HPG affirms continuing path of heroes toward physical freedom of Leader Apo

The Media Center of the People's Defense Forces (HPG) issued a statement today, congratulating the National Heroism Week, stating:

"We salute our people and their friends, from the age of seven to seventy, who went out to the squares and welcomed Newroz with a spirit of resistance and celebrated it with great enthusiasm, showing the whole world the truth of the Kurdish people's struggle and their national unity, raising their voices loudly with loyalty, longing, and the demand for Leader Apo’s freedom, and we congratulate them on Newroz.

Comrade Mazlum Doğan, the Kawa of the era, demonstrated great resistance in the face of inhumane torture in Amed prison on the night of Newroz, March 21, 1982, and carried out a major heroic action. His consciousness, revolutionary determination, strong personality, true camaraderie, and his operation during Newroz made him a pioneer in the Apoist movement. These values have become the source of our struggle’s awareness, the spirit of our resistance, its line, and identity. The Newroz resistance spirit embodied by Mazlum Doğan granted the Kurdish people identity, national consciousness, and a will to struggle, and the spark he ignited with three matches turned into a freedom flame illuminated today by millions of people. If Newroz is celebrated today with its true meaning and historical essence, giving our people enthusiasm and spirit, and most importantly bringing them step by step closer to freedom, this is due to the heroism of Mazlum Doğan.

Commander Mahsum Korkmaz, the legendary leader of the Kurdish Freedom Guerrillas, one of Mazlum Doğan’s closest comrades, transferred the PKK’s line of resistance from Amed prison to the mountains of Kurdistan. He launched the armed struggle in the mountains of Kurdistan, broke the policy of denial and extermination against the Kurdish people, carried out the historic August 15 leap, and conveyed the Apoist resistance’s voice to the whole world. His heroism revived the existential struggle of the Kurdish people, as it revealed the legacy left by the comrade who believed in the necessity of developing the guerrilla struggle and led this path. Tens of thousands of young followers joined this struggle with faith in victory. Those walking the Apoist path transformed the spirit and line of resistance from Amed prison into the guerrilla method, leading continuous struggle for half a century with great sacrifices, creating thousands of heroes. The disciplined, brave, and firm stance of this comrade within Leader Apo’s line played an important role in the success of the resistance. The impact of this path was not limited to a specific region but extended throughout Kurdistan and all places where Kurds live. The spirit and stance of this comrade were a great force for the people’s freedom, and therefore he will always be remembered as a hero.

The Kurdish national people celebrate between March 21 and 28 the day Mazlum Doğan carried out his heroic operation, and the day Mahsum Korkmaz was martyred on March 28, 1986, in Kabar, as the National Heroism Week. Mazlum and Mahsum represent the values of dignity that launched the contemporary history of heroism for our people, as revolutionary and social figures embodying the highest levels of awareness, will, and the Apoist spirit. Mazlum and Mahsum inscribed their names in the history of Kurdistan as great heroes and symbols of the spirit of freedom and revolution. Just as the flames of our people’s struggle for national freedom have not gone out over decades, they continue to illuminate our path today. On this basis, we congratulate National Heroism Week to our Kurdish national people and all our comrades fighting with the Apoist self-sacrificial spirit in all squares, and we remember all our martyrs, especially our national heroes, with respect, love, and gratitude. We affirm that under all circumstances, we will continue to walk in the footsteps of our martyrs with determination.

As the Kurdish Freedom Guerrillas, we continue today our struggle with the consciousness of Mazlum and the spirit of Mahsum to defend our duties within the Apoist line, with an understanding befitting the martyrs, walking the path of heroes, with the spirit of self-sacrifice and stronger methods. We affirm our determination to achieve the physical freedom of Leader Apo.

We salute the Kurdish people walking determinedly on the path of their heroes, celebrating Newroz with great strength and remembering their heroes with respect. Once again, we congratulate our national people and comrades on Newroz and Heroism Week, and we wish them success in their struggle for freedom.”

A-H 

ANHA