HPG commanders Amed Malazgirt, Seyitxan Dersim, Sidar Heştanin, Berwar Urmiye, and Şerif Amed participated in a celebration in guerrilla areas marking the 41st anniversary of the first armed actions against the Turkish army on August 15, 1984.
Speakers at the event emphasized that the first armed action carried out on August 15, 1984, in Dih (Eruh) and Şemzînan (Şemdinli) under the leadership of Mahsum Korkmaz (Commander Egîd), marked a historic turning point in the Kurdish people’s struggle for existence and freedom.
In his speech at the ceremony, HPG commander Amed Malazgirt said that the founding members of the PKK, who chose resistance over surrender after the September 12 military coup, paved the way for freedom for the Kurdish people.
Malazgirt commemorated Ali Haydar Kaytan (Fuat) and Ali Rıza Altun, whose deaths were announced recently, saying, “The August 15 offensive paved the way for the Kurdish people to live with dignity in the world today.”
Malazgirt honored the leading cadres who fell as martyrs in the struggle, particularly highlighting the role of Nureddin Sofi in enhancing the resistance in Rojava.
Malazgirt stated that the spirit of August 15 is still alive today and that this spirit lies at the foundation of today’s political and military gains. He continued, “Based on the spirit of August 15, an even greater struggle will be waged from now on. Thousands of pioneers like Egîd and Nureddin Sofi will take up this struggle. If our struggle has reached the stage of achieving results today, the role of the August 15 initiative is significant.”
The HPG commander added, “With years of experience, I believe we will achieve more successful results.”
The ceremony ended with the slogans “Bijî Serok Apo” [Long Live Leader Öcalan] and “Jin Jiyan Azadî” [Woman, Life, Freedom], revolutionary songs and dancing.