Kurdistan Freedom Guerrillas spoke to ANF on the occasion of the August 15 Initiative. Wishing a happy ‘Resurrection Day’ to the Kurdish people and Abdullah Öcalan, the guerrillas saluted the Kurdish leader’s initiation of the ‘Peace and Democratic Society Process’ and emphasized that the path to the present was opened by the first bullet fired on August 15, 1984.
Speaking to ANF, guerrillas from the People’s Defense Forces (HPG) and the Free Women’s Troops (YJA Star) underlined that they would continue the struggle for freedom in the spirit of August 15.
A day of awakening
Eylem Xoşmêr: In 1984, the first bullet was fired. Since that day, an unparalleled struggle has been waged. The armed struggle was not confined to the mountains; it spread to all four parts of Kurdistan. For us, August 15 is the Resurrection Day, when an awakening took place. Comrade Egîd sowed the seeds of a new life with the first bullet he fired. Today, the spirit created by that first bullet endures with the participation of thousands of Egîds. The Kurdish people defended themselves and took up arms against policies of annihilation and denial. This is the same in nature; all living beings defend themselves. Armed struggle is for the defense of existence. We hope that this step becomes a path to freedom and victory for all the peoples of the world.
An expression of existence for the Kurdish people
Armanc Wan: The August 15 Initiative is an expression of existence for the Kurdish people. For 41 years, the Kurdish people have waged an armed struggle for their freedom. Of course, this struggle did not begin without reason; there was an annihilation policy directed against the Kurds. The occupiers used to say, ‘We buried the Kurds and poured concrete over them.’ The August 15 offensive was launched in response to these annihilation policies. For this reason, the first bullet fired is extremely significant and historic. With that bullet, the Kurdish people came to life once again. That is why we say August 15 is the Resurrection Day. Taking up arms also meant defending oneself against massacres. The Kurdish people were forced to take up arms to protect their honor, culture, and existence. August 15 determined our future. We owe a debt to this date. Before August 15, the situation was different; today, the situation of the Kurdish people is entirely different. The world now recognizes the Kurds. We are now in a new process; the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) has dissolved itself and halted the armed struggle against the Turkish state. But as I said at the beginning, arms are the guarantee of our existence. Now there is a new paradigm, and we are participating accordingly, raising our struggle for the success of this process. We joined Leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan], and we will never abandon our struggle. If there is a threat to the existence of our people, arms will once again be our means of defense.
The seeds of August 15 sprouted in Kurdistan
Bêrîvan Mîrkan: Happy August 15 to Leader Apo, our people, and our comrades. The August 15 Initiative was launched by Comrade Egîd, who became a source of hope for the Kurdish people and, with this initiative, responded to the cries rising from the Amed (Diyarbakır) prison. No one believed that such a war would begin. Comrade Egîd started it, and this struggle still continues. As freedom guerrillas, we walk in his footsteps.
The Kurdish people were like a dried tree, like a flower that would not bloom. With the August 15 Initiative, the Kurdish people said, ‘We exist now.’ The seeds of August 15 sprouted in Kurdistan and have reached the present day with great labor and great sacrifices. The Kurdish people safeguarded their existence and became an example for all the peoples of the world. Women comrades also took their place in this initiative. As women, we will always safeguard the legacy of this initiative.
We will follow the truth like Egîd, Zîlan, and Bêrîtan
Edessa Roj: The firing of the first bullet marked the beginning of our own revolution, and the armed struggle was launched under the leadership of Comrade Egîd. We will always safeguard the legacy of this struggle. The August 15 Initiative gave new life to the Kurdish people. Just as everything in the universe renews itself, the Kurdish people also renewed themselves through this initiative. We are now going through another stage; we must carry that first bullet into the stage of democracy and peace. As the freedom movement, we will always renew ourselves in the spirit of August 15. We will follow the truth like our commanders Egîd, Zîlan, and Bêrîtan. Our call is for everyone to join this process of freedom. Our people, especially the youth, must understand this process well and take part in it.
We will protect the values of August 15
Koçerîn Cîlo: Comrade Egîd opened a new path of struggle with the August 15 Initiative, and thousands of devoted fighters of this land followed in his footsteps. From Zîlan and Bêrîtan to Rojger and Asya, this is the line of Commander Egîd. We, as women fighters, also took part in this process, and we are still carrying out our struggle. We will protect the values of August 15 until the very end.
Join the process in the spirit of August 15
Nûda Meydana: For us, August 15 was the first move as guerrillas. The first bullet was not fired only in the military sphere, nor was it launched solely as such; that bullet was a major blow against occupation, both ideologically and militarily. The submission imposed on the Kurdish people was broken through, and the people were raised to their feet again. In the recent period, we received information from Leader Apo, and this created great morale and excitement in us. As women, we are ready more than ever. My call to all women is this: let us organize according to Leader Apo’s call. Leader Apo’s greeting is an existence to us. Let us join this process in the spirit of August 15 and build victory.
Kurdish people’s resistance became a hope for freedom for all peoples
Nûjiyan Alman: We are going through a very different year. The Kurdish people have now proven their existence. This was made possible by the August 15 Offensive. This resistance and determination became a hope for freedom for all peoples. With this step, the Kurdish people set an example. While many other peoples waged struggles but could not succeed, the Kurdish people, through their own struggle, became the vanguard of freedom and democracy. Despite all the attacks, the Kurds took up arms and climbed to the peaks of the mountains against occupation, proving how organized and strong we are. By firing the first bullet, Comrade Egîd proved that a people who cannot defend themselves cannot protect their existence. Today, everyone with conscience and morality should join this process of freedom. This is the greatest action. What Comrade Egîd did was to understand Leader Apo correctly and put it into practice. What falls to us is to do the same. Against the nation-state mentality, we must take Leader Apo’s manifesto as our basis and respond to Comrade Egîd’s action accordingly. Women must also lead peace and a democratic society. We are the ones who need freedom the most, and for that reason, we must be the ones who work the most.
War and peace both demonstrate the power of Leader Apo
Sema Agirî: A forty-one-year history of war and of success has been created. The first bullet was fired on the basis of proving the existence of the Kurdish people. Now no one can debate or deny the existence of the Kurdish people. This is the result of the legacy of August 15, of the price paid and of the efforts made by the martyrs. The enemy was pursued to the heart of its strongholds. The door to democracy and freedom was opened under the leadership of Leader Apo. Reaching this day was not easy. With the August 15 Offensive, we became an army of martyrs. It is through the sacrifices made by our fallen comrades for freedom that we have reached these days. Rebellions are our legacy, and we are proud of this. We are now at a different stage. Leader Apo is leading this process. Both peace and war demonstrate the power of Leader Apo, and we follow in his footsteps. We will do whatever we can to open the door to peace, to make freedom permanent, and to achieve the goals of our fallen comrades. Without a doubt, we will safeguard the legacy of August 15. The meaning of the first bullet is the same as the meaning of today’s efforts for peace and a democratic society. We are the fighters of Leader Apo; we will fulfill the promise we made to our fallen comrades.
Source: ANF News
