Marking April 4, the birthday of Abdullah Öcalan, Kurdistan freedom guerrillas shared their feelings and thoughts with ANF.
Guerrilla Fırat Çiyager: “In the free mountains, we celebrate this day for Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan), and Mother Uveyş (Abdullah Öcalan’s mother). Once again, we congratulate all those who struggle in the footsteps of Leader Apo. We also celebrate this day for all oppressed peoples for whom Leader Apo has become a hope of freedom.
Before Leader Apo, there was nothing in the name of Kurds and Kurdistan. With Leader Apo’s emergence, a day of hope, morale, and existence was born for the world. The birth of the leader is also our birth and the birth of the entire Kurdish people. On this basis, we appeal to all Kurdish youth and internationalist youth: let us form a ring of fire around Leader Apo so that we can bring this process to success.”
Guerrilla Rojhat Maraş: “Leader Apo’s birthday is the birthday of a people. He has created an opportunity for us to open a new page in our lives. On the occasion of his birthday, we renew our promise of struggle and salute Leader Apo with great love. We will not give up our struggle until Leader Apo’s physical freedom is achieved.”
YJA STAR guerrilla Hêvî Şoreş: “We celebrate April 4 for all martyrs, for all the mothers of martyrs and peace mothers in the person of Mother Uveyş. We consider this day as the day of nature and women. As guerrillas, we are going through a very important process. In line with the perspective of democratic society and communal life initiated by Leader Apo, we see that many freedom-loving people want to join this idea. However, the dominant and occupying mentality does not allow the ideas and philosophy of Leader Apo to spread around the world. Therefore, it is especially necessary for youth to take the lead in embracing this ideology. We call on all youth and all women to embrace this struggle and join the ranks of freedom. We trust and believe in all youth. We wish success to all young people.”
YJA STAR guerrilla Zîlan Dersîm: “We do not consider Leader Apo’s birth as an ordinary birthday. We see it as the rebirth of a society. This birth revived Kurdish society and the Middle East. This reality was embodied in women in particular. The Kurdish society had faced assimilation for thousands of years. The leader’s birth became the rebirth against assimilation and the emergence of its elimination. Therefore, we consider this day as the rebirth of nature and the universe.
Due to the dominant and capitalist mentality, society in the person of women; ecology in the person of society; and the universe in the person of ecology were facing a genocide every day. Against this genocide, the leader’s birth became the rebirth of nature. The rebirth of this society is truly valuable, especially on the basis of a democratic society marked by a communal spirit and a focus on co-existence, Women are the builders of society and the founders of communalization. As Leader Apo said, communal society was defeated in the person of women; today, it is coming together again. On this basis, Leader Apo’s birth is very valuable and meaningful.
We will consider ourselves responsible to the fullest extent for the process initiated by Leader Apo. Not only this year, but all years to come will be years of the rebirth of society. In particular, we will make Leader Apo’s physical freedom a certainty. As Kurdistan freedom guerrillas, we will struggle for Leader Apo’s physical freedom every day and every moment, in a communal spirit.
All women and youth must strengthen this spirit within themselves and turn toward struggle. Because this fight is not only the struggle of one person or one nation; it is the struggle of all society, especially women and youth. Those who will lead this struggle are again women and youth. This is the burden of all of us. Therefore, we call on all women and youth in Kurdistan and abroad: see this struggle as your own and turn your direction toward the free mountains.”
YJA STAR guerrilla Têkoşîn Varto: “We celebrate this bright and beautiful day for the leader of leaders. We commemorate all our martyred comrades. We promise them and their mothers: we will continue our struggle until Leader Apo’s physical freedom is achieved. We are excited and hopeful. With the beginning of the peace and democratic society process, we are experiencing very different feelings; we are in a process of change and transformation. Walking in harmony with the universe and our leader is a great source of happiness for us. We do not believe that any fighter in history has had a leader like Leader Apo. We are very fortunate and very happy. We also salute our friends in prisons and celebrate their day. We promise them as well: we will continue our march until victory.
The beginning of the peace and democratic society process has truly brought a difference. With this intensity, we have left winter behind, and with this same intensity, we will welcome spring. April is truly an important month. It is a time when nature is in transformation and renewal, when the world and the sun are greeted. As freedom guerrillas, we know that we are not going through an ordinary process. A strong struggle is expected from us. With this focus and high determination, we will crown and secure these beautiful days with the unity of our people.
No matter what happens, our fundamental aim is Leader Apo’s physical freedom. Without the realization of this goal, we cannot speak of freedom as a world, as a universe, or as a people. The recognition of Leader Apo’s paradigm of ‘Democratic Modernity’ is an answer for all peoples of the world. We must introduce it, recognize it, and live with it.
Once again, we celebrate this day. Many of our comrades could not see these days. But we will be their eyes and spirit, and we will walk until the end. From here to Imralı, we embrace our leader and send our longing. No matter what happens, we will reach him this year. With this feeling, this excitement, and this struggle, we will continue our work.”
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