People’s Defense Center (HSM) Headquarters Commander Murat Karayılan sent a video message to the 33rd International Kurdish Culture Festival in Dortmund. The festival is celebrated under the motto “Free life through free leadership – for a democratic society” and dedicated to the Kurdistan Freedom Struggle commanders Nureddin Sofi, Emine Erciyes, Koçer Urfa, and Baxtiyar Gabar who fell as martyrs.
The message from Karayılan reads as follows:
“Dear people!
On behalf of our movement and all our friends, I greet you. I wish you success and victory. I congratulate you on your culture and arts festival.
In the current process of genocide and assimilation against our people, this festival, which has been held in European cities for 33 years, is very valuable. Long live!
The Turkish state has not taken a single step to date
Dear patriots, dear people!
As you all know, with Leader Apo’s [Abdullah Öcalan’s] historic call on February 27, the Kurdistan Freedom Struggle entered a new phase. There is war in the Middle East region, and there are plans for restructuring. Leader Apo saw this process as dangerous and therefore responded to Devlet Bahçeli’s call. During this period, Leader Apo made very important decisions. As the Movement, we accepted these important and strategic decisions at the 12th PKK Congress and then implemented them one by one. However, the Turkish state has not taken a single step beyond some routine efforts to date.
Dear patriots, dear friends!
In the current period, there are those who want to develop Peace and Democratic Society, the brotherhood of peoples; to develop brotherhood and alliance between the Kurdish and Turkish peoples, as in 1071 Malazgirt and in the 1920s. We are ready for this. However, the Kurdish question is a centuries-old issue. Above all, it requires sincerity, trust, and fundamental steps. However, the Turkish state has not made such a practice and effort so far. We are following up. Do Turkish state officials really want to resolve these deep-rooted problems or not?
Two important steps needed for a solution
Two important steps are needed for a solution. First, Leader Apo must be physically free. Second, the Kurdish language and culture must be free, and there must be cultural equality.
Leader Apo’s freedom is not the freedom of one person. As our entire people and all our comrades, we see our freedom in Leader Apo’s freedom. For us, he is our identity and the architect of this process. He is the main interlocutor, the chief negotiator. We see that a commission has been established for this work and for this process. But they are excluding the person who created the process, its architect. They are debating whether to hold talks with him or not. But it is him who is carrying out this process. If the commission was formed for this process, it naturally needs to meet with its architect. Not only should the meeting take place, but he must be freed as well. If Leader Apo is not free, nothing will happen. Everyone should know this. If Leader Apo is not free and the prisons are full, how will the guerrillas lay down their arms? How will Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood be achieved? How will the internal peace in question be realized? How can this happen when the architect of peace is in prison? It is clear that this cannot happen.
First and foremost, Leader Apo must be free. And the bans must be lifted. This is how we can develop true brotherhood, this is how we can build true peace. We are ready for this.
We burned our weapons and we are not without solutions
All Turkish state officials and everyone concerned should know that we have sworn on our weapons until now, but on July 11, an important step was taken under the leadership of our comrade Besê Hozat. We burned our weapons! This is not an easy thing to do. If we had not approached this process strategically, we would not have done so. Therefore, everyone, especially the Turkish state, should see our seriousness.
We are not without solutions. We have solutions. As the Kurdish people, as the Movement, we are powerful in the Middle East region. Everyone should know this. Therefore, threats, games, and schemes will not work. Everyone should know this. But if there is sincerity, we are truly open to lasting peace. Our leader has made this strategic decision, and we stand behind him. However, there must be a responsible approach to this issue. Serious steps must truly be taken. We need this to see that we have truly entered a peace process.
The Council of Europe should also take responsibility
Dear people, dear friends!
Europe also played a role in the emergence of the Kurdish question. You are now in Europe. This issue was created in Lausanne. Now, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers will meet in two days to discuss the issue of the Right to Hope. They had previously made promises to the Turkish state. It is time for them to take action. The Turkish state has not taken any steps so far. If the Council of Europe truly wants peace to be achieved, if it genuinely wants to prevent deaths, it should also take responsibility. This is our call to them. Take a positive step. Take a positive step for peace. The physical freedom of Leader Apo and the granting of the Right to Hope will usher in a new era in the region. For this, they too must take responsibility.
Dear friends, this issue concerns you too. You should also be at their doorstep. Urge them to take a positive step. Make the right decision. Our people also have the right to live freely on their own land. This is a natural right. No one should stand in the way of this.
This is a process of struggle
Dear friends, valued patriots!
This is a crucial process. We must work harder. Our allies, friends, friendly organizations, friendly individuals, and Kurdistan’s patriots must work day and night during this period. Let us work to strengthen Leader Apo’s hand. This is how a solution can be achieved. Otherwise, a solution will not be possible.
Leader Apo described this process as a process of struggle. Therefore, we must strengthen the struggle.
Dear patriots!
As you know, our country, Kurdistan, is like paradise, but our enemies have turned it into hell. That’s why they organized a migration policy in our country. That’s why you are scattered all over the world. They did this to weaken us. As you saw, there is no one left in Besta, in Cudi, in Gabar, anywhere else. They did this to weaken us. But we can turn this around. You currently have a population of over two million in Europe. The world is global. The Kurdish question is a global issue; it is a world issue.
You must organize and take action
You can further advance the Kurdish and Kurdistan struggle. To do this, you must organize. Women and young people, above all, must take action. Form your communes, build your assemblies, let everyone organize themselves. Every patriot must work like a diplomat when necessary, be a worker, be an organizer. Strength must be gained in this way. In this way, support for the revolution must be strengthened during this period. There must be more participation in the campaign. There is a greater need for support during this period than in any other.
We salute those who stand against the destruction of nature, we salute our people in Botan, and their actions. We must protect everything we have, all our values.
We warmly welcome the esteemed Kurdish and international youth who have walked a long way and joined you there today. Their role and mission are becoming increasingly important in this process.
Dear people, valued patriots!
We paid a heavy price
We did not arrive at this point easily. We paid a heavy price. We lost many heroic martyrs. Most recently, we lost heroes such as Mordem Çewlîk, the lion of the Zap resistance, and our dear comrade Emine Erciyes, the flower of our Movement and a symbol of the brotherhood between the Turkish and Kurdish peoples. We respectfully and reverently commemorate all our heroic martyrs, represented by our latest martyrs and comrades Fuat (Ali Haydar Kaytan), Rıza (Rıza Altun), Sofî (Nûreddîn Sofî), Koçero (Metin Arslan), Sara (Sakine Cansız), and Delal Amed (Hülya Eroğlu). We renew the promise we made to them. We will make their dreams come true. Our martyrs can rest assured; their cries will not go unheard!
We must be prepared for all possibilities
Dear patriots!
We have reached a very important turning point. How this process will unfold is currently uncertain. We must be prepared for all possibilities. But above all, we must strongly advance Leader Apo’s Peace and Democratic Society initiative, his march toward democratic socialism. For this, I wish you all success on behalf of our Movement. I greet you all with respect. And long live our people’s struggle, Bijî Serok Apo! May you all be successful all the time!”