The Kurdistan Freedom Guerrillas organized a celebration in the Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) to mark the 47th anniversary of the founding of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). At the event, HPG Commander Amed Malazgirt held a meeting with the guerrillas on the founding and development of the PKK. Malazgirt praised the development and role of the Kurdish freedom movement. He stressed that the PKK had fulfilled its historic tasks and that it was now up to the Turkish government to take steps toward a political solution.
The event was organized by the People’s Defense Forces (HPG) and Free Women’s Troops (YJA Star) and included speeches as well as cultural contributions such as music, theater, and traditional dances.
‘The PKK was founded for the national resistance of the Kurds’
Explaining the reasons for the emergence of the PKK, Malazgirt stated: “The PKK was founded for the national resistance of the Kurds. The PKK’s survival depended on the Kurds embracing their culture, language, and identity. Today, if Kurds proudly say ‘I am Kurdish’ not only in Kurdistan but all over the world, it is thanks to Leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan. In the past, many groups organized themselves as parties, but they did not treat the four parts of Kurdistan as a whole. Leader Apo rejected this approach and founded the PKK, a party that encompasses all Kurds. Thanks to Leader Apo’s vision, today all Kurds unite around him and approve his decisions.”
‘The PKK has continued to exist as a party of martyrs’
The HPG commander also touched upon the importance of the martyr Haki Karer within the PKK, stating, “Haki Karer was a Turkish comrade and one of Leader Apo’s first companions. Leader Apo said of Haki Karer, ‘He is my secret soul.’ Under difficult conditions, he believed in Leader Apo, was influenced by him, and turned his face toward Kurdistan. Comrade Haki worked as a laborer and carried out organizational work despite the party’s limited resources. His martyrdom contributed to the party reaching its current level. Since that day, the PKK has continued to exist as a party of martyrs.”
‘The PKK has created a revolution’
Amed Malazgirt continued: “The PKK has been known for its resistance in the region and around the world for 47 years. The PKK has created a revolution. We are the party of the Leader; with our administration and components, we support whatever the Leader says. The last 10 years have been a period of intense war. After this process, everyone saw that the PKK could not be destroyed by attacks and that its resistance was growing day by day. Even state officials appealed to the Leader, and significant progress was made after that call.”
‘The state has yet to take concrete steps’
Malazgirt stated that the PKK had fulfilled its responsibilities and that it was now the state’s turn to take action, saying: “Leader Apo wanted the PKK to convene its congress; the PKK did so and dissolved itself. The war in the Zap region lasted for five years; the state tried to eliminate the guerrillas, but failed. The leader told us to ‘withdraw from the conflict lines,’ and we did. We did not surrender our weapons; we burned them symbolically. The PKK has fulfilled its responsibilities, but the state has yet to take concrete steps. If the Turkish state truly defends Kurdish-Turkish brotherhood, the first step that must be taken is to secure Leader Apo’s freedom.”
The event ended with slogans, songs, theater, and dancing.
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