the Kurdish calendar,
which began with the mythology of the evil
King Zahak, who killed children to cure a disease. Kawa, who had lost six sons to Zahak,
went up to the king’s castle and slew him.
People lit fires everywhere.
For the Kurdish people, this story represents their oppression and liberation. Ever
since, the lighting of the fires on the mountains has become a sign of freedom.
This year the Newroz events take place in
the shadow of the rise of ISIS in Kurdish areas
in northern Syria and Iraq. But the Kurds will
be inspired by the strength of their unity in
action that has driven the aggressor back.
Kurds will also be cautiously optimistic
A bonfire burns during the Newroz
celebrations this year
that the imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah
Ocalan could be free in the not so distant future as a negotiated peace becomes a distinct
possibility.
The celebration of Newroz this year will
take place in a spirit of solidarity and hope
that the Kurdish people will finally find peace
and justice.
In Cape Town, KHRAG invited people
from Haven night shelters to participate in the celebrations.
4
Volume 9 | Issue 1, March/April 2015
Kurdish News Briefs
UK presses terrorism charges
against 18-year-old woman from
Kurdish community
WHILE the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) is
still listed on UK’s list of ‘terrorist’ organisations, the government continues to
criminalise Kurdish people within their own
borders as well. Silan Ozcelik, an 18-yearold woman living in London is charged for
possibly trying to join the Kurdish resistance
against ISIS in northern Syria.
It is claimed that the UK holds double
standards when they praise the YPG and YPJ
for their efforts and victory fighting ISIS, and
arresting a young Kurdish Woman for
joining YPJ.
Further reading: http://www.
independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/
silhan-ozcelik-disgusting-trial-for-youngwoman-who-tried-to-fight-againstisis-10105004.html
Support grows for peace process
The Objective Research Centre (ORC)
based in Ankara claim that support for the
reconciliation process increased from 54.3
percent to 67.5 percent. The ORC also surveyed the nation’s opinion on the presidential
system that current President Erdogan aims to
switch to.
Further reading: http://www.dailysabah.com/kurdish-issue/2015/03/09/support-for-turkeys-reconciliation-processon-the-rise-poll-indicates
Kurds are assisted by Syrian
rebels in their fight against ISIS
COMMANDER of Liwaa al-Tawhid said to
ARA News: “We were waiting for the Kurdish
forces to advance in order to fight by their
side against ISIS terrorists.”
This happened after the Kurdish fighters
gained control over the Shuyoukh district
(west of Kobane.
Further reading: http://aranews.
net/2015/03/syrian-rebels-to-assistkurds-in-fight-against-isis/
KHRAG
Peace could be “propaganda
tool”
Demirtas warns Turkey may be using Kurdish peace process as election tool
With the elections coming up in Turkey
on 7 June, Demirtas (HDP) expressed his
pessimism about the ruling party’s (AKP)
attitude towards the Kurdish peace process,
fearing that it will be used as a “propaganda
tool”. “The government is in a mood like (the
process) is done. The perception on disarmament is wrong. I do not think the AKP will
take steps on democracy”.
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/
demonstration three days after, in Diyarbakir.
You can sign the petition calling for Ozgur’s
release at: Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag: Release Kurdish journalist Ozgur Amed
from prison.
http://dissidentvoice.org/2015/03/
turkish-state-attempts-to-silence-thoseprotesting-its-massacre-of-roboskivillagers/
turkey/02032015
US responds positive on Ocalan’s
call to lay down arms.
ALTHOUGH the US, together with the European Union and Turkey, still considers the
PKK to be a terrorist organisation, the State
Department deputy spokesperson Marie Harf
expressed that the US welcomes all steps in
support of a peaceful resolution between the
Kurds and the Turks. Because the move comes
before key parliamentary elections and in the
midst of an intense debate over the security
bill, observers have expressed some concerns.
The spokeswoman said that they will “certainly be watching” as there are still more
details to be fleshed out that the US does not
know about.
http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_us-welcomes-pkk-leaders-call-tolay-down-arms_374146.html
Sign the petition calling for
Ozgur’s release
BECAUSE of his political activism on behalf
of the Kurdish people, Kurdish journalist and
writer Ozgur Amed has recently been sentenced to 3 years in prison. He was charged
by the 7th Criminal High Court of Diyarbakir
on: “committing an illegal organization crime
while not being an illegal organization member”. On the 28th of December a Turkish war
plane massacred 34 Kurdish civilians in the
Roboski village, and Ozgur participated in a
Office 4 & 5, St George’s
Cathedral Building, 1 Queen
Victoria Street, Cape Town
8000, SOUTH AFRICA
email: [email protected]
web: www.khrag.org
“To all women: develop self
defence mechanisms and strongly resist male dominance”
THE Kurdish Women’s Movement International Office issued a statement on International
Women’s day calling upon women to protect
and defend themselves. The statement further
stressed that the attacks on women have
enormously increased, in the Middle East
through the savagery of ISIS, and increased
due to the wars of the 21st century all around
the world. “This revolution rising against inequality, sexism and violence of all types will
grow in our day and continue to preserve the
values of humanity”, added the statement.
http://anfenglish.com/women/
women-need-self-defence-forces-morethan-ever
To Donate
KHRAG
Nedbank
Cape Town
ACC No. 1009 9317 33
Branch Code. 100909