CENTRAL NEWS
Murat Karayilan, commander of the headquarters of the People’s Defense Forces (Hêzên Parastina Gel, HPG), addressed the public with a greeting from the Medya Defense Zones on the anniversary of the start of the armed struggle of the PKK on 15 August 1984.
The translated message of People’s Defense Center Headquarters Commander Murat Karayılan is as follows:
“We salute all of you from the mountains of Kurdistan with respect and celebrate your national Resurrection Day. We celebrate the 36th anniversary of the August 15 Initiative and Resurrection Day for all the people of Kurdistan, the people of the Middle East, of all comrades, all workers and sympathizers. We wish everyone success on the 37th anniversary of the August 15 Leap.
On behalf of all our friends, we congratulate Rêber (Leader) Apo’s Resurrection Day and the August 15 Initiative, and present our commitment and respect.
These sacred days were achieved with the efforts of Rêber Apo and the sacrifices of our heroic martyrs. We commemorate the revolutionary martyrs of Kurdistan, who adorn these days with their blood, in the person of the great commander Mahsum Korkmaz (Egîd), we bow our heads in front of their memories and repeat our promise to them. We will not leave their weapons on the ground, we will achieve their goals, and we will continue the fight for a free leader and a free Kurdistan.
On August 11, there was a brutal attack on the Iraqi army, the border security forces in the area of Bradost. Our commander, comrade Egîd Garzan (Murat Kalko), was martyred in this attack. Comrade Egîd Garzan has fought for his people in the mountains of Kurdistan for 28 years, he has been injured four times so far, and has given great efforts. At the same time, Zubayr Hali, the commander of the Iraqi army, was martyred in this attack.
Again, one of the valuable commanders of the Iraqi army, Mihemmed Rashid, was also martyred. Two soldiers from the Iraqi army were injured in the same attack. We extend our condolences to the families of all three commanders, the people of Kurdistan and Iraq, and the Iraqi state administrators. We believe that their blood will not remain on the ground, and the attackers will be held to account.
This attack was made against the Iraqi army. The Iraqi army called our friends and the vehicle in which they met was attacked. This attack took place, not in our areas, but in the area our friends were invited to. The attack was made directly against the Iraqi army. The vehicles attacked were official vehicles carrying the flag of the Iraqi army, yet the attack took place. This shows that this attack was done deliberately against the Iraqi army. Our friends were martyred there in that way.
Many times, the leaders of the Kurdistan Regional Government said, “They brought the war of the PKK and the Turkish state to Bashure Kurdistan.” There is no war here now; a meeting takes place and then an attack is made. Such statements are not true.
Again they say, “The PKK is going to the border, taking actions against the Turkish army and running towards Bashur”. There is absolutely no such thing. For the last 3-4 years, the invading Turkish army has been wanting to invade Bashur lands step by step. We did not bring the war here, they did. It attacks and occupies many places.
We will protect all of the people of Kurdistan.
Just as we are fighting in Bakurê Kurdistan, a war is taking place in Heftanin, Xakurke and Zap. We have promised and will protect all the gains of the people of Kurdistan. Today, the enemy comes before our eyes, occupies, makes way and settles permanently. We will fight against this, we will defend the gains of the people of Bashure Kurdistan, the people of Kurdistan and the lands of Iraq.
If the invading Turkish army withdraws from Iraqi lands or the lands of Bashure Kurdistan, we are ready to not attack or take any action on the border. But they should not attack. What is now done by us is the national resistance against the Turkish occupation. Everyone should know the truth of the situation in this way.
If we hadn’t been here for the past two months, if the war against Turkish occupation in Heftanin hadn’t been fought, perhaps now the majority of the border area would have been occupied. Our resistance is a legitimate resistance. There is an attack on the territory of Kurdistan and there is an attitude of resistance against it and this is for everyone.
15 August is a guarantee of the Kurdish existence
The initiative of 15 August prevented the extermination of the people of North Kurdistan and made the Kurdish people exist. The Turkish colonialism wanted to annihilate our people and turn Kurdistan into the centre of fundamentalism. However, through 15 August, Kurdistan became the pivot of the liberation struggle, democracy and women’s liberation. It created a national consciousness in the society and secured the Kurdish existence. However, this advance did not only pave the way for developments in the North (of Kurdistan), but also helped an organisation in the West. If the 15 August initiative had not taken place, especially the guerrilla wars in the years 1988 to 1991, our people in South Kurdistan would not have been able to recover after the massacres of Anfal and Halabja. The same is also true for East Kurdistan.
The Kurdish society is not only divided into four parts – the division is even broader. The most diverse faiths, religions, dialects, tribes and regions equally form the core of this division. The 15 August initiative triggered a defragmentation. Based on the maxim of Rêber Apo – ‘First the nation, then religion and dialects’ – this initiative created a national spirit and developed a national strategy that has strengthened the hand of the Kurdish people in the Middle East. On the basis of this strategy, our people were able to fight against the fascism of the ISIS, a plague of the whole humanity, and play a decisive role in ending its rule. The Kurdish and Arab people have defeated the ISIS together. Thus, the Kurdish people manoeuvred themselves as a serious actor on the stage. This is a fact. The influences of 15 August and the freedom guerilla of Kurdistan are not debatable in this respect.
Defeat against guerrilla leads to chaos and crises
For six years, Turkish colonialism has been expanding its war technology with the support of NATO’s Gladio Alliance. Especially after the acquisition of unmanned combat drones, the occupying forces thought: ‘With this, I can liquidate the guerrillas and even reclaim the areas within the old borders of the Ottoman Empire’. Erdoğan personally signed his name and raved about a drone power. This is exactly how their war against us has been going on for six years. Rêber Apo has been subjected an aggravated isolation. Enormous pressure is being exerted on Kurdish-Turkish democratic policy, arrests are being made, a campaign of annihilation is taking place. Our people are being subjected to fascist repression, while the freedom guerrillas are under widespread attack throughout Kurdistan with the ultimate goal of their annihilation. Even concrete timetables for the extermination have been mentioned.
The result today is; they did not succeed, they were defeated. For this reason, chaos is prevailing in the fascist system of AKP and MHP, the crisis has worsened. If they had been successful against us, they would not have experienced this crisis. But the defeat pushed them into a deep chaos. Today the genocidal and fascist regime can survive only through wars. By reinforcing nationalist-chauvinist feelings in society, this regime wants to maintain and consolidate the existence of its war-oriented system. As the regime does not achieve the desired effect by waging war against us, the war policy is pursued beyond its own borders. It is attacking Syria, Iraq and Libya, playing games on the backs of the Arab peoples, applying a policy of persecution. In recent days, this regime has provoked a conflict with Greece in the Mediterranean.
A new guerilla is developing
Turkish fascism tries to remain standing by means of wars and oppression, but this doesn’t work anymore. The Kurdish freedom guerrilla has proved itself dozens of times and proved that it cannot be defeated and will pave the way for victory. The guerrilla of Kurdistan has the ambition to create a new guerrilla based on the philosophy of Rêber Apo. Its practice already reflects the goal of developing a guerilla of democratic modernity with creative ways and methods. The existing deficits will be eliminated and nothing will stop it from being the guerrilla of victory and success.
Resistance has been continuing in Heftanin for two months. The armed and unmanned reconnaissance planes, which the occupying forces like to call “legendary”, were reduced to rubble in Heftanin. All their forces are trapped there, a war is taking place. Our request to our people, especially those in the South, to the Arab and Iraqi people is that they support us. We are determined to defeat this enemy. In Heftanin, we have put them in a state of shock; if they come into the Zap region, we will bury them under the ground. My words are not just said because we have 36 years of combat experience. We know only too well how to thwart their technique, how to use tactics, style and technique to enrich our fight on the ground and how to fight and win in underground tunnels. This is a delicate phase, but the guerrilla will play their part. This is the point that we are clearly stating on the 36th anniversary of our initiative. Our people should also play their part. We are guided by the perspective of Rêber Apo – the reality of a popular war. Our people, women and youth have duties that must be fulfilled.
Every action in Europe has a political and diplomatic impact
To mark its 36th anniversary, we want to revive the 15th of August. In Europe there are protests of our people, which are important. The fact that the CPT recently declared that there is isolation on Imrali strengthens the basis and legitimacy of the resistance. Any action in Europe has a political and diplomatic impact. Whether at home or abroad, as long as the people who love their homeland, the women and the youth fulfil their role, extend the popular war, form an alliance with the Arab people, as long as the Kurdish and Arab people support each other, the chauvinist wave of the AKP/MHP regime can be smashed.
In the new year of struggle, our resistance will become even hotter, more modern on the tracks of Egîd and the first shot, towards being a force of victory. We remember all our selfless martyrs of the revolution, from the first, Egîd to the last, from Şehîd Zekî Şengalî to Erdal [Engin Sincer] and Atakan Mahir. We celebrate the Day of National Resurrection once again, wish everyone the best of success and say: Long live 15 August! Long live Rêber Apo.”
