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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