SIRNAK - Reminding that thousands of people joined the peshmerga in the Barzani family's revolt against Saddam, a former volunteer peshmerge said, "Erdogan's only dream is to reach the borders of the Ottoman Empire once again. Their main purpose is to occupy the lands of Bashur Kurdistan.” 

 

Turkey's attacks against the Zap, Metîna and Avaşîn regions of the Federated Kurdistan Region in cooperation with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) continue. Unable to make progress on the border line, Turkey continues its air and ground attacks over the KDP-controlled areas. The KDP, which deployed the Gulan and Zerewani forces under its control in TUrkey's help, began to put pressure on the peshmerga. Peshmerga refusing to participate in the attacks, are dismissed by the order of the Prime Minister of the Federated Kurdistan Region, Mesrur Barzani. 

 

THE BARZANI’S REVOLT AGAINST SADDAM

 

Condemnations continue against the KDP, which continues its attacks on the Federated Kurdistan Region in cooperation with Turkey. The citizen, who lives in Elemûnê village of Şirnex on the border line, was a voluntary peshmerga from 1976 to 1980 and did not reveal his name for security reasons, spoke about the difficulties faced by the Kurds living in the Federated Kurdistan Region. Reminding the Barzani family's revolt against Saddam, the former peshmerga said, "In 1976, the Barzanis rebelled against Saddam Hussein's oppression. The Kurds living in Bashur started a struggle for their own freedom. Under the command of Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi army launched a massacre against the Kurdish people. During that period, the Kurds went through very difficult times. Thousands of people were displaced. Thousands of Kurds living on the border had to cross over to Turkey. Kurdish tribes living along Turkey's border also supported the Bashur Kurds. Some of the Bashur Kurds were given houses, and some people took them into their own houses. They also helped those who could not cross the border by sending them food etc.”

 

THEY JOINED THE PÊSHMERGE AGAINST SADDAM

 

Reminding that the Iraqi army loyal to Saddam Hussein came to the Turkish border and attacked the Kurds living in the Federated Kurdistan Region, the former peshmerga said, “All the Kurds stood up against Saddam Hussein's oppression. It was a very difficult time. At that time, the military strength of the Kurds was weak. All Kurds living in Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria are one. There is no difference between any of them. People rebelled. Everyone took their own weapons and rushed to the aid of the Bashur Kurds. 17 people from our village took up arms and joined the peshmerga. We joined a team of 80 Kurds from Bashur. A total of 97 people were holding a place, but of these 97 people, only 17 of us, who came from Turkey, had guns. The others had no weapons. Over time, everyone had weapon and the Kurds started to gain ground. We fought together with the Bashur Kurds against Saddam Hussein's army for 4 years." 

 

Saying, “I voluntarily fought for the Bashur lands for 4 years,” the former peshmerge said, “Our material and moral support continued even after the armed struggle was over. When we fought for 4 years as the Peshmerga, we only got the razor fee. We didn't expect anything anyway. We were buying our guns, cartridges, and bread from our own family. When the Kurds succeeded in their struggle against Saddam, we came back to our house.” 

 

'TURKEY’S AIMS TO RE-ESTABLISH OTTOMAN BORDERS'

 

Expressing that the resistance of the Kurds in the Federated Kurdistan Region started with Mele Mustafa Barzani, the former peshmerge said: “Now, the era of his son and nephew has begun. They are sitting down with Erdogan. Erdogan offers them various promises, but Erdogan's only dream is to reach the borders of the Ottoman Empire again. Today, they are entering Bashur lands claiming they are fighting the PKK, but their main aim is to occupy the lands of Bashur Kurdistan. They occupy the mountains on Bashur territory every day. What will happen when they occupy all the mountains? After the mountains, they will attack the cities. Even if the PKK ends, Turkey will never leave those lands again because the main purpose is to invade that region for itself.”

 

‘KURDS MUST REBEL’

 

Expressing that thousands of people from the region are volunteering to join the peshmerga in order for the Federated Kurdistan Region to gain a status, the former peshmerga said, “To act together with Erdogan and help the Barzani family in the occupation of Kurdistan is treason. Thousands of people voluntarily fought for them with their own weapons so that the Bashur Kurds could have a status. Many people died. But today the Barzanis are giving those lands to Turkey on a silver plate. And he is doing this by fighting against his Kurdish brothers from the Turkish side of the border. Today, all Kurds must rebel against this. The Barzanis must return from their betrayal as soon as possible. Whether we win or lose, we Kurds are brothers and sisters. The four parts of Kurdistan must be united against this invasion and betrayal." 

 

 

 

MA / Omer Akin