PKK urges people, friends for proper understanding, implementation of Feb 27 Call

The Executive Committee of the PKK issued a statement today to the public on the occasion of May 1st, International Workers' Day, translated by the Firat News Agency, which reads:

"On May 1st, following March 8 and Newroz, we live a new day of unity, solidarity, and the struggle of the working class. On May 1st, workers and laborers will fill the squares and intensify the struggle against fascism for democracy everywhere. They will loudly proclaim and express their demand for a free, equal, and just democratic system. They will fight against fascism, strengthening their unity, solidarity, and struggle to build a democratic society based on women's freedom and social ecology.

On this basis, we especially congratulate Leader Apo, all comrades, workers, laborers, women, youth, our patriotic people, and our democratic friends on May 1st.

In this new year of May 1st, we wish great victory to all who struggle for freedom and democracy. In the name of guerrilla leaders Mohammed Qara Songur, Mohammed Amin Aslan, and Ramadan Kaplan, we lovingly and respectfully commemorate the martyrs of Taksim Square in 1977 and all May 1st martyrs. We also wish a speedy recovery to our comrade and friend Sirri Sureyya Onder, who is strongly fighting for life during this May 1st phase."

May 1st is a star that lights the way for working peoples

May 1st is one of the most important living legacies of true socialism. Undoubtedly, what gives this day its meaning is the reality of the martyrs and their resistance. Resistance for liberation from oppression, tyranny, and exploitation, and the sacrifice of martyrs for it, has always established a value that shows the way and empowers the struggle for freedom, equality, and justice. Despite the many historical characteristics of true socialism, the reality of May 1st has remained in the memory of the working peoples as a guiding star inspiring them.

The Kurdish Freedom Movement and the Kurdish people, under the leadership of Leader Apo, developed a historic resistance for freedom and celebrated March 8 and Newroz in a truer sense. On May 1st as well, they elevated the struggle for freedom and democracy. This struggle brought about a more meaningful life and also made May 1st a day of renewing the socialist democratic mentality and will. It became a day when organization and activism always escalated. The theory of democratic civilization developed by Leader Apo enabled a deeper understanding of May 1st and living according to its meaning.

Peace cannot be achieved without freedom and democracy

Our movement and our people are living this May 1st on the basis of the "Peace and Democratic Society" call made by Leader Apo on February 27. It is clear that peace cannot be achieved without freedom and democracy. Without achieving peace in Kurdistan, conflicts cannot be ended, and true peace cannot be established in the Middle East and the world, because global capitalist modernity was founded on the division and colonial control of Kurdistan. Therefore, real peace in the world and the Middle East can only be achieved through peace in Kurdistan.

The democratic society is a natural state compatible with human nature. It is an economic, ecological, women’s freedom-based, democratic confederalist, and socialist democratic society. Today, more than anyone, oppressed women and the Kurdish people need peace and the development of democratic society. Thus, our people and friends, especially women and youth, must deeply understand the meaning of the "Peace and Democratic Society" call and make May 1st activities a tool to strengthen this consciousness and activism. By spreading the model of democratic modernity worldwide, they will work to develop socialist democratic consciousness and solidarity in all fields.

Our people and democratic public know very well that we, as a movement and a people, have embraced Leader Apo's February 27 call for peace and democratic society with all our strength. Over the past two months, we have tried to correctly understand and successfully implement this call. We clearly expressed this stance in our statements on March 1 and Newroz. Despite the delaying tactics and military attacks by the AKP government, we will continue this stance, because we recognize the difficulty of solving the current problems. Thus, we are moving with patience and care, trying not to be the side that disrupts the process. The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) delegation is making optimistic statements. We hear that Leader Apo is optimistic and continues his work. However, no concrete steps have been taken yet to implement the February 27 call. We hope that this situation will change, that Leader Apo will be able to live and work freely, and that he will be able to hold the long-awaited party congress.

We await for Leader Apo to have the opportunity to lead the party conference

Once again, we warn our people and friends and call on them to correctly understand and successfully implement the February 27 call. The "Peace and Democratic Society" call issued on February 27 is not a request to the state or government to give us anything. On the contrary, this call is about educating, organizing, and democratizing society with the consciousness of freedom and democracy. Peace can only be achieved on this basis. A democratic society can only be built with this understanding. Therefore, no one should be in a state of waiting. Starting from the principles of unity, solidarity, and struggle on May 1st, everyone should mobilize to develop democratic social consciousness, organization, and the unity of all oppressed peoples. Everything must be realized on this basis.

The call is primarily for a revolution of mindset and way of life

Above all, one must change their mentality and way of life. The "Peace and Democratic Society" call is first and foremost a revolution of mindset and lifestyle. This truth must be well understood. The time has come for change and transformation on the line of peace and democratic society, and this process has already begun. No matter how much one resists, no one can remain outside this change and transformation. Leader Apo has carried out his revolutionary change and transformation. On this basis, the PKK is living the necessary change and transformation. On this basis, the Kurdish people, women, and youth as a whole will achieve democratic change and transformation, which in turn will lead to democratic change and transformation in Turkey and the Middle East as a whole. May 1st and the Month of Martyrs will serve as a means for our people and friends, under the leadership of women and youth, to experience this kind of change and transformation.

On these foundations, we once again congratulate May 1st for all workers, laborers, women, youth, and socialist and revolutionary forces. In the names of comrades Haki Karer, Mohammed Qara Songur, and artist Mizgin, we lovingly and gratefully remember all May martyrs, and we call on our entire patriotic people and democratic friends to strongly and actively participate in May 1st celebrations everywhere."

A-H

ANHA