The August 15 ‘Resurrection Day’, when the Kurdish guerrillas carried out the first armed actions against the Turkish army in North Kurdistan in 1984, is the expression of the reemergence of the Kurdish people, who were threatened with annihilation, onto the world stage. The Freedom Guerrillas, those who continue the march for freedom and victory in the footsteps of their commanders, welcome this day with great enthusiasm and excitement.
On the occasion of the 41st anniversary of the August 15, 1984 Offensive, guerrillas from the People’s Defense Forces (HPG) and the Free Women’s Troops (YJA Star) spoke to ANF.
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The Kurdish people stepped onto the stage of history with a struggle for existence
Berfîn Êrîş: Firstly, we congratulate all humanity and Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan) on the 41st anniversary of the Resurrection Day. The August 15 Initiative began when Commander Egîd fired the first bullet in Eruh, awakening the Kurdish people from the sleep of death and enabling them to fight for their existence. At the same time, the action in Eruh made the whole world see that the Kurdish people had stepped onto the stage of history with a struggle for their existence. This resistance, launched under the leadership of the immortal Commander Egîd, has today become an example of the existence and struggle of the Kurdish people and of the democratic society model for the whole world. Especially in the mountains of Kurdistan, as fighters following in the footsteps of our commanders, we will never give up on their dreams and goals, and we will continue the freedom struggle with great faith. We will always follow in the footsteps of our commander, and as his fighters, we will create thousands of Egîds. In particular, in line with the ongoing process, we will fulfill our role as guerrillas.
Comrade Egîd’s objective has achieved victory
Şoreş Kobanê: I bow before the value and labor created by Commander Egîd and remember him with respect. At the same time, I remember with gratitude and respect all the friends who were martyred in the Eruh offensive, and I promise that we will always follow in their footsteps.
As is known, the action carried out on August 15, 1984, began with the first bullet fired by Commander Egîd. This action carried a very great and valuable meaning. It created an awakening among the Kurdish people and enabled them to realize their own strength. Especially today, how we welcome the August 15 Initiative is very important for us. From 1984 to 2025, the armed struggle launched by Commander Egîd has continued. With Leader Apo’s call to end the armed struggle, we understand that Comrade Egîd’s aim and objective have achieved victory. From now on, we will continue our political and ideological struggle in the spirit of August 15. The resistance and struggle initiated by Comrade Egîd proved that the struggle of the Kurdish people is a struggle for humanity. As the fighters of Comrade Egîd, we will strengthen Leader Apo’s call in the spirit of the August 15 Offensive. We will make the peoples’ struggle and freedom permanent.
We will ensure the peace process reaches a conclusion
Hogir Cûdî: I congratulate Leader Apo and our people on the August 15 Initiative, which in itself created a new life. For all peoples, and especially for the Kurdish people, this meant a rebirth. For a people who had been divided for centuries and faced with annihilation, this is how it can be defined. Although there had been many uprisings and struggles, the August 15 Initiative brought about a very great change. Thousands of children in Kurdistan were given the name Egîd. This is a result of the August 15 Initiative. If today we are resisting in the mountains, if our people are struggling for their freedom and their language, this is the result of that initiative. From 1984 until today, heavy prices have been paid, and at the same time great successes and achievements have been won. Every year we celebrate this day as the beginning of rebirth and reconstruction.
This year we welcome August 15 with great enthusiasm. For this reason, everyone, especially our people, should celebrate this day with great enthusiasm wherever they are. This is a very meaningful day; it is a day of uprising against occupation. Today the Kurds are no longer the Kurds of the past; they have risen up against the rulers and the occupiers. They have developed in every field and are fighting for freedom and rights. The Kurds today do not fear death; Kurds are greater than death and now know themselves. With the August 15 Initiative, a conscious Kurd has stepped onto the stage of history. They are waging a conscious war to win their freedom. For this reason, we once again congratulate all our people, Leader Apo, and all our comrades on the Resurrection Day. With strong participation and strong struggle, we will bring this year to victory. We will ensure that the process which has begun reaches a conclusion. We will liberate our Leader and realize the aims and dreams of the martyrs.
We will always keep the spirit of Comrade Egîd alive
Şahin Gabar: The historic August 15 Initiative launched in 1984 was a new step for all of Kurdistan and within the movement. In general terms, it was an awakening from sleep for the Kurdish people. With that first bullet, the Kurdish people once again held on to their own existence. This step was taken under the command of Comrade Egîd. This historic initiative had a great impact and produced a very strong result in military terms. The achievements we have today were gained through the labor of those days. Our existence carries the influence of August 15 both militarily and socially. We see our existence in the Resurrection Day; just as November 27 is a new milestone for us, so too is August 15. For this reason, it means rebirth to us; it enabled us to reorganize in Kurdistan. As the fighters of Commander Egîd, we promise that we will always walk this path and will always keep the spirit of Comrade Egîd alive.
We will crown our struggle with victory
Lezgîn Qoser: The August 15 Initiative brought many gains to the Kurdish people. Today, we stand on our feet thanks to the labor and achievements of those days. In the spirit of August 15, we renewed ourselves in every sense. We fought on that basis, we lived on that basis, and we have reached the present day. Today, a process has been initiated under the leadership of Leader Apo. The Peace and Democratic Society Process is very valuable and meaningful to us. Especially after such a long time, seeing Leader Apo and hearing his voice has been a source of happiness and morale for us. For this reason, participation in this process in the spirit of August 15 is very valuable and meaningful for us as the guerrillas of the HPG. We have come to this day under the leadership of Leader Apo and through the labor of the martyrs. Our struggle and resistance have continued to this day in the footsteps of the Egîds. In all four parts of Kurdistan, the struggle and resistance are being carried out in this way. To be worthy of the martyrs and Leader Apo, we base ourselves on participation in the spirit of August 15, and we promise that we will carry our struggle to victory. This will mean the freedom of Leader Apo, of the Kurdish people, and of Kurdistan.
We will always keep this day alive
Botan Yılmaz: Today, in the mountains of Kurdistan, we continue our struggle in the spirit of August 15. At the same time, we are all fighters created by the August 15 Initiative. August 15 is very valuable and meaningful to us, because it is the Resurrection Day of the peoples. The first bullet fired enabled humanity to return to its own existence. We promise that we will always keep this day alive and turn every day, in the spirit of August 15, into a greater and stronger struggle. Lastly, we say: Bijî Leader Apo, Bijî August 15, Bijî Commander Egîd (Long live Leader Öcalan, long live August 15, long live Commander Egîd).
Thanks to Commander Egîd, we grew into an ocean
Avjîn Çiya: I congratulate Leader Apo, all the Kurdish people, and humanity on the 41st anniversary of the Resurrection Day. The August 15 Initiative was a step against the colonialist and occupying mentality. The first bullet fired by Commander Egîd was also directed against betrayal and collaboration, because many who considered themselves Kurdish were selling out the values of the people every day, putting the rights of women, children, and youth up for sale. The August 15 Initiative was essentially directed against this mentality as well. At the same time, it was an initiative to reveal the reality of a society.
August 15 was a response to the action and resistance in the Amed (Diyarbakır) prison. This action showed the fascists the existence and truth of the Kurdish people. Commander Egîd was the comrade of Kemal and Mazlum. Through his action, he showed that the Kurdish people and the militants of the Apoist movement would never bow down in the face of betrayal and denial. Comrades Kemal and Mazlum had sacrificed their lives for this cause. Thanks to the labor and struggle of Commander Egîd, we transformed from a stream to a sea, and from a sea to an ocean. With the Eruh action, all oppressed peoples came together for their rights and freedoms. Today, we are fighting for the same cause together with all peoples. As the comrades of Commander Egîd, we will always expand our struggle and take stronger steps forward.