I Do Not Believe That A People Fighting For It's Right To Self-
Determination Can Be Called "Terrorist"

Kurdistan Report Interview With Nabi Gadery, European
Representative Of The KDP-I/RL (Kurdistan Democratic Party-
Iran/Revolutionary Leadership)

You have participated in the opening of the Kurdistan Parliament-
in-Exile in The Hague on April 12, 1995? What is your opinion about
the Kurdistan Parliament-in-Exile?

     This parliament represents the Kurds from Turkey. No doubt it
will contribute towards greater awareness of the plight of the
Kurds in Europe and the rest of the world. We should not forget
that Kurdish parliamentarians who are members of this parliament,
were legally elected by the Kurdish people in Turkey. We expect
that those parliamentarians who have already spoken for the Kurdish
people in Turkey will do the same within the framework of the
Parliament-in-Exile.

Are there any representatives from the Iranian part of Kurdistan in
this parliament?

     No, there are no Kurds from Iran represented in this
parliament. We participated as observers in the founding session of
the parliament.

Autonomy or independence for Kurds? What, in your view, are the
tasks the Parliament-in-Exile should carry out?

     Surely that is the decision of the parliament. It depends on
the concrete situation to decide which steps are necessary to take.
It must know and decide what solution it needs to work for, be that
autonomy, federation or an independent state for the Kurdish
people. Changing developments require changing decisions.
     At the same time I want to emphasize that we, the Kurds, do in
fact have the right to our own state. But it is important that this
parliament is not determined by only one party or organisation and
that it maintains its sense of reality. It must be a democratic
institution, everyone must be able to express their opinions in
order to jointly reach decisions.

There are voices in Europe who claim that there are terrorist
organisations represented in this parliament and that the Kurds
will try - in particular in Germany - to resolve the problems with
"terrorist means".

     There is a lot of talk about "terrorism". It always depends
who uses it. I believe there is it lot of confusion on this issue.
There are indeed states who act like terrorists and use dictatorial
measures in order to maintain power for a minority and to oppress
the people. But they are not called terrorists, on the contrary,
they enjoy diplomatic relations and they are recognised as economic
partners.
     I do not believe that a people fighting for its right for
self-determination can be called terrorists. I do not know anyone
in the Parliament-in-Exile who is a terrorist.

At the opening ceremony session you presented the President of the
Parliament-in-Exile, Mr. Vanley, with a gift, what was it?

     It was a book which tells about fifty years of work of the
DKP-I/RL. It reports that in our fight against oppression and
dictatorship we lost 5000 peshmergas. And in 16 years of oppression
by the Islamic regime in Iran we lost over 60,000 civilians.
     The book records the names, biographies and photos of 1000
martyrs. With this gift to the parliament we wanted to show that
the Kurdish people in its struggle for self-determination and
freedom has made a lot of sacrifices. All its efforts to achieve
its objectives must never be forgotten. On the first page of the
book is a picture of Ghazi Mohammed who was the first President of
the Republic of Kurdistan.
     With our participation in the Kurdistan Parliament-in-Exile we
wanted to make clear that we support all positive steps which serve
the good of the Kurdish people and which will bring the Kurdish
question politically and diplomatically closer to a solution. This
is our basic political principle. We will express openly and freely
our opinion about all the decisions of this parliament.

(Source: Kurdistan Report #22, September-October 1995)

Documents Concerning The KDP-Iran For A Reunification Of The Party

The following is a letter from members of both wings of the KDP-
Iran, the Kurdistan Democratic Party Of Iran (KDP-Iran) and the
Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran/Revolutionary Leadership (KDP-
Iran/RL), and the reply from the Politburo of the KDP-Iran/RL. A
similar letter was sent by Kurds living in exile in the U.S. to the
leadership of both wings of the party.

Call To The Leadership Of Both Wings Of The Kurdistan Democratic
Party Of Iran

     As evervone knows, our party has waged an unending struggle
for the last 50 years. Throughout this time, during which the
political systems of the Shah and the Islamic Republic trampled the
national rights of our people underfoot, the Kurdistan Democratic
Party of Iran (KDP-Iran), in its unending struggle, has brought
great honour to our people, despite suffering, many casualties.
Especially under the reign of terror of the Mullahs our rights have
been more brutally and seriously violated than before and the party
has become more resolute in its struggle and activities.
     Sadly, it has now been 7 years since the party, the hope of
all oppressed peoples in "Iranian" Kurdistan, split and became disunited.
Sadly, this disunity has led to a sense of hopelessness
among the Kurdish population and a sense of joy on the part of the
Islamic Republic and all enemies of our people who have exploited
this opportunity. At this time, when the struggle of our people
finds itself at a difficult and also a crucial historical phase, it
is the duty of all active Kurds to do more than ever to help our
exploited people. In this sense, everyone should view it as their
revolutionary and historical duty to stand up for this matter. That
is the wish of all our people and all our friends. For this reason,
we, some former members of the KDP-Iran who live in south
Kurdistan, support the call of 180 Kurds living in exile in the
United States, and we stress the following:
     Only unity among activists will make it possible for the long
suffering Kurdish people to reach their goal and be victorious.
That's why it is vital that the reunification of both wings of the
KDP-Iran is so historically urgent. Because of historic
responsibilities and the recognition of the current situation, we
are making these just demands to you, the leaders of both wings of
our party. We expect with good intentions and positive thoughts for
the Kurdish predicament that you will make a clear analysis of the
Kurdish situation and thereby engage yourselves to help us reach
our goal, which is the goal of all classes of Kurdish society. Long
live the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran, the party of the
immortal martyrs Qazi, Ghassemlou, and all the martyrs of
Kurdistan!
     A positive answer from you will fulfil your commitments to the
following leading martyrs: Sadegh Scharafkandi, Ali Kaschef Pour,
Abdollah Schrifi, Schapour Firouzi, Fatah Abduli, Osman Fatahi,
Abdollah Ghaderi, Raschad Hosseini, Ghafour Hamzai, and Sadegh
Firouzi.
     Signed by 112 members and sympathizers of both wings of the
Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran.

Reply From The KDP-Iran/RL

     Recently, a call was issued by 180 Kurdish patriots spread out
among the U.S. and the states of Europe. In this call, "both wings
of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran" are called on to
strengthen the Kurdish movernent in "Iranian" Kurdistan and to
resolve their differences by means of a political dialogue so as to
open the way for a reunification of the party. In addition to our
thanks, we would like to say the following to these Kurdish
patriots:
     Without a doubt, your call, for all Kurdish patriots who
deeply desire the liberation of Kurdistan, is an important step
towards the years-long hope of the long-suffering Kurdish people of
"Iranian" Kurdistan and all the friends of our people.
     Who isn't aware of the fact that the determination and unity
of all the forces of our divided people would be the most important
step towards the liberation of our people? Who isn't aware of the
fact that our disunity is the most important reason for the failure
of Kurdish movements, particularly during the past two centuries?
Who can deny that internecine wars have spilled lots of blood in
Kurdistan?
     Everyone who is patriotic knows full well where the causes of
our sorrows lie and how to heal them. If that's true, then we are
like everyone who places the welfare of the people as the highest
priority, as we have shown in our radio and newspaper announcements
and through our activities in our society and among the friends of
the Kurdish people.
     Along with our heartfelt thanks to our sisters and brothers in
the United States, who signed the call, we would like to state that
we are prepared for all forms of reconciliation, coordination, and
cooperation, and all other steps leading towards a reunification of
the party. We are certain that the reunification of both wings
would be an act which would make the enemies of our people unhappy
while causing great joy to all honourable Kurds and all the friends
of our people. By doing so we hope, for the first time in history,
to bring distress to our enemies and joy to our friends.

Signed by the Politburo of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran,
Revolutionary Leadership

(Source: Kurdistan Report #22, September-October 1995)