BEHDINAN – People’s Defense Center Headquarters Commander Murat Karayılan stated the following in the second part of the interview:
What are the characteristics of today’s guerrilla that you define as modern guerrillaism?
I can briefly state the following regarding your question, which has a very comprehensive answer. In the last 50 years, there have been very important developments in the field of science and technology. Space science developed and the Global Positioning System (GPS) was detected. In other words, it became possible to determine the coordinate of a place at any point in the world. Inventions such as the guided missile system to the determined coordinate, unmanned aerial vehicles, the advanced use of laser beam technique and thermal technique in war, and the level reached by the enormously developed communication tools have radically changed our world in all respects.
Our Leader evaluated this science-technical process that started even after the Second World War as a revolutionary process. This situation necessitated a significant change in the theory and tools related to war. Although there are some basic rules-principles that do not change in war, most of the old strategies and tactics have become meaningless and have undergone radical changes. Especially in the last 10-15 years, the striking reflection of these new inventions on the battlefield has accelerated this radical change even more. Today, the war has reached an intelligence-oriented level. Essentially, war has become waged with intelligence, technique and special warfare methods. Normal-classic battles are now over. Normal-classic weapons and armies no longer play much of a role. But with all these, the most prominent and important in the war; what becomes more decisive in war, It’s still the human factor. In other words, human ability, the quality of people’s effectiveness in war has been more developed. Maybe from a straight point of view, ‘intelligence-technical is the decisive factor in war now; It can be said that other things are secondary’, but reality is not like that. In war, human will, human reason, human ability became more decisive. Because, after all, people evaluate other things; Considering that intelligence is useless without creative evaluation, and that technique cannot be used without specialization knowledge, it is seen that the most prominent thing is human ability. It can be said that other things are secondary’, but reality is not like that. In war, human will, human reason, human ability became more decisive. Because, after all, people evaluate other things; Considering that intelligence is useless without creative evaluation, and that technique cannot be used without specialization knowledge, it is seen that the most prominent thing is human ability. It can be said that other things are secondary’, but reality is not like that. In war, human will, human reason, human ability became more decisive. Because, after all, people evaluate other things; Considering that intelligence is useless without creative evaluation, and that technique cannot be used without specialization knowledge, it is seen that the most prominent thing is human ability.
Leader Apo said many years ago that ‘the greatest technique is man’ and in fact, Leader Apo’s philosophy is a philosophy that focuses on human reality. In other words, the thing that the Apoist philosophy and education style focuses on the most is the human phenomenon. Therefore, the place where human talent, human intellect, will, courage and self-sacrifice are most concentrated is within the ranks of the PKK. The guerrilla in the new era is mainly based on this. The power of the Democratic Modernity Paradigm to read the process correctly enabled the Kurdistan guerrilla to adapt early in the face of this rapidly developing technology and its radically changing the reality of war.
Were there any shortcomings in this regard?
Undoubtedly it did. There were also delays. There were heavy losses caused by this; There were difficulties and difficulties. We cannot state that everything has developed perfectly. Struggling, struggling with difficulties, the guerrilla succeeded in catching its true might with the philosophy of Leadership. In this regard, especially the restructuring projects he developed one after another had a great impact. It is possible to mention that the restructuring project, which envisages a very comprehensive and radical change in all aspects of the guerrilla, has achieved a great transformation, especially in 2018. With this project, it focused more on human ability and the reality of war. It aimed to create the Democratic Modernity Guerrilla in line with the Leader’s Democratic Modernity Paradigm. In this way, in the new period, many of the war tactics determined by Mao Zedong in China had to undergo changes. Although it has taken a lot from the root on which the guerrilla warfare tactics carried out in Kurdistan today are based, it has also radically renewed many things. What he struggles most with is the classic guerrilla, old habits. In this regard, it was even determined that ‘our biggest enemy is our own habits’. In other words, he tried to create the guerrilla of the new period based on fighting with himself as much as with the enemy; He tended to shape the Democratic Modernity Guerrilla in practice. In other words, he tried to create the guerrilla of the new period based on fighting with himself as much as with the enemy; He tended to shape the Democratic Modernity Guerrilla in practice. In other words, he tried to create the guerrilla of the new period based on fighting with himself as much as with the enemy; He tended to shape the Democratic Modernity Guerrilla in practice.
MARTYRS ARE THE CREATORS OF THE NEW ERA GUERILLA
Of course, this level developed on the basis of great heroism and the martyrdom of great pioneers. From Delal Ameds to Atakan Mahirs and Ali Pilings, the concentration, struggle and effort of many leading commanders on this path has a great share in this change. Because these heroes are also pioneers who try to understand the Leadership correctly at the intellectual level, try to read the process correctly and reach martyrdom while applying it in practice. In this sense, we can say that ‘they are the creators of the new era guerrilla’. Their concentration on the Leadership line has improved the formation of the guerrilla we call the new era guerrilla or the 21st century guerrilla.
Of course, this project first focused on faith and determination on the basis of a correct reading of the age; He emphasized the fact of partisanship and attached great importance to clarification in ideology. Then he concentrated on military art and military culture. Thirdly, he developed the branch system on war technology; on this basis deepened specialization. In other words, it aimed to reach the framework we call professional guerrilla on the basis of partisanship, militarization and specialization. He was able to achieve this only by fighting against the classical guerrilla style.
However, with the right course of action and the right style of undertaking, it aimed to nullify the intelligence powered by the technology of the age, to use the land to its width and depth, to develop surface and underground warfare tactics, and to nullify today’s air combat vehicles. In the final analysis, the formation of a new, modern, professional guerrilla that has completely surpassed the old classical guerrilla in this way has developed in Kurdistan. On this basis, it created the ability to use the land in depth and width, and to defeat the enemy with its high maneuverability, against the army forces, which are the largest and equipped with all the technology of the age. It has also proven that it is an invincible power against these technological attacks.
OUR WAR IS IN A PEAK PROCESS
This great resistance is the result of the formation of the 21st century guerrilla in Kurdistan as a result of the paradigmatic concentration on the basis of the blood of heroic martyrs. As we enter the 39th year of the glorious 15 August Initiative, we have to proudly express the level that the guerrilla has reached today, on the basis of the heroic epics, with the efforts of our Leader and the epic resistance of our martyrs. Of course, this is not an easy thing; It is possible with great effort, intensity and depth. It could only develop with the most advanced activation of human ability. Self-discipline, deep secrecy, subtle camouflage, which can be almost an invisible army on this basis, use the underground and aboveground in the most creative way like a ghost army, do justice to the technique in hand, have tactical creativity, can fight bravely, bravely, In this way, the reality of an invincible army that is unwavering in sacrificing itself for the sake of its cause has been revealed. Today, the Kurdistan guerrilla is at its peak in sacrifice. It is an obvious fact that the spirit of July 14th has risen in the dungeons, and today, with the tradition developed by Egîds and Zîlans, it has reached a peak in sacrifice.
The Kurdistan guerrilla is experiencing a similar peak in tactical creativity today. In other words, it has reached a very advanced level in terms of tactical creativity. It is possible to say that our leadership has reached a certain level in terms of creatively applying the perspective of the Revolutionary People’s War to practice. In this respect, it is a pinnacle. In addition, it is clear that the war he waged will lead to the collapse of the AKP-MHP regime, which represents the fascist mentality and racist-genocidal understanding in Turkey at the summit, if the resistance developing today succeeds. In any case, the regime wants to build its existence on the elimination of the guerrilla or the Freedom Movement as a whole. For this reason, they describe this process as a ‘war of life and death’. Therefore, if the guerrilla proves its invincibility and fails, it means the complete collapse of this regime. In this sense, it is clear that our war is in a peak phase. In this respect, the 39th year of our armed struggle is an important year for us, namely the Kurdistan Freedom Guerrilla. Thus, a process in which Leader Apo and Kurdistan’s march for freedom will now be on the agenda more strongly has been entered. However, in the final analysis, the modern guerrilla is not just a Kurdistan phenomenon. The tactical opening developed by this guerrilla, which is based on a paradigm that will have a worldwide impact, also reveals a new way and method of resistance for all humanity. Thus, a process in which Leader Apo and Kurdistan’s march for freedom will now be on the agenda more strongly has been entered. However, in the final analysis, the modern guerrilla is not just a Kurdistan phenomenon. The tactical opening developed by this guerrilla, which is based on a paradigm that will have a worldwide impact, also reveals a new way and method of resistance for all humanity. Thus, a process in which Leader Apo and Kurdistan’s march for freedom will now be on the agenda more strongly has been entered. However, in the final analysis, the modern guerrilla is not just a Kurdistan phenomenon. The tactical opening developed by this guerrilla, which is based on a paradigm that will have a worldwide impact, also reveals a new way and method of resistance for all humanity.
Some say that the time of guerrillaism has passed. It is seen that more guerrilla gains the peoples. How would you explain guerrillaism when you consider it in terms of both a lifestyle and a paradigmatic approach?
There have always been those who throw in the towel early in revolutionary processes and seek justification for surrender. In this period, such understandings can emerge. Those who say “the time of the guerrilla has passed” are those who want to pave the way to condemn societies to surrender to the dominant hegemonic powers. That’s true; The era of the classical guerrilla has passed. His time has passed. But the time has passed for all things classic, not just for the guerrilla, but in all spheres of life today. So everything has changed. The time of any phenomenon that is not adapted to the realities of the age has passed. For example, the time of classical regular armies has passed. Classical armies based on the old system can no longer have a presence in war. This also applies to the guerrilla. In other words, social dynamics and tools are in a state of constant change in accordance with the laws of dialectics. As a requirement of this law, things that belong to the past are of course invalidated. Again, the guerrilla perspective, which is considered according to a classical left perspective, may have been overcome, but according to the Democratic Modernity Paradigm, the self-improving guerrilla is a guerrilla adapted to the age. Therefore, applying the guerrilla of the time and reaching its perspective is important here. Of course, for this, as we have just mentioned, it is necessary to read the time correctly.
The renewal of the guerrilla, its adaptation to the age and the present, has been positioned according to the conditions of the age, not only in terms of its qualities and tactics, but also in terms of the role it played in the revolution. For example, in the Democratic Modernity Paradigm, not everything is guerrilla, as it is in the perspective of the Prolonged People’s War. First of all, the role of organized force is not everything. The role of social coercion has to come to a standpoint that regards the growing importance of the power of public opinion. Here, the guerrilla is a force that gives confidence to the society as a defense force and on which the society rests. It plays a leading role as a force that gives courage and strength to the society and intervenes in situations of blockage. In other words, in democratic modernity, there is an important consideration of the guerrilla, but not everything is guerrilla. The main power source of the revolution is society itself. Revolution is the work of the masses.
The first of these is organized popular masses, that is, organized society. Here we see today; In Iraq, for example, an organized force can change everything. So the strength of society is essential; is in first place.
The second is guerrilla power. It is an organized, armed, professional defense force. It intervenes very actively when necessary, acts more balanced when necessary, and leads to the social space when necessary. That is, it takes shape according to the process.
Third, it is a semi-civil-semi-military self-defense organization that is secretly organized within the society and is a kind of secret army. In the new period, with the other organized structures of the revolution, which are based on this revolutionary perspective and share the burden of the guerrilla, both the burden of the guerrilla is relieved and it enables the guerrilla to play its role.
In the new period, the guerrilla may not enter and leave everywhere. As a matter of fact, there is a definite need for re-evaluation of all lands as a field of action. For example, the zozan and bare areas where the guerrillas may be targets should be evaluated just like the plains. In other words, considering the aerial reconnaissance system in the new period, it is necessary to treat bare areas, albeit mountainous, as a kind of plain. In other words, it can carry out guerrilla work in such areas with more secrecy, more underground, more solid mass bases. It can stand anywhere, not just on the mountain. The important thing here is that the new period guerrilla’s course of action will not be with large forces as in the past, and that teams based on expertise, which we call coordinated team warfare, can act alone when necessary.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE GUERILLA TO STAND ON THE COMMUNITY
In short, based on these, we can say the following: In the new era, the old-classical guerrilla can no longer exist. It has to be qualified; must be trained. So the guerrilla is not an ordinary soldier. It has to be professional. It is impossible to create revolutionary developments in our age without the leadership role in the revolution, which gives strength and excitement to the society with its lifestyle, as well as its resistance, and leads it with its stance.
But to see the changing reality here, we are not talking about ordinary-classic guerrilla, but the reality of a developed, up-to-date guerrilla based on society, with an up-to-date action style and combat capability. It is important for the guerrilla to rely on the community as well as on the depth and breadth of the land. Guerrilla and society, society and self-defense, self-defense and guerrilla must be organizations that feed and support each other like a triple circle cycle. If properly organized and equipped with the necessary qualifications, they naturally feed, protect and support each other. Forces that can be deployed in this way can only carry out revolutionary processes today. Those who cannot achieve this, those who are limited to civil democratic methods of struggle, surrender themselves to the mercy of fascism. In other words, fascism comes when it wants, overwhelms all institutions, arrests employees; There are already intense psychological warfare tools, and it can intimidate the society and have it enforced what it wants. In other words, the democratic social dynamic of the society is important here. One of the most important factors that actually sustains this democratic social dynamic is the guerrilla as a self-defense force that gives strength and encouragement to the society and gives morale.
No matter how much the enemy turns towards a society in which the guerrilla exists, is constantly fed and supported, it still cannot achieve results. Because there is an organized defense force that does not leave the people alone and gives them strength and morale. Of course, when we say defense power here, this should not be perceived as placing a guard at the head of every village. If the defense organization at the national level is held to account, if it emerges from time to time and demonstrates its ability to hold the torturers to account from the exploiter-fascist-invading forces, it is the defense of the society, and at the same time, it is filling the gap of the society in the field of self-defense. Therefore, the development of the social movement is a factor that plays the most important catalyst role for the strengthening of the mass movement. In the new period, the role of the guerrilla in the revolution has to develop clearly in this way. Therefore,
The guerrilla developing in Kurdistan today is the most striking example of this, both with the ideological paradigmatic stance it represents and the model it exhibits in terms of women’s freedom. If the formation of Berîvans, Zîlans, Saras, Skys, Flowers, Delals and Şîlans had not developed in the ranks of the guerrilla, the understanding of libertarian women in the Kurdish society could not have taken to the streets with such self-confidence and courage. Nor would a rapid social revolution take place in this way. The main dynamo of the Kurdish women’s being such a motivating force, becoming an example worldwide, both in defense, in politics, and in all areas of society’s life, is the pioneering mission of the guerrilla women’s power. The same is true for the general community. In this respect, the Kurdistan Freedom Guerrilla stands for democracy, women’s freedom, is the flag bearer of social freedom. Colonialism wanted to make Kurdistan the center of reaction. That was his goal. A reaction based on an already distorted social reality would have become much more permanent. Therefore, if Kurdistan is to become the center of progressiveness, democracy and freedom with this struggle, the role of the guerrilla in this cannot be ignored in any way.
Plus, the guerrilla is a major obstacle to the development of fascism and occupation not only in Kurdistan but also in the Middle East. In this respect, the struggle waged by the guerrilla is a struggle for democracy for Turkey today. The guerrilla is paving the way for the flag of democratic socialism to fly. It has a fundamental role in creating a ground of struggle on which all democratic socialist forces can rely.
At the same time, there is a framework that reflects this to other peoples with the perspective of a democratic nation, and the guerrilla level that is developing in Kurdistan today is actually an example for everyone.
Finally; The Kurdistan Freedom Guerrilla put up a great resistance in Southern Kurdistan and does not allow the invaders to pass. Well, can free areas other than the Media Defense Areas be defended against the technology of our age with the guerrilla method?
The war waged in Medya Defense Zones today is a very serious example for the defense of free areas. As for the defense of free areas against the technology of our age, the people you mentioned in your previous question will of course say ‘undefensible’. There are those who say that it cannot be defended today. But now, for example, Southern Kurdistan has been wanted to be invaded for 4 years. Despite the fact that NATO’s second army, the international forces, which the second army of NATO has backed, has been using local collaborative treasonous forces and prohibited weapons, it has not been able to invade Southern Kurdistan for 4 years, despite intensifying its attacks in the last 2 years. Tomorrow, if it turns to Rojava or other places, those who organize themselves, organize themselves, with the Perspective of the Revolutionary People’s War, A struggle that develops resistance and defense in unity with society will definitely win, and everyone will see that it is possible to defend free areas against hegemonic powers with all kinds of technology in our age. In this respect, an important test is now being passed, and we believe that this test will result in success. The 21st century guerrilla will prove its invincibility in this process and will make the 39th and 15th August a year of great success and resistance.
