Kalkan: Guerrilla ready to engage in political struggle if path paved

In a special program on “Medya Haber” TV, Duran Kalkan, member of the Leader Abdullah Ocalan Academy for Social Sciences, evaluated the video message sent by Leader Abdullah Ocalan on June 9 and the impact of the weapon destruction ceremony carried out by the Peace and Democratic Society Group. He also touched on the expected committee to be formed in the Turkish parliament, current political developments, the Great Death Fast of July 14, and the Rojava Revolution as it enters its 13th year. He said:

"First, I extend my respectful greetings to Leader Apo. Indeed, July 9 was a historic day. After 26 years and 10 days, it was very emotional to hear Leader Apo’s voice directly once again, even through a camera lens. It excited all of us; we were deeply moved. It was exciting and significant, and it came as a result of 26–27 years of struggle. It had various outcomes and also marked a peak in terms of political agenda.

Of course, the road ahead is still long, and the struggle must not stop, it must continue. Nevertheless, a significant achievement has been realized as a result of the campaign for the physical freedom of Leader Apo. Both the level of the campaign and the uninterrupted struggle over the past 27 years against the international conspiracy have borne tangible results. It has been confirmed that these efforts were not in vain. Everyone should feel proud and joyful because their struggle brought about this result, and that became clearly evident.

I can say this: As a movement and as a people, my comrades and I, we always believed in the physical freedom of Leader Apo. We were never deceived by the permanence and harshness of the torture system in Imrali or by exaggerated appearances presented by certain individuals. There’s no doubt it was impactful, but it never created despair or a lack of confidence in us.

More importantly, in this regard, our martyrs believed in Leader Apo’s physical freedom. I myself believed in it with all my heart. Had that not been the case, such a struggle could not have been waged under these conditions. Leader Apo would not have been able to resist in such a way, nor those on the outside, nor we, nor even the Guerrilla. If that belief did not exist, so many youths would not have abandoned everything and gone to the mountains, nor would they have joined the Guerrilla ranks. Without this belief, the struggle wouldn’t have followed the path of martyrdom, nor would there have been such courage and sacrificial spirit.

And I want to express this again on this occasion: our belief did not go to waste. Our hope and belief that we will win through struggle, and that Leader Apo’s struggle will be crowned with success, were not in vain. That is what the prison resisters taught us. It started with Haki, and our martyrs taught us that. I can say that great successes will emerge from now on. What has happened so far, let’s say, are just initial developments. The major and essential developments will come from now onward.

Let me say this on this occasion: Leader Apo once said, 'August 2 can be celebrated as the Day of the Rose.' So July 9 should be understood in that way. Our people reacted to it with tears of joy, and its impact continues to this day. Everyone keeps watching it over and over again, dozens or even hundreds of times. What’s striking and interesting is this: I myself watched it several times, and every time you watch it, your excitement grows as if you're seeing it for the first time. It creates such an impression. In terms of content, it is a continuation of the February 27 declaration and subsequent statements. In that sense, it should also be evaluated for its substance. It is full of meaning; it clearly and fundamentally explains what we did, why we did it, and what we should do next.

It reflects the strength of the Apoist movement. Leader Apo describes it as a 'movement of socialist comradeship.' This has already influenced everyone, and socialism will develop, it is now widely understood."

To be continued… 

A-H 

ANHA