As one of President Öcalan’s earliest comrades and a founding leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Rıza Altun became a symbolic figure in the Kurdish freedom struggle. His martyrdom on 25 September 2019 was honored with deep respect in the final declaration of the PKK’s 12th Congress.

Comrades Haydar Varto, Serhat Engizek, and Rauf Karakoçan spoke to ANF, sharing memories of Rıza Altun’s unwavering determination, self-sacrifice, and lifelong dedication to his people.

The first part of this interview can be read here.

Serhat Engizek: My second meeting with comrade Rıza took place in 1993 or 1994 at the academy. Our first encounter had been brief, just in passing. But I wanted to have a deeper conversation with him at the academy because I had always followed him with interest. People constantly spoke of his prison resistance, his courage, and his unwavering stance. We were also from the same region, which gave us a local bond. And our families knew each other as well. So I was genuinely interested in getting to know him.

He had just returned from being with President Öcalan. At that time, he was giving lessons. He taught a course on special warfare. During one of those classes, I had a chance to speak with him and asked, “Why are you so cold?” He replied, “Do you see me as cold?” I said, “Not just cold, freezing.” Later, I realized that this wasn’t really true. It came from his sense of authority.

In truth, he was a comrade who believed in himself, who had self-confidence, who was a natural resistor, and who feared nothing. That’s how he was raised from childhood, and that’s how he grew within the party. Because of that self-confidence, he was quick to respond, always ready. He didn’t worry about whether a comrade might be hurt, offended, or misunderstand something. He was excellent at building relationships, and those relationships were always centered on education.

He read a lot and encouraged others to read as well. He would get your attention and make you want to read too. He often summarized and shared what he found important, things he had researched and studied. In doing so, he sparked interest and motivated others.

He was like that in personal interactions as well. He drew people in. His sense of humor was incredibly strong. As far as I know, the only people he didn’t joke with were President Öcalan and comrade Cuma. When other comrades arrived, they would say, “Rıza, are you going to mess with us again?” because they already knew how playful he could be.

His relationship with President Öcalan was incredibly natural

The way he connected with President Öcalan was one of the things that impressed me the most. There were many other leading comrades around, but their relationships with President Öcalan were different from comrade Rıza’s. I thought about why that was. The others were more formal; when President Öcalan said something, they would respond with, “Yes, President.”

But comrade Rıza was not like that. They would chat together casually in the garden. One day, President Öcalan said, “Come, come, this is your fellow townsman.” And Rıza replied, “He’s not my fellow townsman. I’m from Kayseri, and he’s from Maraş.” Their relationship was very different, very natural. They were like two friends. Of course, comrade Rıza had deep respect for President Öcalan, but the connection they had was effortless and sincere.

Comrade Rıza was a deeply political person. He never spoke without purpose. He had sharp intelligence and political strength. He was truly a resistor, someone who believed in himself, who trusted himself, and who constantly educated both himself and those around him. He was charismatic. He knew exactly how to speak to people, how to bring them together, and how to nurture their sense of community. In this, he was truly an expert.

Can you share a memory?

He was a comrade full of humor

Haydar Varto: After the capture of President Öcalan, in 1999, though I don’t remember the exact year, we had a meeting. President Öcalan had been taken prisoner. There was great turmoil, an emotionally charged atmosphere, and many comrades were reacting strongly to the situation. His analysis titled From the Sumerian Priest State to the Democratic Republic had just been released. It was one of the first comprehensive meetings we held after his initial defense writings.

I stood up and made a statement. I said: “President Öcalan is using this political tone to soften the Turkish state.” At the time, we didn’t fully grasp that he had fundamentally changed strategy, that he was developing a new ideological approach, a new political direction. I thought he was using a tactical method to prevent harsher attacks. Many comrades interpreted it that way. I was one of them.

I said something along the lines of: “We shouldn’t overreact to President Öcalan’s evaluations. They are tactical moves; sometimes, to cross a bridge, you have to call the bear ‘uncle.’”

I was sitting next to comrade Rıza. I noticed that he asked a comrade to draw a caricature. In the drawing, there was a bridge. I was crossing it, and on top of the bridge was a bear. In the cartoon, I was saying, “Uncle, uncle, uncle, may I pass?” We laughed so hard during that meeting. Other comrades were looking at us, wondering what we were laughing about. What I’m trying to say is, comrade Rıza was full of humor. He had a way of bringing levity even in the most intense situations.

He encouraged research and inquiry

Rauf Karakoçan: Comrade Haydar (Varto) and I were together in Xinêrê. Comrade Rıza had recently returned from Europe. We were staying in the Enlightenment and Science unit. I shared a tent with him. Together, we wrote a book on law. In fact, comrades Haydar, Serhat, and I were tasked with the project, but comrade Rıza and I focused on researching the historical development of law. Sources like the Sumerian tablets, Hammurabi's written laws, Solon’s laws in Greece, and Roman law were our responsibility.

For example, when we studied Solon, we learned he was an aristocrat from the Greek nobility who had drafted a constitution. But after completing the constitution, he voluntarily left Greece for ten years so it wouldn’t appear that the laws served his own interests. Rıza found this fascinating. He joked, “What a strange man this Solon is—so principled that he leaves Greece for a decade to avoid giving the impression that the constitution was for his own benefit.”

I read about the term “prince” in one of President Öcalan’s analyses. Before Rıza was set to return from the Leadership area to the country, there was a platform discussion. In it, President Öcalan referred to Rıza as “the prince of the PKK.” I later shared this with comrade Rıza.

He replied, “Of course I’m the prince.” I asked, “Which prince? Machiavelli’s prince? Gramsci’s modern prince?” He said, “No, I’m the PKK’s prince.”

That was who he was. He had a unique presence unlike any other comrade. He would read a poem by Nazim Hikmet and then ask, “Do you know the title of this poem?” He both recited and taught. I knew it was by Nazim Hikmet, but I couldn’t recall the title. He said, “Ignorant guy, you don’t read, so of course you don’t know. You need to read more.” He was encouraging. No matter how much I asked, he wouldn’t tell me the title. Eventually, I figured it out. It was called “The Invitation.” That’s how I learned it. He encouraged us to explore and investigate through this kind of interaction.

He was a teacher. Teasing, joking, and poking fun were part of his educational method. I can say this with confidence: there were very few comrades in the PKK who read as many books as comrade Rıza. He had his own personal library. Wherever he went, he packed it into two suitcases and brought it along. He was the only comrade who always had books at hand. None of us had that habit.

I came to know Kemal Pir through comrade Rıza

He possessed qualities that allowed him to grow in politics, diplomacy, literature, and poetry, stretching from military matters to various other fields. This is precisely where the description “the prince of the PKK” comes from. Within the PKK, he had a distinct lifestyle and unique stance. This was true both in his relationship with President Öcalan and with comrade Cuma. Despite having spent many years together with comrade Rıza, I never once saw him smoke in front of comrade Cuma. He always did so in private. It was a form of respect-based formality.

One of the most striking aspects of comrade Rıza was how often he was likened to Kemal Pir within the party. During a period when we were in Qandil together, a nephew of Kemal Pir came to visit. He spoke at length about comrade Rıza, focusing solely on his connection to Kemal Pir. He even recorded more than an hour and a half of audio. If those recordings are ever located and published in the archives, they would offer a powerful learning resource.

It was through comrade Rıza that I truly learned who Kemal Pir was. I came to understand that he was his spiritual twin, the same fluidity, efficiency, boldness, and commitment to action. There are many qualities from which today’s youth could draw valuable lessons. Before that, I hadn’t realized how deeply comrade Rıza shared these traits with Kemal Pir. But it became clear to me while listening to him describe him.

He must be immortalized in history

How should Rıza Altun be remembered? How can we remain loyal to his memory?

Haydar Varto: Comrade Rıza’s life is at once a novel, a poem, a philosophy, and a political and diplomatic mission. Each of these dimensions holds valuable lessons. His personality was profoundly rich, his struggle deeply committed, and the legacy he left behind filled with meaningful memories. These cannot be captured through brief accounts or ordinary language. That is why more in-depth novels, books, and memoirs must be written about such comrades; we must ensure they are immortalized in history.

I once saw a Rıza who could cry

Rauf Karakoçan: I’m someone who also witnessed comrade Rıza’s emotional side. While we were staying in Xinêrê, he had been reassigned and was leaving to join the military forces. We accompanied him to the road. When it came time to say goodbye, he hugged us and cried. It was the first time I had seen him cry. The atmosphere became deeply emotional for all of us.

I had never known him like that, had never seen that side of him. His deep bond with comrades left a lasting impression. Even though he wasn’t going far and we would meet again soon, the emotional weight of parting from the environment he was so attached to hit him hard. I saw a Rıza who could cry, one completely opposite of the tough image he usually gave.

He brought his entire family into the party through his own example

One of the most remarkable aspects of comrade Rıza, something that should serve as an example to others, is how he brought his entire family into the party through his own commitment. This was not the result of any pressure or compulsion. Among PKK cadres, he was the only one whose entire family joined and actively served the PKK, inspired solely by his presence and example. This was not done through persuasion or imposition, but because of the deep loyalty and trust his family had in him. They embraced the cause without hesitation. This included his mother as well.

The PKK Resurrection History offers a vivid account of who Mother Hatice was. Rıza was someone who had such an impact on his family. None of us had this kind of influence. This is another trait that must be recognized and emulated. With these qualities, he is a comrade whose legacy must continue to live on within the struggle, especially now, at a time when such personalities are so greatly needed.

He had much to contribute to the new era

If only comrade Rıza had lived to see these days. He used to read extensively yet rarely wrote. He would store everything in his mind. One of the works attributed to him is a book titled Universal History: The Middle East. It offers a powerful account of the Middle East’s complex history. The content was originally conveyed orally and later compiled into a book.

In the context of the new era ushered in by the dissolution of the PKK, comrade Rıza was exactly the kind of cadre this movement needed. Had he lived, he would have contributed far more to the party. He was someone who would have significantly shaped the future of this struggle.

We will walk their path

Serhat Engizek: My relationship with comrade Rıza was one of love and respect. When comrade Rıza fell a martyr, I felt it. You know how they say you can feel it when someone you love deeply is gone? That’s exactly what happened to me. I told comrade Haydar (Varto) several times, “Comrade Rıza has fallen.” At the time, the organization hadn’t announced anything yet. I kept asking everyone who came by, but I received no answer. And when no one responded, I knew he had reached martyrdom.

Comrades like Rıza play a vital role in reviving, elevating, and rebuilding society. A people that rises again can organize its future and assert its presence more powerfully. All martyrdoms are early, but comrade Rıza’s was especially so. He was a person shaped precisely for this new process. Had he lived, he would have made enormous contributions. He had the knowledge, the depth, and the experience.

Certainly, we will walk the path of comrade Rıza, comrade Fuat, and all our fallen comrades. This will continue until victory is achieved. Whether our lives are long enough or not, we will never forget these comrades, we will never let them be forgotten and we will walk the path they paved.