Kurds step up struggle with Khomeini, gain control of much of northwest Iran

          
          Mahabad, Iran (AP)—Kurdish guerril-
          las who have stepped up their war against
          troops of the revolutionary government in
          recent days appear to have control of hun-
          dreds uare miles of the breathtak-
          ingly UI ountain region of north-
          west
          got independence, but we are
          willing to compromise bnrsettie for au-
          tonomy within poat-revolutionnry Iran'
          said Ai Qazi, one of the leaders of the
          Kurdistan Democratic party.
          The armed Pesh Merga guerrillas are
          the onFiuthority In many towns and vil-
          lages ghont Iranian Kurdistan. Mr.
          Qazi's c of “independence” appar-
          ently leads the government to doubt the
          Kiirds willing to settle for autonomy
          instea on.
          in the last week, a total of 30 govern-
          ment soldiers and Kurdish guerrillas have
          been killed and scores wounded near the
          town of Marivan, 90 miles south of here,
          reports said. Marivan's 30,000 residents
          evacuated the town to protest the arrival
          of government security forces and set up
          tent cities on the outskirts,
          Ten thousand Kurds from the city of
          Sandan jjvere marching to Marivan in a
          displayrsupport, their ranks swelled to
          almost 00 by villagers from along the
          50-mi! to, press reports said.
          Reports yesterday indicated the gov-
          ernment was sending reinforcements into
          the area, known traditionally as Kurdis-
          tan.
          Suppressed during the reign of Shah
          Mohainrnad Reza Pahiavi, the Kurdistan
          Democratic party was legalized after the
          overthrow of the monarchy in the Islamic
          revolution last February. Now, in the ab-
          sence of government representatives, it
          helps administer this town of 100,000.
          Kurds have a historic reputation as
          tough mountain warriors, and Mr. Qazi
          estimated that as many as 500,000 are
          armed. Four million members of the eth-
          nic minority are believed to llve in the re-
          gion.
          “They love guns and are ready to fight
          for their rights$ Mr. Qazi said.
          The latest chapter in the Kurds' cen-
          turies-old quest for freedom started with
          the overthrow of the shah and the breakup
          of the Army. They established their unoffi-
          cial independence by seizing weapons
          from ransacked military barracks and re-
          vived their old demand for autonomy.
          Last March, the Kurds beat hack an at-
          tempt by the new revolutionary govern-
          ment to snuff out their insurrection in vie-
          lent clashes that left more than 200 dead
          inseve 1 al Knrdish towns.
          Buoyed by the success, the xo
          hurriedly organized the Pesh Merga and?
          brought under its control most of Iranian
          Kurdistan, a strip of land approximately
          100 miles wide and 400 miles long.
          It extends from the border with the
          Soviet Union in the north, along the bor-
          den with Turkey and Iraq, and dips below
          Sanandaj in the south.
          The mountain tribesmen, In tasseled
          turbans and baggy trousers, are dispersed
          throughout this territory now, modern au-
          tomatic rifles proudly slung from their
          shoulders, pistols, daggers and grenades
          stuck in their belts and bandoliers draped
          across their chests.
          During July an unofficial cease-fire
          that had prevailed since the March fight-
          ing began to fray after indications that the
          Tehran government was increasingly anx-
          ious to reimpose its authority in Kurdis-
          tan.
          For many Kurds, history was repeating
          itself after 33 years, although they hope
          bra happier ending this time.
          In 1946, soon after the end of World
          War II, the Kurds seized the opportunity
          to proclaim an independent republic, cen-
          tered at Mahahad. But the shah's army
          crushed the fledgling republic ii months
          later.
          Kurds step up struggle with Khomeini, gain control of much of northwest Iran
          The Sun (1837-1985); Jul 30, 1979; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Baltimore Sun, The (1837-1986)
          pg.A4
          Kurds step up struggle ithKffom&ini,
          gain control of much of northwest Iran
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