BEHDINAN – KCK Executive Council Co-chairman Cemil Bayık stated that the 14 July Great Death Fast Resistance proved that the enemy can be defeated by resisting even under the most difficult conditions and said, “This expresses the essence and style of the PKK and the Kurdistan revolution. If progress is to be made in Kurdistan, if the PKK identity is to be taken as a basis, there is no doubt that this can only happen by deepening, assimilating and taking this line as a basis.”
It has been 41 years since the Great Death Fast Resistance, which was started by the leading cadres of the PKK in the Diyarbakır Dungeon on July 14, 1982, and resulted in the martyrdom of Mehmet Hayri Durmuş, Kemal Pir, Akif Yılmaz and Ali Çiçek. On the occasion of today, which is of great importance for the Kurdish Freedom Struggle, KCK Executive Council Co-chairman Cemil Bayık wrote an article.
Cemil Bayık’s article is as follows:
“The 14 July Resistance is a great action against oppression, brutality and torture, and its effects continue to this day. It is one of the greatest actions in the history of humanity as well as for our party and our people. While the great July 14 Resistanceists show us the way of success and the right stance against fascism and colonialism as the people and the Movement; They also set the noble example of defending human values and remaining human under cruelty, brutality and severe torture. Because of this feature, the 14 July Resistance is also of great value for humanity. I once again commemorate the leading cadres of our party, Mehmet Hayri Durmuş, Kemal Pir, Akif Yılmaz and Ali Çiçek, who developed this great resistance, with respect and gratitude on the anniversary of their actions, and bow respectfully before their historical actions. I commemorate all martyrs of revolution and democracy in their person. On this occasion, I repeat once again the promise of success we made to the martyrs. I respectfully greet and express my love to all comrades who resisted in the dungeons of colonialism with the spirit of July 14th. Again, in the spirit of July 14, I salute the guerrilla fighting against the invading enemy and congratulate them for their great resistance and successful actions. The most important and fundamental reality that the Great 14th of July Resistance tells us is the fact that human dignity can be preserved and the enemy can be defeated by resisting, no matter how harsh the conditions. Again, in the spirit of July 14, I salute the guerrilla fighting against the invading enemy and congratulate them for their great resistance and successful actions. The most important and fundamental reality that the Great 14th of July Resistance tells us is the fact that human dignity can be preserved and the enemy can be defeated by resisting, no matter how harsh the conditions. Again, in the spirit of July 14, I salute the guerrilla fighting against the invading enemy and congratulate them for their great resistance and successful actions. The most important and fundamental reality that the Great 14th of July Resistance tells us is the fact that human dignity can be preserved and the enemy can be defeated by resisting, no matter how harsh the conditions.
DEFENDING THE CASE OF LIBERTY AND INDEPENDENCE OF KURDISTAN IN THE MOST DIFFICULT CONDITIONS
The Great 14 July Resistance requires understanding and assimilation in all its aspects. This action is a great example of sacrifice, heroism and courage. It is a noble stance against cruelty, brutality, torture and indulgence. To protect life and human values. It expresses the great faith in the struggle, in the cause of freedom of the Kurdish people. It also expresses devotion to the Leadership, the party, and comradeship. The belief and commitment to Kurdistan’s cause of freedom and independence and the PKK’s line of struggle is at the forefront of the 14 July insurgents. That is why the 14 July insurgents defended this cause under very harsh conditions and fought on the basis of the PKK resistance line. It was these characteristics of these historical personalities and the values they took as basis that developed the July 14th Resistance and created the reality of July 14th. In this respect, in order to understand July 14 in all its aspects, we need to know and understand the July 14 resistance fighters. These are very important and require detailed attention and understanding. I will try to briefly dwell on the external effects of the July 14th Resistance, mainly on the party, cadre and militants.
THE MAIN PURPOSE OF SEPTEMBER 12 WAS SUPPRESSING THE MOVEMENT FOR FREEDOM
Of course, in order to understand the 14 July Resistance and its effects, it is necessary to know and understand the conditions that led to the 14 July Resistance. The 14 July Resistance is an action developed against the 12 September fascist junta regime. The September 12 fascist junta regime was developed for the purpose of Kurdish genocide. The struggle for socialism and national liberation of the oppressed peoples and classes on the rise in the world began to be effective in Turkey and Kurdistan in the early 1970s and led to the development of revolutionary feelings, especially among the youth. When the Turkish state could not prevent this revolutionary rise with the help of paramilitary fascist structures, it carried out a military coup on September 12, 1980 with the support of NATO. The suppression of the socialist struggle that developed in Turkey with the fascist junta regime established as a result of the military coup, In Kurdistan, on the other hand, it was aimed to prevent the national consciousness and liberation struggle from spreading to the masses and to complete the Kurdish genocide. Therefore, the main purpose of the September 12 military regime is to suppress the newly developing Kurdish Freedom Movement and to carry out the Kurdish genocide. After the coup took place and the junta regime was established, steps were taken to achieve this goal. On this basis, suppression, suppression and suppression operations were launched in Türkiye and Kurdistan. While trying to suppress the revolutionary movements, a great wave of violence was spread everywhere and the society was tried to be drawn into order. The reason for resorting to the military coup method is the intimidation and surrender of the masses by developing an intense wave of violence.
Many revolutionaries were imprisoned by the September 12 military coup. The conditions for revolutionary movements to stay in the country and protect themselves became very difficult and many movements had to go abroad. The fascist junta regime executed dozens of revolutionaries to reflect its authority and stance. The prisoners who were taken in were tortured, and it was aimed to develop remorse and confession through torture. Torture was turned into a system in the dungeons, many prisoners were tortured to death. Where resistance did not develop, regret and confession developed, and this had negative effects on both the prisoners inside and the society outside. There was also a great pressure on the people, and the aim was to intimidate the masses with overt methods of violence. Desiring to develop remorse and confession on the prisoners through massacre and torture inside, The departure of revolutionary movements abroad and the policies of intense pressure and intimidation developed on the people led to the development of hopelessness in the society. In fact, it was aimed to suppress and surrender the society by oppressing the revolutionaries with the September 12 fascist junta regime.
12 SEPTEMBER REGIME SUPPORTED LEAVING THE COUNTRY
With the coup, the conditions of staying in the country and fighting in the old style became very difficult. Because a great pressure was developed on the society, relations and base areas were exposed, many patriots, sympathizers and cadres were captured. It is no longer possible to stay in society and protect oneself as before, and the danger of being liquidated has increased. Many movements that could not take measures or were delayed in taking measures were liquidated. This situation made it necessary and even compulsory to go abroad. Thus, the revolutionaries, who could not be captured by the enemy, decided to go abroad. This is how the departures abroad began. Of course, not everyone went abroad with the same thought and purpose. Many individuals and organizations no longer have the conditions to struggle, He stated that he could not do anything other than some press and publication works by staying abroad, and with this thought, he headed abroad. In this way, liquidation was accepted. Those who had this thought turned to Europe and remained there, continuing their refugee life.
Of course, Europe meant to abandon the struggle, to seek individual life, to adopt the life of capitalist modernity and its ideology, liberalism. Because Europe was the center of the capitalist modernity system. The struggle for democracy and socialism for more than 150 years and all the social values created in Europe were ended with the ideology of liberalism. No one who went here could avoid falling into this situation. As a matter of fact, the remaining pioneers of the Turkish socialist movements fell into such a situation, mainly by going to Europe, and this led to the weakening of the struggle in Turkey. The damage caused by this step has not been overcome even today. On the other hand, the door to Europe was deliberately kept open to the revolutionaries. Some financial opportunities were also provided, paving the way for heading there. Because the European area was under the control of the system. The life of capitalist modernity was being produced there, not struggle. Therefore, the September 12 regime did not see going to Europe as a danger for itself. On the contrary, he wanted this to happen, as it meant leaving the country and giving up the struggle.
OUR MOVEMENT PREFERED THE MIDDLE EAST FIELD
Leader Apo also saw fit to go abroad to protect the Movement from liquidation. But Leader Apo chose the Middle East field for abroad. Because Leader Apo considered going abroad as a precaution and preparation. Revolutionaries who survived falling into the hands of the enemy will withdraw abroad, receive professional training, gain ideological equipment and military skills, and return to the country to develop and continue the struggle with a new tactic and style. That was exactly the idea. For this, the PKK preferred to go to the Middle East area.
At that time, the area of the Middle East was seen as an area of struggle and revolution. The environment of the Palestinian movements was an attraction for those who wanted to develop the struggle. It also created some possibilities. Of course, these were not material, individual life opportunities like in Europe. There were conditions for undertaking, ideological and military training. Since Leader Apo thought of going abroad as a preparation for returning to the country, he chose the Middle East field as his area of undertaking. He also saw it as dangerous to go to Europe and waged a very intense struggle against it. He was engaged in such a struggle both within the organization and to prevent other revolutionary movements from taking wrong steps. For this reason, he opened the movement’s very limited possibilities to other revolutionary movements and tried to make everyone turn to the struggle.
LEADER APO FORESIDES 12 SEPTEMBER COUP
In fact, Leader Apo went abroad before the September 12 coup d’état took place and he planned to attract cadres gradually. Because Leader Apo predicted the September 12 coup. He shared this foresight with other movements and stated that precautions should be taken. A significant part of the PKK cadres, who were already imprisoned, had fallen into the hands of the enemy before the coup took place. In other words, arrests started in Kurdistan before the coup took place officially. With the coup, whoever was outside became sought after, and almost everyone was taken prisoner, except for those who went abroad. Not only the cadres, but also hundreds of sympathizers, supporters and patriots were taken and thrown into the dungeons.
Foreseeing that such a process would develop, Leader Apo departed abroad and tried to create opportunities for the Movement to base itself and to conduct ideological and military training. It is known that Leader Apo made this work with very limited relations and opportunities. Leader Apo did this work not by relying on ready-made relationships and opportunities, but by creating relationships and opportunities himself. Because we didn’t have any relationship and opportunity at the moment. When the September 12 military coup took place, the Movement succeeded in going to the Middle East and establishing a base, albeit with limited power, thanks to this foresight and work of Leader Apo. Of course, Leader Apo’s being outside and creating the conditions for a solid base created a great belief and confidence in the development of the struggle. Whether inside or outside, all friends had an eternal belief that Leader Apo would improve the struggle.
Torture of PKK members can be explained by the anti-Kurdish character of the Turkish state
The fascist military coup was carried out on September 12, 1980 to restore the genocidal colonial order and to establish the dominance of the state over society. The fascist military coup had set the absolute subjugation and suppression of the society as its main objective. Because of this, a great wave of pressure and violence developed on the society. So much so that the ground would not be left for the society to incline and struggle with the idea of freedom again, and these feelings would be erased from the minds as a whole. Undoubtedly, the main target of the fascist military coup was the revolutionaries. Because it was the revolutionaries who instilled the idea of freedom into the society and drew it to the struggle. The elimination of the sense of freedom and struggle in society required primarily the elimination of revolutionaries and revolutionary movements. For this reason, the fascist junta regime of September 12 went very harshly on the revolutionaries. Many revolutionaries were taken prisoner and tortured. Dungeons have been turned into torture centers. The September 12 fascist junta regime aimed to destroy the source of hope and belief of the society by developing confession and regret with these practices, and thus to accept submission to the genocidal colonialist order. The most prominent among these centers was the Diyarbakır military prison, where PKK cadres and sympathizers were held. The torture developed against PKK cadres, sympathizers and Kurdish patriots in Diyarbakır military prison can only be explained by the anti-Kurdish character of the genocidal colonial Turkish state, or it can be the application of such a character. Severe torture and brutality, rarely seen in history, in the Diyarbakır military prison,
LEADER APO SUGGESTED THE ENTIRE FIGHT
While repression, torture and massacres were applied to the prisoners and the people, a great ideological attack was launched against the revolutionary environment. It was aimed to prevent the revolutionaries from the struggle by creating despair in the revolutionary environment. By choosing the Middle East field abroad, Leader Apo aimed to prevent such a situation from developing and to evaluate the Middle East as a place of preparation for returning to the country. With this thought in mind, he went to the Middle East and managed not to fall into the hands of the enemy, and drew some of his cadres to his side.
But everything was not going well by going to the Middle East field. There was an ideological attack on the revolutionaries everywhere. In the revolutionary environment, it was desired to develop disbelief, hopelessness and right-wing understandings. These were also in the Middle East field. In fact, these activities were mostly carried out in the Middle East. Because those who went to the Middle East were planning to return to the country and develop the struggle. Particularly, some sections from the left of Turkey, who came to the Middle East, were trying to take revolutionary movements from here to Europe and to direct everyone to such a quest. As a matter of fact, many movements with more power and opportunities than the PKK’s turned to Europe, leading to the spread of this understanding in the revolutionary environment.
On the other hand, this was not just an understanding that developed outside of us. This understanding was also being developed in our environment. It was Çetin Güngör (Semir) who developed this understanding among us. While Leader Apo was trying to prepare the cadres who had left the country ideologically and militarily for the purpose of returning to the country, Semir and those who acted with him, on the contrary to Leader Apo, were trying to go to Europe and develop refugeeism within the party environment. This understanding had a negative effect on the environment and dissipated the concentration of the staff. The right understanding was trying to organize itself and be effective in the revolutionary environment based on the heavy pressure and torture environment developed by the September 12 fascist junta regime on the people and prisoners inside and outside. Therefore, there was a serious danger of right understanding and provocation. Leader Apo put up an intense ideological struggle against this understanding. Of course, it was not easy to do this, to regress the right understanding. It was very difficult to do and achieve this in those conditions and environment. Because, on the one hand, there was an internal ideological attack. The right-wing understanding developed by Semir was poisoning the party atmosphere. On the other hand, revolutionary measures and principles like today were not clear. However, with a continuous and intense ideological and organizational struggle, progress could be achieved and progress could be made. Therefore, all developments took place with an intense ideological struggle and effort. On the other hand, the inadequacy of the party center against Semir’s provocation further aggravated Leader Apo’s burden. Leader Apo almost shouldered the entire struggle. The support of the party center was very limited. It was not easy to regress the right understanding. It was very difficult to do and achieve this in those conditions and environment. Because, on the one hand, there was an internal ideological attack. The right-wing understanding developed by Semir was poisoning the party atmosphere. On the other hand, revolutionary measures and principles like today were not clear. However, with a continuous and intense ideological and organizational struggle, progress could be achieved and progress could be made. Therefore, all developments took place with an intense ideological struggle and effort. On the other hand, the inadequacy of the party center against Semir’s provocation further aggravated Leader Apo’s burden. Leader Apo almost shouldered the entire struggle.
THE STRUGGLE WAS POSSIBLE ONLY WITH DEEP COMMITMENT TO KURDISTAN’S FREEDOM
The cadres that came to the Middle East were honest, self-sacrificing, responsible and willing to lead the struggle. All friends had such feelings. In fact, other revolutionary movements apart from ours had such feelings and a desire to develop the struggle. However, the right understanding was trying to confuse the minds, weaken the sense of struggle and direct the revolutionaries to the search for individual life by using the difficulties created by the conditions.
Undoubtedly the conditions were difficult. The September 12 coup had passed over the society like a cylinder. Everyone was asked to shut up, bow down, and surrender. Even limited democratic rights were suspended, no rules and laws were followed. Those who made the slightest objection were tortured or shot and killed openly in the middle of the street. A significant majority of the revolutionaries were held captive by the enemy. The revolutionaries who were imprisoned were subjected to severe torture. Dungeons were turned into torture centers. There was no objection or opposition against the coup from outside. On the contrary, the dominant powers were on the side of the putschists. The military coup of 12 September was carried out with the support of the USA and NATO. The place where oppression and torture was the most was Kurdistan. The most severe form of torture was practiced in Diyarbakır military prison. In such conditions, it was not easy to attract people abroad, to sharpen their sense of struggle and to induce them to struggle. Because the conditions were difficult and the opportunities were very limited. The only opportunity we had in the Middle East field was that we stayed in the camps of some Palestinian friendly organizations and trained ourselves ideologically and militarily. There was no other possibility. Therefore, in these conditions, it was possible to turn to the struggle with deep devotion to the people, the comrades, the liberation and freedom of Kurdistan. Leader Apo was experiencing these feelings intensely and was fighting ideologically and organizationally for this to develop in our environment. On the one hand, he was trying to overcome the difficulties by strengthening the will, and on the other hand, he was trying to neutralize the right understanding by deepening patriotism, revolutionary sentiment and thought. It was not easy to sharpen their sense of struggle and to lead them to struggle. Because the conditions were difficult and the opportunities were very limited. The only opportunity we had in the Middle East field was that we stayed in the camps of some Palestinian friendly organizations and trained ourselves ideologically and militarily. There was no other possibility. Therefore, in these conditions, it was possible to turn to the struggle with deep devotion to the people, the comrades, the liberation and freedom of Kurdistan.
While we were abroad and we were working on returning to the country and improving the struggle, bad news was coming from the country. Every news from Diyarbakır dungeon was heartbreaking. Diyarbakir dungeon had been turned into a torture center. Severe tortures were made, people’s dignity was played with, they were tried to be demoted, repentance and confession were imposed. The prisoners resorted to various methods of resistance against oppression and torture, and went on hunger strikes. But the torture could not be stopped. Many cadres, sympathizers and patriots were killed during the tortures. The action of Mazlum Doğan against surrender on March 21, 1982, and the news that he was martyred, caused a deep emotion to develop in everyone. Then came the news of the action carried out by Dörtler. The choice of the comrades who were held captive by the enemy and who had no means to resist surrender and their martyrdom through their actions led to a serious questioning in our environment. This also led to the development and deepening of feelings of hatred, anger and revenge against the enemy. In our environment, the desire to do something as soon as possible, to respond to the heartbreaking cries of the comrades in the dungeon, was growing more and more every day. In the face of these news from the dungeon, Leader Apo intensified his efforts to bring the guerrilla units to the country and start the struggle. In our environment, the desire to do something as soon as possible, to respond to the heartbreaking cries of the comrades in the dungeon, was growing more and more every day. In the face of these news from the dungeon, Leader Apo intensified his efforts to bring the guerrilla units to the country and start the struggle. In our environment, the desire to do something as soon as possible, to respond to the heartbreaking cries of the comrades in the dungeon, was growing more and more every day. In the face of these news from the dungeon, Leader Apo intensified his efforts to bring the guerrilla units to the country and start the struggle.
THE HIGHEST SUPPORT TO LEADER APO’S EFFORT HAS COME FROM THE DUNGEONS
While Leader Apo was trying to start the fight as soon as possible due to the heavy situation in the dungeon, the most support for these efforts of Leader Apo came from the dungeon. This is one of the examples that best reveals the dialectic in the PKK. The concentration of friends inside and the resistance they developed and the efforts of Leader Apo outside complemented each other. The 14 July Resistance developed in this way and strengthened the party’s efforts to develop the struggle. The resistance of the friends in the dungeon by refusing to surrender under severe torture conditions destroyed the concept of liquidation that the 12 September regime wanted to develop inside, and this fascist torturer military regime was defeated. With the 14 July Resistance, the prisoners gathered around the resistance, surrender, confession, regret and all kinds of weakness and indecision are condemned. This attitude and its consequences ensured the defeat of the 12 September regime internally. Because the concept of the September 12 regime regarding the dungeons was to take the prisoners, to break the hope of the society, and to ensure that the society completely surrenders and obeys the fascist regime. But the resistance of the friends in the dungeon destroyed this concept of the enemy. With the 14 July Resistance, the rules and laws of the 12 September regime were shattered and the organized environment was re-created, and the line and principles of resistance became dominant. Because the concept of the September 12 regime regarding the dungeons was to take the prisoners, to break the hope of the society, and to ensure that the society completely surrenders and obeys the fascist regime. But the resistance of the friends in the dungeon destroyed this concept of the enemy. With the 14 July Resistance, the rules and laws of the 12 September regime were shattered and the organized environment was re-created, and the line and principles of resistance became dominant. Because the concept of the September 12 regime regarding the dungeons was to take the prisoners, to break the hope of the society, and to ensure that the society completely surrenders and obeys the fascist regime. But the resistance of the friends in the dungeon destroyed this concept of the enemy. With the 14 July Resistance, the rules and laws of the 12 September regime were shattered and the organized environment was re-created, and the line and principles of resistance became dominant.
Of course, the 14 July Resistance had a great impact on the outside as well as inside. First of all, it has been demonstrated that the people’s cause is not and will not be abandoned at all costs. This made a huge impact on the public. The belief in the PKK cadres and their leadership that the struggle will develop and achieve success has developed. Thus, the plan of the September 12 regime to end the hope of the people and take over the whole society was defeated. On the other hand, the 14 July Resistance led to the development of the consciousness and determination of struggle in the society. When the society saw that the PKK cadres did not surrender even under the harshest conditions, they resisted and sacrificed their lives for the cause, they started to embrace the struggle and consider itself responsible for the struggle. Undoubtedly, the development of these feelings in Kurdish society is a very important development.
THE GREAT DEATH FAST RESISTANCE DEEPLY AFFECTED ALL PARTY STAFF
The 14 July Resistance had a positive impact on the party atmosphere both inside and outside. It led to the development of questioning over the party structure and determination in the line of struggle. Of course, he contributed the most to the efforts of Leader Apo. The weakening of the right understanding that wants to improve the indecision, non-struggle and individual search for life in our environment; It strengthened Leader Apo’s efforts to prepare cadres and start the struggle by sending guerrilla units to the country. Semir’s effort was to move the party to Europe and prevent the development of guerrilla struggle. This was an opportunist right understanding and essentially meant surrender to the September 12 regime. The party would go to Europe, become refugees and give up the struggle. Of course, Semir does not do this openly, he was trying to cloud the atmosphere and provoke it by doing it secretly. Leader Apo was also fighting an intense ideological and organizational struggle against this understanding. The 14 July Resistance made an important contribution to the neutralization of this understanding. After the results of the 14 July Resistance were finalized, Semir could not hide himself and fell openly against the party and broke away from the ranks of the revolution. The July 14th Resistance had such clarifying and improving results on the party environment.
On the other hand, comrades Hayri, Kemal, Akif and Ali, who were martyred in the 14 July Resistance, were people who were very well known and loved by the majority of our party structure, and who had great efforts in the development and organization of the Movement and the enlargement of the struggle. The fact that these friends developed the resistance under heavy torture and took the resistance to the end and reached martyrdom deeply affected all party cadres. The words of M. Hayri Durmuş, expressed at the court when he started the action, caused a deep internal questioning in everyone. These words went down in history as the words summarizing the 14 July action and the PKK resistance line.
JULY 14 RESISTANCE WAS THE BASIS FOR THE REVOLUTIONARY REVOLUTION
Leader Apo started the guerrilla attack on August 15 and moved the line of July 14 to a higher point. The Kurdistan Revolution developed along this line, the resurrection revolution took place, and it became the basis and creator of all values created today. The Kurdistan Revolution developed mainly on the basis of resistance. The 14 July Resistance was the basis for the formation of this line. In this respect, it is very important to understand the line and spirit of July 14 and to deepen it.
The Great 14 July Resistance is a line and a style. At the core of this line is resistance and success through resistance. The July 14 action proved that the enemy can be defeated by resisting even under the most difficult conditions. This expresses the essence and style of the PKK and the Kurdistan revolution. If progress is to be made in Kurdistan, if the PKK identity is to be taken as a basis, there is no doubt that this can only happen by deepening, assimilating and taking this line as a basis.
It is very important to understand and take the 14th of July line as a basis in terms of developing the struggle against AKP-MHP fascism and defeating fascism today. AKP-MHP fascism is essentially a continuation of the September 12 genocidal colonialist fascist regime. Just like the fascist September 12 regime, the fascist AKP-MHP government has determined the realization of the Kurdish genocide as its main goal. On this basis, it deepens its genocidal policies and increases its attacks. It is imposing isolation on Leader Apo, aiming to eliminate all the developments we have created by liquidating our Movement and to complete the Kurdish genocide. In order for us to defeat this Kurdish and anti-human fascist regime, we, as the Movement and the people, need to further enlarge and develop our struggle against the fascist AKP-MHP government. Undoubtedly, we can do and achieve this by deepening on the 14th of July line. Therefore, more than ever, we need to understand, internalize and take the 14th of July line as a basis. On this basis, all comrades need to deepen the line of resistance on July 14 and expand the struggle on the line of July 14.
