A LONG and bloody guerrilla war is in the making in the Iranian province. of Kurdestan. As government troops and Islamic Guards, Phantom F4 jets and gunships, marched towards the main Kurdish town of Mahabad, a column of 20,000 Kurds streamed out into the surrounding mountains, promising to return as 'nightly guests' I ne government's superior ana transport made it difficult for the Kurds to hold on to the urban centres. But their local knowledge of the mountains northern Kurdestan gives them an inpenetrable base continue their resistance against the Ayatollah Khomeini, now commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Brutal Military occupation repression have been response to the lust demands of the Kurdish people for autonomy in the running of the province. The project the Khomeini-Bazargan ment — to rebuild a capitalist state machine in Iran - has been seriously threatened by 'the spread peasant revolution in Kurdestan.
In the areas around Bowkan and Saddeq, village councils have been growing up in the last few months. These councils have refused to recognise the landowners, and have been the sowing haryesting of crops and the distribution of the produce among the peasants.
Area councils, based on representatives of groups of villages, have been coordinating activities on an area basis, including the organising of armed self-defence groups. Self-defence has been necessary, first of all, against attacks by landlords, who have been provided with arms by Ine lenran government for severa months. It has become all the more necessary since the launched by Khomeini at the end of August: Province Military occupation of the province may for a time prevent the development of the councils. cidence that Khomeini has directed his assault precisely against areas the highest level organisation.
His executioner in chief, Ayatollah Khalkhal. has already summary justice in Saddeq and Paveh with arbitrary executions of Kurdish capitves, and is reported to be moving towards Mahabad. But occunations and executions cannot rundamenta causes ollue swuggie -the need and desire of the Kurds, and of all the Iranian participate actively and directly in the tuning ol tuch own dilalls. ferocious hysterin atonest Persian. Khomeini whipped threater the their struggle as ary' is covered by helicopter Liberate Ali Mahmoud, secretary for air Kurdish Students facilities has that • have to liberate the areas which to cannot be established.' Iranian (Socialist and brutal They Khomeini's other nations, governDIUVILLE.
of the Mahabad, and elected speaking people against the Kurds. His claim that they wish to secede and integrity of the Revolution' and his description of 'counter-revolutiona vile slander. The Kurdish demand is for autonomy within Iran.
foreign relations the Association of Abroad (AKSA), explained this at a news conference in recently: believe live within the countries we are part of in order to we live in. believe that unless the countries in the Middle East are liberated, Kurdestan Trotskyists. HKS Workers Party) have consistently defended the rights of the Kurds to recognition of their national nation cannot be free if it oppresses and supported the demands of the Kurdish people for full control over the affairs of their Intercontinental Press ber, had serrational outery demands:
of IN IRAN!