STRUGGLES

It started 40 years ago. It’s not just in this
region, it’s not just Rojava and Bakur. It's in
all four parts ofKurdistan. Until now we
have some tactical considerations, but we
mustn’t forget that the main power is the
self-power ofKurdish people. Our leader,
Öcalan, said that there are two systems: one
system is capitalist modernity and one is
democratic modernity**.
From the 70s the leadership ofthe PKK
struggled against the imperialist Turkish
government and the other imperialist
governments. Other countries support the
Turkish government in political and
diplomatic ways. They have tried to stop our
struggle but we have created the revolution
in Rojava.
We need the revolutionaries, the
democratic people living in Europe,
to support us because all people
who believe in democracy have to
work together.
In Rojava, the US supported us, but only
after a long time. Yes, they sent their planes
but after maybe 45 days. It was the selfpower
ofthe YPG and YPJ [People's
Protection Units] that was successful.
CW: What can we do outside ofKurdistan in
solidarity?
just for the Kurdish people and Rojava but
for all the world. In the Middle East the
Kurdish people can stop ISIS. Ifyou help us
to change the PKK's situation in Europe,
maybe it can be a support not just for
Kurdish people but also for life in the
future. ISIS will not stop. They will try to do
more and more. Solidarity is not just for
Kurdish people but for all ofthe world.
Notes:
*People in Bakur often refer to 'the party' without
stating clearly which party they are referring to.
This may be because there are a constellation of
closely aligned political parties, civil society
groups and social movements working toward
shared goals. The movement for democratic
autonomy is supported by the People's
Democratic Party (HDP), who have 59 seats in
the Turkish parliament and are in control of
many municipalities in Bakur. Another party,
the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), does not
stand in elections, but works toward the
establishment ofdemocratic autonomy. The PKK
also supports it.
** In Abdullah Öcalan's writing, the term
'capitalist modernity' is used to describe the
Western capitalist system, which he says was
imposed on the Middle-East in the 19th century.
'Democratic modernity' is the term used to
describe the alternative model ofsociety he is
proposing.
democratic autonomyin bakur
The PKK is in the list ofterrorist
organisations in Europe and the US. We
want people to campaign to remove the PKK
from this list. We think this is the first
priority.
We believe that ISIS is a great danger, not
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