Page 303 - America's Failure to Perceive the PKK

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. 119

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-eco-
nomic dimensions of the Solution Process." According to this provi-
sion, the requirement was "... to eliminate all socio-economic prob-
lems 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 obvious-
ly the soft spot of the PKK and a pain in their heart.
In these circumstances, the case of village guards should be han-

dled 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 protec-
tion 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

Adnan Oktar (Harun Yahya) 301