The call in the headline, "organize and mobilize", was made by the Kurdish people's leader, Abdullah Öcalan, on 4 April, addressing Kurdish young people who carried out the Freedom March to Amara. He also added: "If you fail to act, I will hold you accountable."

Nearly two months have passed since these words were spoken. While two months may seem too short a time to question whether this call has been fulfilled or to demand accountability, we are in such a critical and fast-moving period that even two days have come to carry enormous weight. In this context, Kurdish young people, especially students, must now reflect seriously on what they have done over these past two months.

In the past two months, what have Kurdish young people truly done in terms of organizing and mobilizing? During this period, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) held its 12th Congress and declared the dissolution of its organizational structure, thereby opening the way for new, libertarian and socialist formations. But who will establish these new structures? Without question, it is the youth who must do so. It is unrealistic to expect any other social segment to produce new ideas and build new organizations while the youth, especially the intellectual youth, stand idle.

Therefore, without delaying any further, Kurdish youths must seriously evaluate what they have done and what they are currently doing in terms of both organizing themselves and mobilizing others. What steps have they taken to organize their peers? What efforts have they made to help other social segments build organizational capacity? Because youths are meant to lead, and to lead means to take on the responsibility of educating and organizing broader society. Have they genuinely embarked on a planned effort to organize, or have they simply discussed it briefly when prompted, only to fall back into old routines? If the latter is true, then they cannot be considered vanguard youth loyal to the Apoist line. And if the youth, who are supposed to lead, fail to play their part, it is inevitable that other segments of society will also remain disorganized and inactive. This leads only to a state of waiting, waiting that, in effect, serves the existing order.

There can be no genuine organization without education. Without the development of consciousness, organizing efforts remain hollow. For this reason, those who seek to build new organizational structures must first plan and implement an educational program aligned with their purpose. At this critical moment, what kind of structured effort are Kurdish youths undertaking to educate themselves with a consciousness rooted in freedom and socialism? Is there a plan or ongoing practice for educating other segments of society? It is clear that these questions must be posed and confronted with honesty and responsibility. At this stage, it is no longer acceptable to claim that there are no opportunities or spaces for education. Through a half-century of monumental struggle, Kurdish People's Leader Mr. Öcalan has laid the foundation for a profound educational framework. And now, with the PKK officially dissolving its former structure, the path has been opened for new formations. What remains is the responsibility of conscious youth, those who must now step forward and transform this legacy into organized revolutionary practice.

Organization, by its very nature, exists for action. A structure that does not envision concrete action or set practical goals cannot be called a genuine organization. Just as the formation of an organization requires education, its continued existence is proven through action and practice. The level of organizational strength can be measured directly by the amount and quality of action it produces. At this historic and critical juncture, it is more evident than ever that success can only come through conscious and planned struggle. The moment demands organized action rooted in awareness.

But is such action truly taking place? Over the past two months, how have Kurdish youths engaged in struggle? What forms of action have they developed, and what kind of practical engagement have they brought forward? The true state of organizational work can be evaluated only by answering these questions.

Given the current conditions, any discussion of struggle or action inevitably centers around the goal of achieving the physical freedom of Mr. Öcalan. It is widely understood that every other issue must be considered in relation to this objective, because the success of the present process depends on Mr. Öcalan being able to live and work in free conditions. For this reason, the Global Campaign for Freedom must be strengthened in every sphere with even greater force.

From this perspective, when evaluating the call to “organize and help others organize,” serious shortcomings and inadequacies become evident. As in general, but especially in Northern Kurdistan and Turkey, there is a marked weakness in action. The public agenda seems almost entirely tied to discussions in parliament or possible steps by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). A false sense of hope and expectation is being created, as though new developments will emerge from this context.

Undoubtedly, this process assigns responsibilities to everyone, and each must act according to their role. Political parties must engage in debate, formulate solutions, and commit to clear political strategies. In order to democratize Turkey on the basis of Kurdish freedom, it is essential that new political steps are taken without delay. If the process is prolonged, if it is dragged out by deception and stalling, Turkey itself will suffer the most. Those who believe they can dismantle the PKK and claim a cheap victory may instead face the far more serious consequence of losing Kurdistan altogether.

It is clear that the current trajectory of struggles in the Middle East reveals how a mindset and politics that refuse to resolve the Kurdish question are leading Turkey to disaster. For this reason, it is evident that the state and those in power must undergo a paradigmatic transformation in both mentality and policy. This necessity demands bold new steps from those in power. However, the current mentality that dominates the state and government will not change on its own. Such a transformation can only be achieved through a powerful and determined societal struggle. In short, the state and government will not take new steps willingly; they must be compelled through mass resistance.

Expecting the government and the state to take steps toward a solution as if a change in mentality and politics has already occurred is a serious misconception. It is clear that even the possibility of such a transformation requires a profound struggle. Indeed, when Mr. Öcalan issued his 'Call for Peace and a Democratic Society', he clearly stated this reality and called on all segments of society, especially young people and women, to organize and resist on this basis. He emphasized that building a democratic society is both necessary and essential for peace. At this critical juncture, he placed the greatest responsibility on the shoulders of the youth.

It is now clear that everyone must assess to what extent they have fulfilled the requirements of the call, recognize their shortcomings, and take steps to overcome them. There is a visible weakness and insufficiency in the actions that would move the process forward and ensure the physical freedom of Mr. Öcalan. This, in turn, points to a lack of education and organization, and to the failure to advance the construction of a democratic society.

Clearly, all organizations and social segments must do so. But first and foremost, it is the youth organizations and all young people who must take the lead. They must dedicate themselves without pause, day and night, to the education and organization of both the youth and all other sectors of society. To achieve this, it is essential to transcend the individualistic and materialistic values imposed by the current system and instead embrace the communal life, collective work, and sense of togetherness demanded by youth collectivism. Only through this approach can one truly become the kind of Apoist Youth that always finds a way to create new beginnings.

Source: Yeni Özgür Politika