The operation launched by Turkey on April 23 in the Federated Kurdistan Region's Metîna and Avaşîn areas has left 6th month behind. Parallel to these operations, forces affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) were deployed in the Metîna region. The KDP forces, which have been acting together with Turkey recently, have also started to participate in the operations. The directors and members of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) also held a series of meetings with Kurdish parties and organizations to reduce the tension that the KDP had increased in the region.

 

Parallel to the military operations in the Federated Kurdistan Region, airstrikes continue against Shengal, the land of the Yazidis. With the Shengal Agreement signed between Baghdad and the regional government on October 9, 2020, it is sought to re-determine the status of Shengal and remove Êzîdxan Asayish (Public order) from the area.

 

Co-chair of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK), Ahmet Karamus, who works on Kurdish national unity, answered our questions about the threats of the KDP and Turkey on Shengal.

 

The Shengal agreement, signed last year, caused a public outcry. Although it is said that an agreement was signed between the KDP from the Federated Kurdistan Region and the central government, the names of other countries are also mentioned in the agreement. Who was this agreement signed between?

 

This is not only an agreement between the KDP and the central government, but also an agreement signed with the instruction of Turkey.

 

The agreement signed for Shengal on October 9, 2020 was signed against the will of the people. There is no representation of the Yazidis in this agreement, and their demands were not heard. This is not only an agreement between the KDP and the central government, but also an agreement signed with the instruction of Turkey. Turkey has a lot of influence on this agreement. The KDP cannot do anything without Turkey. They act together in all areas. The partners of this agreement are Iraq, Iran and Turkey. From the very beginning, the Turkish state's threats and pressures against Shengal continues. A possible attack on Shengal is also likely in the very near future. It seems that the Turkish state and the KDP can no longer tolerate the existence of Shengal. The most striking example of this is 2014 during the ISIS attack. We saw clearly that KDP did not defend the Yazidis against ISIS back then.

 

What is the Yazidi community's take about the KDP?  

 

The autonomous status of Shengal is a national opportunity for us. This was necessary for the Shengalese to govern and protect themselves and gain status against external threats. There have been forces positioned around Shengal for years, and a status was needed to protect Shengal. Not only militarily, but also economically, socially and educationally, Shengal had to become an autonomous area in order to govern itself. So far, no one has helped Shengal. Yazidis faced the same challenges during Saddam's regime. At that time, Yazidis needed to declare their autonomy. This is still a problem. When ISIS came and attacked Shengal, the peshmerga could not protect Shengal. Everyone knew about the intolerance of ISIS towards different religions. For this reason, there were many KDP peshmerga forces positioned in Shengal. However, when the Yazidis faced this danger, the peshmerga left the area without firing a single bullet and fled. This situation should not be repeated again. In this context, Yazidis do not trust KDP forces. The KDP is not a force that serves and respects Yazidis. But it still imposes itself on the Yazidis. Therefore, we see the Shengal issue as a national issue. This cannot be solved by the will of the KDP alone. The people of Shengal must trust the KDP, but there are no grounds for it. Establishing this trust cannot be achieved by taking sides with the Turkish state once every two days.

 

Is someone directing the KDP, which insists on taking control of Shengal?

 

Today, the fact that KDP is acting together with foreign powers is widely discussed. Aren't the forces stationed in Shengal, the forces of the central government? The forces in Shengal does not belong to one single country. There are other forces as well. Why isn't the KDP trying to settle in other regions other than Shengal? The KDP's desire to enter Shengal is entirely with the instruction of Turkey. Wherever the KDP enters, the Turkish state will settle there. Because the KDP is paving the way for Turkey to invade. Today, there are Turkish forces in all areas under the control of the KDP in Southern Kurdistan. The insistence of the KDP to enter Shengal is actually on Turkey's demand. Turkish state forces and agents are deployed around Shengal. At the same time, the Turkish state wants to unite Turkmen and Arabs in Mosul. It also wants to take Shengal under its control with these forces. They aim to destroy all the gains that the people of Shengal have achieved through great efforts and struggles. Turkey and the KDP are  major threats to Yazidis. These forces that left the people of Shengal to be slaughtered by ISIS and fled will always be approached with suspicion before they provide confidence.

 

Are there other countries behind the KDP's desire to enter Shengal?

 

Yes, there are other foreign powers that have interests like Turkey, and they definitely want the KDP to enter Shengal. It is known that these powers made secret agreements among themselves. Because until now, none of the threats of Turkey was confronted or stopped so far. They aim to eliminate the will and the representation of the people of Shengal. When the representation and existence of the people of Shengal is eliminated, the Yazidis will face a new massacre. These forces, which do not want the Yazidis to establish their own autonomy, want the KDP to take control of Shengal. Today, the KDP's position in defending the interests of the Kurds and Kurdistan is questionable. That's why international forces are involved and they want the Shengal agreement to be implemented unconditionally. Today there is a fierce battle between Kurdish forces and Turkey. The Turkish state is currently violating national laws with the use of chemical weapons. It uses the most modern weapons. But international powers remains silent in the face of this violation. We need to take a firm stand against them. What does the states that want this agreement to be implemented do for the Yazidis?

 

What needs to be done for the Kurds to have a status?

 

A national policy should be pursued in all four parts of Kurdistan. The Turkish government uses the KDP as a tool for its own ends. Political status cannot be obtained through tribal methods. The KDP is not protecting anyone but its own family. The Barzani family did something that is not seen anywhere else in the world. They've made billions of dollars in these last 30 years. This wealth they gained was not obtained in a legitimate way. This wealth is contrary to the protection of national interests. One third of this wealth is under the control of the Turkish state. The Turkish state is also using it against the KDP. We want to work together with the KDP to protect national unity and national interests. Standing against the Kurdish people will not do us any good. Of course, there are differences of opinions among the Kurds. Therefore, our perspective on the solution may be different. But first we have to be united. It is necessary to know the aims of nation-states well. We must put aside our problems and conflicts and resolve the current problem through dialogue. What is necessary for us Kurds is unity and solidarity. Today the enemy is sacrificing us to their own interests. When they are done with us tomorrow, they'll forget about us and completely liquidate our existence. 

 

 

 

MA / Zeynep Durgut