Speaking on the 46th anniversary of the founding of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party), guerrillas from HPG (People’s Defense Forces) and YJA Star (Free Women’s Troops) stated that with the founding of the PKK, the Kurdish people revived, recognised themselves, and claimed their existence and culture.

Congratulating Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan) and the Kurdish people on the anniversary of the founding of the PKK, YJA Star guerrilla Viyan Efrîn drew attention to the importance of the founding of the PKK and said: “Before the PKK was founded, the Kurdish people were in a position between life and death. With the establishment of the PKK, the Kurdish people revived, recognised themselves, and claimed their existence and culture. This is a reality not only for the Kurdish people, but for all societies today.”

Referring to the importance of the martyrs' struggle, HPG guerrilla Egîd Rojhilat said, “The PKK is the party of martyrs. When comrade Haki Karer fell a martyr, the Leader decided to establish the PKK. For this reason, the PKK is both the party of martyrs and the party of revenge. Today, we are following in the footsteps of the martyrs and raising our struggle on their path in every field of Kurdistan. The guerrillas resisting in the tunnels in Metina, Zap and Xakurkê are struggling for existence and freedom against the occupation in the footsteps of Haki, Kemal and Mazlum. We are determined, and we will carry our struggle even further in the new year.”

Emphasising that the PKK has put up unique resistance since 1978, HPG guerrilla Rojger Serhed said, “The PKK was born as a power in the person of comrades Haki, Kemal and Mazlum. Today, with selfless fighters such as Serxwebûn, Rizgar, Sara and Ruken, Rojhat and Erdal, it strikes the heaviest blows to the invaders. Martyr Serxwebûn stated that the barbaric attacks of the invaders were aimed at breaking the power of the Kurdish people, saying ‘The struggle we wage is the struggle of the Kurdish people’. We believe that our people understand the messages of the guerrilla and increase their resistance in this direction. Under these severe conditions, we are fighting for our people and for the physical freedom of the Leader. Despite all the difficulties, we will crown our struggle with victory.”

YJA Star guerrilla Çiyajîn Kotol, who joined the PKK ranks from Rojhilat (Eastern Kurdistan), stated that the anniversary of the PKK’s founding means a new life for her and said, “We are in a difficult war. Every day we are subjected to genocidal attacks; our nature is being burnt, chemical weapons are being used against us. However, as the militants of a revolutionary movement, we never lose our morale in the face of these attacks. The anniversary of the PKK is the most important day for us. We celebrate this day with great enthusiasm and morale. The PKK is the power of resistance. The PKK will never allow us to kneel. It gives us the strength and faith to stand up, to rebuild ourselves and to raise our struggle even higher. Our comrades Rojger and Hêlîn once again showed the enemy that the guerrilla is everywhere against the fascists. The PKK can never be finished. We will follow in the footsteps of these comrades and increase our struggle.”

HPG guerrilla Amed Farqîn stated: “The PKK is a new existence, a new life for all of us. Before the PKK, the Kurdish people were facing death, struggling with poverty and despair. The PKK raised this people to their feet, gave them willpower and led them to struggle. All of these achievements were consciously built. Leader Apo educated this people with his philosophy of freedom and brought it to a universal level. The efforts of our martyrs should never be forgotten. Our martyrs are our honour of freedom. We embrace the legacy left by the Mazlums and the Kemals and walk in their path. We will gladly sacrifice our lives for victory and freedom.”