2. The village guard system should be reinforced

The village guard system is one of the most substantial defense mechanisms that have dealt a major blow to the PKK in the Southeast. The beautiful Kurdish community of the Southeast risked their lives for years but never gave free passage to the communist terror organization that made its way by exploiting the notion of Kurdish nationalism. Even during the period when the Ergenekon terror organization was committing ruthless persecution in the region – this topic will be articulated in subsequent parts – they did not lose heart; getting strength from their fear of God, their faith, and love for their homeland and nation, they turned their bodies into shields. A majority of the provinces and villages of the Southeast at no time turned into a hearth and home for the PKK due to the courageous and brave struggle of these unnamed heroes, and it was not even possible for the PKK to take a step into these territories. A total of 70,000 village guards loyal to their nation have paid service against the PKK militants and many of our village guards were martyred on that account when the PKK targeted their families and raided their villages. Despite all this, our village guards duly performed their duties for the country with no fear, having faith that their lives are for God and in submission to our Lord, holding their heads up all the time.

Since the past, the village guard system has been one of the most effective systems that dealt the hardest blow on the PKK. Therefore, at times of ceasefire the primary request of the PKK has always been to disband this unit. That is why the village guard system should definitely be strengthened with more protection and its conditions should be improved.

If we pay close attention, it is the village guards that caused the PKK run into difficulties and disturbances throughout its history. According to the amendment made in Village Law number 422 on March 26th, 1985 the Temporary Village Guard system was enacted. Right after the villages on the side of the state attained village guard status, the PKK pointed its treacherous guns at the village guards, and even further, raided their villages and slaughtered their spouses, elders and children. This is further evidence affirming that the PKK is a perfidious terror organization that shoots against innocent women, children and elderly people and sets houses with babies in cradles on fire, not only defenseless soldiers or village guards. As a matter of fact, Öcalan singled out the village guards and their families in many of his instructions, and ordered the following: “We have to circumvent them including their villages, in person and their families. They have to be reproached with a special setting of revenge. We cannot ignore them; suppression is imperative."

The numbers given by Ümit Özdağ in his book are dreadfully gruesome:

In this period when the PKK’s revolutionary violence knew no limits, a total of 799 civilians were massacred including 243 babies and children, and 172 women. At the end of this term, the village guards had given 1,614 martyrs in total. And 1,856 of the village guards turned out to be veterans.

The “Kurdism” propaganda of the PKK and how it manipulates people through its exploitation of Kurdish nationalist sentiment is completely invalidated with the fact of the village guard system. The majority of our village guards are of Kurdish and Zaza origin. Ata Altın, the General Coordinator of Temporary Village Guards Association and Federation of Families of Martyrs, has stated that the village guards incorporate a body of one million including their family members, and “are of Kurdish origin and speak in Kurdish language. They live by the Kurdish culture, but do not want terrorism or separation.”

Adem Çakmak, the Chief Village Guard in Ergani Kortaş Village, gives this affable testimony:

We are on the side of the state. I was the first one to arm in Ergani, two years ago. We were against the PKK then, and still we are. We have been armed to prevent the loss of this land. Some rascals are not allowed to get some weapons in their hands and declare these territories to be “Kurdistan”. We do not accept this, and we are not in denial of our origins here. We are also Kurds, but not separatists.

Ümit Özdağ, PKK ile Pazarlık, (Negotiating with the PKK), Kripto Yayıncılık, 2013, p. 126Ibid., p. 127Ibid., p.. 137Ibid., p. 138

The Chairman of the Fraternal Association for Preserving Rights of Temporary Village Guards says: "While we were on duty, the PKK was looking for a place to hide. There was no such thing as the PKK.”

In all its specifications for disarmament throughout its history, the PKK has insisted on the abolition of the village guard system as the primary principle and asked for its quick implementation. It may be recalled that during the scope of the Solution Process, a similar list of conditions was imposed by the PKK, including ten provisions that particularly aimed at the village guards under the title, “socio-economic dimensions of the Solution Process.” According to this provision, the requirement was “... to eliminate all socio-economic problems that emerged during the 30-year long armed conflict such as the village guard system and evacuated villages.” This provision actually points out to this fact again that the village guard system is obviously the soft spot of the PKK and a pain in their heart.

In these circumstances, the case of village guards should be handled more seriously by our state. The village guard systems should be fortified more seriously, and the number of village guards should be multiplied two folds, in addition to their being under further protection and support of our state. Village guards should be equipped with powerful weapons, and laws should be enforced to allow for their carrying arms wherever they go. Their salaries should be improved with new arrangements and the conditions of their living with their families in a secure environment must be in assurance. It is known that our government is currently working on this matter and these efforts are delighting us. The fact that temporary village guards are not covered by the social security services is a grave issue, which needs to be resolved right away and the required insurance coverage has to be put into effect immediately. These people have risked their lives for the good pleasure of God and in the name of their nation. Therefore, if they are injured in any way, their goodness and welfare of their families and their being protected under social security should be under the responsibility of the state. It is of great significance that village guards should not be bereaved of their weapons after retirement because it is known that the PKK designates these people as enemies, and anticipates a time when they will have no defense. For that reason leaving these people unguarded would mean putting them in the crosshairs of the PKK. By paying a certain salary even in their retirement, they should be guaranteed a prosperous life with their families.

Time after time, there should be gatherings for consultation with our village guards who have directly taken part in the struggle against the PKK for 20 years, and their experience and intelligence should be evaluated on a continual basis. It is a widely known practice that soldiers act together with the village guards, as the soldiers are not so well informed about the lay of the land. Therefore, it is obvious from all aspects how influential the village guards are.

A spectacular view from Şanliurfa.

More frequent acts of kidnappings and the taking of hostages are more evidence of how the PKK is disturbed by the village guard system. However, such incidents sometimes result in the martyrdom of our village guards since they are not guarded adequately. What's more, for a long time, our village guards are being intimidated and terrorized by the PKK by means of threatening letters. In these letters of intimidation it writes, “Enemy! Give back your weapon, so that you may have the right to live in Kurdistan!” Thus the arms given by the state are described as weapons of the enemy while the Southeast of our country is called Kurdistan. While this recklessness is persisting, ignoring the current incidents in the Southeast would be against all rationality and conscience.

The following statements by the Chairman of the Fraternal Association for Preserving Rights of Temporary Village Guards on A9 Television are highly significant:

While we were on duty, and when our state was in need of us, and we were right in charge of our struggle, the PKK would look for a place to hide on encountering us. There was no such thing as the PKK then.

It is obvious that the village guard system is one of the vital systems that both the PKK fears and feels desperately about. The manner in which our President attaches significance to this matter is clearly observed in his meeting with the village guards. The government should preserve this sensibility and the village guards should be assured of the continuous support of the state.