HPG: We will continue struggle to achieve Leader’s physical freedom

The HPG Media Center issued a statement today marking the 42nd anniversary of the August 15 offensive, saying:

“We celebrate the National Renaissance Day and the 42nd anniversary of the Great August 15 offensive, which shattered the genocidal rule imposed on the Kurds, launched the war for existence and freedom, and brought about the renaissance of the Kurdish people. We extend our congratulations to Leader Apo, the leader and creator of this historic offensive; to the families of our martyrs, whose sacrifice and blood have carried our struggle to this day; to our patriotic Kurdish people; to our friends around the world who support our struggle; and to our comrades who continue their struggle with a spirit of self-sacrifice everywhere.

The August 15 offensive emerged at a time when the Kurdish language, identity and existence continued to be denied, while all the values of the Kurdish people were being plundered and all of Kurdistan was under occupation and deep darkness. The historic offensive of Leader Apo, the founding of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Comrade Mazlum Doğan’s lighting of the resistance with three matches in Amed Prison, and the resistance of the four comrades and its growth through the July 14 resistance laid the foundations for the August 15 offensive of 1984.

With the ‘first bullet’ fired on August 15 under the leadership of Comrade Masum Korkmaz to break the severe repression imposed on the Kurdish people, our struggle for existence and freedom began, marking a turning point for the Kurds and Kurdistan. At a time when even imagining a single bullet being fired against the occupation, repression and the fascist junta of September 12 seemed impossible, the launch of such a heroic movement and the guerrilla struggle represented a renaissance and revival of the Kurdish people in every aspect.

Our people, rising from the ashes through the will of Leader Apo, broke the chains of slavery through their legitimate and just struggle, overcame backwardness and embarked on an uninterrupted heroic journey. Therefore, we respectfully and gratefully commemorate all our martyrs in the person of Comrade Egîd, the symbol and pioneer of the August 15 offensive, and renew our pledge to fulfill the dreams of our martyrs.”

The August 15 offensive was a historic intervention

The August 15 offensive was not merely a military operation or a temporary act of self-defense. It was a historic intervention on behalf of a people on the brink of extinction. Alongside its military dimension, the offensive had national, ideological, political, social and cultural dimensions. It was a revolt against surrender and the chains of slavery that had become entrenched in the minds of the Kurds.

It destroyed the strongholds that the occupation had built in Kurdish minds and demonstrated that the Kurds and Kurdistan are an undeniable reality. The Renaissance Revolution also initiated an intellectual, social and democratic revolutionary process across all areas where Kurds live.

Free Kurdish women who rose through the Renaissance resistance became pioneers of a free life, inspiring women around the world, who today draw on and closely follow their experience. These developments, which Leader Apo described as a ‘revolution within the revolution,’ created a new Kurdish identity of which everyone could be proud and contributed to the development of free Kurds, the Apoist spirit, and Apoist values and consciousness.

If Kurdish values, Kurdishness and Kurdistan are spoken of today with such strength and prominence, the August 15 offensive and the struggle waged through the sacrifices of thousands of guerrilla fighters played a decisive role in this.

The guerrilla fighters were never merely a defensive army or ordinary combatants. For the Kurdish people and Kurdistan, they became a symbol of the new and free Kurdish person. Through their high human qualities, great spirit of self-sacrifice, loyalty to their people and homeland, heroic struggle, strong will, tireless efforts, selfless way of life, integrity and unconditional sacrifice, they secured a place in the hearts of the people.

The flame lit with the August 15 offensive liberated society, in ideological and moral terms, from selfishness, helplessness and weakness. It established social ethics based on collective life, comradeship and self-sacrifice, and these high morale and ideological principles became a fundamental source of strength for the people to preserve their existence under the most difficult circumstances and not retreat in the face of attacks.

Leader Apo’s freedom is a vital issue that cannot be abandoned

Undoubtedly, Leader Apo stands behind these historic developments, high values and ongoing struggle. The Leader is the creator of all the social, ideological and human values of our struggle. Therefore, his freedom is a vital issue for our people and our movement that cannot be abandoned. This reality is now recognized around the world.

All the dynamics of the Kurdistan freedom struggle, foremost among them the guerrilla fighters and our patriotic people, have today directed their efforts toward the physical freedom of Leader Apo. Any approach or effort that does not place Leader Apo’s position and full freedom at its core and ignores this reality is unacceptable to the guerrillas.

The testament and commitment of thousands of martyrs who died during 27 years of struggle against the torture system in İmralı and the international conspiracy are based on this principle. Every one of our martyrs took their final breath with the words, Long live Leader Apo.

As freedom fighters following in the footsteps of the martyrs, we affirm that until the physical freedom of Leader Apo is secured, we, together with our people, will continue our struggle and resistance without interruption, with determination and by all means and methods.

With this hope, faith and determination to achieve victory, we once again celebrate the August 15 Renaissance Day and renew our pledge to fulfill our march toward ‘Free Leadership, Free Kurdistan.’ As the 43rd year of the struggle begins, we wish success and prosperity to all our comrades and our patriotic people whose hearts beat with Leader Apo.”

A-H 

ANHA