The Executive Council of the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) issued a statement marking the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Kurdistan and the 11th anniversary of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Cizîre (Jazira) Canton.
In the statement, PJAK described the ongoing attacks on Rojava as a continuation of historic conspiracies against the Kurdish people and called for collective resistance and solidarity to defend Kurdish achievements and advance the struggle for freedom and democracy.
The statement reads as follows:
“From Rojava (West) to Rojhelat (East), and from the Bakûr (North) to the Başûr (South) of Kurdistan, let us realize the aspirations of our people in all four parts of Kurdistan through unity The establishment of the Republic of Kurdistan on 22 January 1946 marked a historic turning point in the struggle of the Kurdish people for freedom. The eleventh anniversary of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Cizîre (Jazira) Canton in Rojava coincides with the anniversary of the Republic of Kurdistan. On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Kurdistan—an enduring and proud legacy in history—and the anniversary of the establishment of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of Cizîre in Rojava, we commemorate these milestones and honor our people, all fighters on the path of Kurdish freedom, and all oppressed peoples.
We mark the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Kurdistan and the 11th anniversary of the Cizîre Canton at a time when Rojava Kurdistan is facing the most extensive attacks by occupying Syrian forces and their supporters, including Turkey. Occupying, fascist, and reactionary enemies—acting in coordination with global hegemony and regional comprador states—once again seek to prevent our people from attaining a free identity. By igniting the flames of war against Rojava Kurdistan, they send our people a clear message: “We will do to you what we did during the Republic of Kurdistan.” There is no doubt that the current attacks on Rojava, beyond targeting the destruction of that part of Kurdistan, represent another phase of the same international conspiracy carried out in 1999 against Leader Apo and the Kurdish people.
The enemy aims, in shaping a new order in the Middle East and the world, to deprive our people of freedom for decades to come. They do not even accept the status of Rojava Kurdistan—this is hostility toward the entire Kurdish people and, fundamentally, a new process of cleansing and genocide. All this is unfolding while, in Eastern Kurdistan and Iran, the Kurdish people and other peoples are being widely massacred by the oppressive regime of the Islamic Republic and are subjected to severe economic hardship and the most dire political and security conditions. This tragedy affects all peoples and nationalities in Iran and Eastern Kurdistan. The region is moving toward another phase of war and widespread crises, with the flames once again ignited in Kurdistan and Rojava Kurdistan.
This war—initiated by global imperialist hegemonies and their mercenary forces and comprador states such as Turkey and Syria—has begun a new wave of expansion against peoples in Iraq, Lebanon, and Iran. Alongside preventing peoples from attaining freedom, they seek once again to block the path to peace and stability in the Middle East so they can reassert exploitation as global hegemons. In doing so, they have no hesitation in sacrificing any people. They pursue only their own interests and intend to treat the Kurdish people once again as they did the Republic of Kurdistan. It is clear that the Middle East is on the verge of sinking into an even deeper darkness. This period, marked by the re-emergence of ISIS forces and the increased activity of fascist states, is entering a dangerous phase.
Global hegemonic powers think solely of their own interests and eliminate any liberation movement that stands in the way of their destructive agendas. Under these circumstances, the only path for the oppressed peoples of the Middle East is broad and extraordinary struggle based on unity and solidarity. There is no alternative but to struggle for freedom. The Kurdish people stand at one of the most critical historical turning points. This is the moment when, by remembering the Republic of Kurdistan, decades of further oppression can be prevented, and this time—with firm determination—the national-democratic unity of Kurds can be realized, allowing our people to escape the miserable conditions that regional and global enemies seek to impose. Our people’s belief in this path of freedom and struggle, grounded in an iron will, is entirely achievable. History has proven that Kurds have no path other than unity and resistance.
Unity across all four parts of Kurdistan can powerfully repel enemy attacks and render all their sinister plans futile. It is therefore our historical duty to realize the aspirations of our people in all four parts of Kurdistan—from Rojava to the East, and from the North to the South—through unity. We also declare to our brave and struggling people that they possess the capacity to undertake the greatest struggles. With honorable remembrance of the Republic of Kurdistan, they must today, with unparalleled resolve and dignity, strengthen the ranks of unity so powerfully that all enemies regret their fascist actions.
The once-oppressed Kurdish people have, through struggle, reached a level where they are peace-seeking, democratic, and freedom-loving, capable of playing the greatest role in shaping a new Middle East. Therefore, in remembrance of the Republic of Kurdistan, it is necessary to prevent the warmongering that targets the peace process, democratic society in Northern Kurdistan, and the free status of Rojava Kurdistan. We call on all segments of our people in all four parts of Kurdistan, as well as forces and parties, to think of unity and strengthen national cohesion at this decisive moment. The attack on Rojava Kurdistan is the enemies’ attempt to destroy the humanist ideals of the Republic of Kurdistan. Through actions initiated to defend Rojava Kurdistan, our people can ensure the permanent rise of the sun of freedom in Eastern Kurdistan and attain the freedom they deserve.”