BEHDINAN – Azad Şerger, Thomas Johann S. from Germany was one of the three guerrillas who fell on June 15 while resisting the Turkish occupation in the region of Xakurke in the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq). The three guerrillas lost their lives during an action which left 18 soldiers of the Turkish army dead.
In its statement on June 23, the HPG Press Center (BİM) announced that Azad Şerger (Thomas Johann Spiess) was one of the three guerrillas who had been martyred in the action in which 18 soldiers were killed in Girê Şehîd Şahin, Xakurkê on June 15. The information given by BİM about Azad Şerger, who was born in Mainburg, Germany, was as follows:
“He brought it to consciousness by reading and researching the fact that another equal and truly free world is possible. He followed many different leftist views closely, deepening his pursuits during his university years. In this process, he met the Kurds who were forcibly displaced from the ancient lands of Kurdistan due to the attacks of the fascist Turkish state. As he got to know the Kurdish people and culture, his interest in the PKK increased. He read the defenses of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan and was deeply influenced by his philosophy. By participating in youth activities, he focused on learning in practice and soon became integrated with the internationalist spirit of the PKK. Deciding to become a militant of the freedom march, he went to the mountains of Kurdistan in 2016 and joined the guerrilla ranks. He successfully completed basic guerrilla training in the Qendil field. He became free in the mountains of Kurdistan, just like his name.
FOUGHT WITH GREAT RAGE
He devoted every moment to the struggle. He glorified the sacred life of the PKK through his comradely relations. It became integrated with the leadership philosophy and the PKK’s essence of resistance. As a valiant militant, he fought fiercely against the colonialists, always at the forefront.
With the trainings he received, he gained great depth in both the military and ideological fields. With his meticulous and disciplined personality, he brought results to every work he participated in. He specialized in many different fields. After his successful practice in Qendil, he moved to the Xakurkê area.
On June 15, he took the front line in the action in which the new era guerrilla tactics were effectively practiced in the Kolît area and marched on the invaders sacrificingly. He deservedly carried the flag of struggle of the immortal martyrs.
LIFE WAS REALISTIC
Heval Azad’s stance in life was a realistic one. While chatting, he said that he found himself in the PKK because he saw the PKK as the way of salvation for humanity. He was loyal to the PKK and the Kurdish people because he saw the Kurdish people as his own. Looking at him, it was as if he had lived on the land of Kurdistan for years. He was deepening himself in the philosophy of Leader Apo. It was hardworking and practical. He would do anything and succeed. He specialized in guerrillaism. He was disciplined, rich in tactics. He was always training and improving himself.
IT IS AN EXAMPLE FOR KURDISH YOUTH
Heval Azad is a revolutionary to be taken as an example for Kurdish youth. Kurdistan is under occupation and our identity and rights have been usurped. Heval Azad came from Germany and fought as a German. He sacrificed himself for the people of Kurdistan. Kurdish youth should protect Kurdistan and its people more. Even if the Kurdish youth cannot reach the mountains due to the circumstances, they can turn any place into a war zone for the Turkish invading forces with the spirit of Heval Azad.
WE PROMISE TO THEIR FAMILY
The action led by Asya Kanîreş, Koçer Medya and Azad Şerger was selfless. They clashed at the outpost where the invading Turkish invading state did not believe that the guerrilla would carry out an attack and struck a blow to the Turkish soldier. Thanks to these comrades, the belief in hope and freedom grows even more. As HPG and YJA Star forces, we will be the followers of our martyred comrades until the end. We will always keep the spirit of internationalism alive and protect it. We promise the families of the martyred comrades Azad, Asya and Koçer that; We will avenge them and be their followers to the end.”
