On the occasion of the anniversary of the beginning of the PKK's armed struggle on 15 August 1984, the Sterk TV channel published a speech by the commander of the People's Defence Forces (HSM) Headquarters, Murat Karayılan.

Karayılan called for turning the attacks of Turkish fascism into the opposite by expanding the revolutionary people's war and trusting in one's own potential: "The strongest force is the people; it is we ourselves! Every patriot must believe in this. Kurdistan will not be liberated through elections alone. Of course, elections are one of many tactics, but true freedom comes through the power of the people, the mobilisation of the people, the revolutionary people's war and the political-social struggle at all levels and for a democratic nation. Everyone must put this into practice. If this is achieved, we are convinced that the 40th year of struggle will be a significant year."

Karayılan's full speech is as follows:

"First of all, we congratulate you all on the Day of Resurrection. On behalf of the Kurdistan Freedom Guerrilla, we congratulate Rêber Apo [Abdullah Öcalan] on the 39th anniversary of the August 15 Awakening; we convey our greetings, our respect and express our attachment. We congratulate the entire people of Kurdistan, the peoples of the region, progressive humanity, all workers, cadres, fighters and the freedom guerrillas on the day of resurrection. In the person of the immortal commander Egîd [Mahsum Korkmaz] and Zîlan [Zeynep Kınacı], we remember all our martyrs of the revolution and bow reverently to their memory. At the same time, we reaffirm our pledge to our martyrs. We will hold fast to the line of the martyrs, by strengthening the struggle for freedom, we will keep their memory alive.

The 15 August breakthrough was an uprising for life and freedom against a policy of massacres and genocide. It led to a renaissance in Kurdistan and brought about a revolution of ideas. On its basis, a social revolution, a women's revolution, a political revolution developed, and a new society was created in Kurdistan. We, the Freedom Guerrilla of Kurdistan, have been fighting for 39 years to protect the Kurdish people and the values of democracy. In these 39 years, true epics of courage have been created. Especially in the last eight years, the Turkish state has led an all-out attack against our people and our movement, with the aim of destroying the achievements of our people and implementing the policy of genocide.

The Imrali system was the starting point for the genocidal politics in the whole of Kurdistan. Against this, besides the historic resistance of Rêber Apo, the resistance of Kurdish politics, the democratic-socialist movements of Turkey, our comrades in the prisons and our people in the streets developed. However, it is also known that the Turkish state has carried out its most massive attacks on the guerrillas. Very comprehensive attacks against the forces of North Kurdistan, West Kurdistan, Shengal and East Kurdistan started with the most modern technology. In the past eight years, there have been resistance struggles of historic proportions against these attacks of the enemy. Those who followed the path of our comrade and commander Egîd and the comrades of commander Fazıl Botan have led the resistance. We commemorate all those who died in this epic resistance in the person of comrades Azad Sîser, Delal Amed, Atakan Mahir, Zeki Şengalî, Doğan Sîpan, Çetin Siverek, Çiçek Botan, Yılmaz Dersim and the esteemed commander Leyla Sorxwîn. They created a truly historic epic of resistance.

Dear people, dear comrades; in the last three years, the enemy has carried out particularly intensive attacks first on Gare and then on Zap, Metîna and Avaşîn in order to completely destroy the Medya Defence Zones and, on this basis, to destroy the achievements of the Kurdish people. In fact, an attack began on the whole area of Southern Kurdistan. The resistance that developed here, especially in the heart of the Zap, Avaşîn and Metîna regions, marks a new era in the history of our people and our movement. For the first time, Kurdish forces, Kurdish resistance fighters have been facing the Turkish state in the same positions for three years and resisting permanently. This is a source of honour and pride for the entire Kurdish people. They are not only resisting tens of thousands of soldiers. In this war, all state-of-the-art technologies are being used, especially in air strikes. At the same time, the insidious and cowardly enemy is using prohibited means of warfare such as tactical nuclear weapons and chemical weapons against our forces. Nevertheless, the current resistance has also ushered in a new era in the art of war. That is, it has become a great example of how a small, conscious, tactically smart and strong-willed force can resist and achieve success against a large army that has all the resources at its disposal.

Undoubtedly, we have made many sacrifices in this resistance. It was achieved with the dedication of the esteemed commanders and the sacrificial fighters, the sons and daughters of this people. It was not easy! We remember all our martyrs in the person of Şoreş, Cumali, Çavrê, Bager, Avzem, Delîl, Nalîn, Nûrî and Mizgîn. We will continue on their path. They have paved the way for us. They have made a tactical breakthrough. They have made the determination of this resistance clear with their resistance and their commitment. On this basis, the Turkish state could not win despite the support of foreign powers and the help of Kurdish collaborators. The results of the last three years are open before our eyes. The war continues. The enemy is stuck in its attacks, that is clear. The Turkish state is helpless in the face of the resistance of the Apoist fighters. Actually, the Turkish state wanted to declare its victory on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Republic, to enforce the policy of genocide in Kurdistan and, above all, to put Syria and Iraq under its patronage. However, this plan of the Turkish state could not be implemented.

The 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey is approaching. The Turkish state is already making plans and defining its strategy for its second century. It is very revealing that in this new plan, the genocide in Kurdistan is again at the top of the list. This makes it clear that this AKP/MHP/Ergenekon state wants to continue to base itself on shedding the blood of the Kurdish people and destroying them. This nationalist, chauvinist policy on the line of 'Unity and Progress' (Ittihat ve Terakki) is not only a danger for the Kurdish people but also for the people in the region. The Turkish state wants to occupy the borders of the Ottoman National Pact ( Misak-ı Milli), put Syria and Iraq under its protectorate, and thus destroy the will of the Arab people, the peoples in the region. This is a great danger for our people and all the peoples in the region. In the face of this danger, we must organise ourselves as a people and establish national unity. Analogous to the Kurdish-Arab alliance, all peoples of the region and all socialist-democratic movements must raise their voices against fascism and unite in the struggle for democracy and freedom. This is a revolutionary task that cannot be postponed and is indispensable at this time.

Dear people, the isolation of Rêber Apo is reflected in Kurdistan as genocide, while in Turkey it testifies to the policy of suppressing freedom and democracy. If we do not act decisively against this policy of isolation and break it, there will be no space for democracy and freedom either in Turkey or in the whole region. We must be aware of this reality.

Currently, various democratic institutions, human rights organisations and trade unions in Europe have launched a campaign for Rêber Apo's freedom. This is an extremely important cause. Our greetings go to the workers in Britain and their trade unions. We send greetings to the trade unions and democratic forces in various countries in Europe who are supporting this campaign. We also pay tribute to the progressive and democratic movements in Latin America and South Africa. A warm greeting to our compatriots in Europe and abroad who are actively participating in the struggle. Cheers to the Kurdish-Turkish alliance rising on the foundations of Aziz Ereb and Dilşêr Reqa!

Dear friends, dear people, as the Freedom Guerrilla of Kurdistan, we promise on every anniversary to defend our people, our land and the rights of our people everywhere. We are committed to this promise, and we reaffirm it. So far, we have kept our promise and laid down our lives to do so. As fighters of Rêber Apo, we do not break our word - we fulfil our promise. This is how we have learned, and now the 40th year begins for us. In 39 years of struggle and based on the philosophy of Apoism, the Freedom Guerrilla of Kurdistan has reached this level today. Especially with the restructuring project, the guerrilla is stronger today in developing innovation, tactical deepening and mastering technique. This is also clearly visible in practice. The guerrillas have proved that they are an invincible force. But the enemy is relentless. At the level reached, the guerrillas will defend the people on the ground and underground and, if possible, also from the air, and resist the enemy. The enemy must also know that he cannot achieve his goal - even if he has some Kurdish collaborators on his side. He will not be able to destroy us as a people or a movement. The Turkish state should give up this policy of genocide. It should not send its soldiers to attack the positions of the comrades. We do not bear the responsibility for the death of the soldiers who attack our positions. The commanders of these soldiers bear the responsibility. All people in Turkey should know this. We fight in defence. We have not attacked anyone. The Turkish state should understand that it cannot achieve results with its policy of genocide and death. In the 40th year of its existence, the Kurdistan Freedom Guerrilla will once again prove its invincibility and become the guerrilla of victory. This is our goal.

Dear people, the guerrilla will play its role in the new period, in the 40th year. With the efforts of Rêber Apo and the sacrifices of our martyrs, a foundation has been laid on which the guerrilla will act. But we are in a momentous phase. The line we have to follow is that of the people's revolutionary war. During this decisive period, our people must also take up their duties. All patriots, especially women and youth, must take their responsibilities, fulfil their roles and organise themselves. As at the beginning of the revolution, they should ignite waves of popular uprisings. Our call to our people in this context is as follows: Keep your unity. National unity is undoubtedly important for all four parts of Kurdistan. However, each part of Kurdistan must ensure its unity internally and build its organisation and must not remain silent in the face of the enemy's practices, but must defend itself. The enemy is attacking the Kurdish women and the Kurdish youth in different ways. Against this, we must strengthen the revolutionary people's war, repel the enemy's attacks and pave the way for the freedom of Rêber Apo and Kurdistan. We have to believe in this. On this basis, we must realise that we have strength and willpower. The greatest strength is in the people themselves - in ourselves! Every patriot must hold on to this. The liberation of Kurdistan will not be achieved through elections alone. Elections may be one tactic among many, but true freedom comes through the power of the people, the mobilisation of the people, the revolutionary people's war and all forms of political-social struggles for a democratic nation. All must take up this task. We are convinced that the 40th year will be a year in which the Kurdish freedom struggle will rise. This is our hope and our firm conviction.

In this hope and conviction, we wish all the workers, the entire patriotic people and all our friends the greatest success in the spirit of 15 August in the struggle for the freedom of Rêber Apo and Kurdistan. In the 40th year of the struggle, the spirit of people like Egîd and Zîlan will be felt much more clearly. In this spirit, we once again congratulate you on the Day of Resurrection and send you all our revolutionary greetings and respect. And we shout: 'Long live the spirit of August 15!', 'Long live the revolutionary people's war!', 'Jin Jiyan Azadî!', 'Bijî Serok Apo!'"