The People's Defense Forces (HPG) have published the names of two guerrillas who died in the Turkish state attacks in the Medya Defense Areas in June. Devrim Garzan was a member of the regional command of the HPG, while Sîdar Amed belonged to the units in Avaşîn and had participated in the guerrilla offensive "Zagros Falcons" (Pêngava Bazên Zagrosê) against the Turkish invasion in South Kurdistan. The HPG said they were selfless representatives of the "apoist militancy" and expressed their condolences to their relatives and the Kurdish public.

 Codename: Devrim Garzan

 First and last name: Bilal Onat

 Place of Birth: Elih

 Mother and father’s Name: Latife – Cengiz

 Date and place of death: 7/6/2023-Avaşîn

 

 Codename: Sîdar Amed

 Name and Surname: Mazlum Yılmaz

 Place of birth: Amed

 Mother and father’s names: Azize – Mehmet

 Date and place of death: 7/6/2023-Avaşîn

Devrim Garzan

Devrim Garzan was born into a patriotic nomadic family in Êlih (Batman). He grew up in an environment shaped by the culture and values of Kurdistan and had a deep connection to the Kurdish liberation struggle. He got to know the PKK as a child. At the same time, he became aware of the Turkish state's policy of denial and oppression in Kurdistan. As an adolescent, he therefore became involved in the Kurdish youth movement. “This was his response to the fascist practices of the state. During this time, he also became aware of the importance of organizing,” said the HPG.

With the emergence of the terrorist group Islamic State and a new phase of escalation in Kurdistan, Devrim Garzan joined the defense forces of the Rojava revolution. After his basic military training, he took an active part in the offensives against ISIS. “He fought in the front ranks and was known for his courage and spirit of sacrifice. This has earned him the respect and recognition of his comrades.”

In 2017, Devrim Garzan left the Rojava Defense Forces and went to South Kurdistan to join the guerrillas. His first operational area was the Avaşîn region. He quickly became a commander and coordinated numerous actions in resistance against the Turkish occupation. He played a leading role in the practical implementation of modern guerrilla tactics and tunnel warfare and was a member of the mobile guerrilla units that used their effective fighting power to control the terrain in the Medya Defense Areas.

Sidar Amed

Sîdar Amed was born in Amed. The fact that his family was a patriotic one and felt connected to the Kurdish resistance was important to his formation. He already knew what the PKK meant as a child. As an adolescent, he was active in the ranks of the Kurdish youth movement. Here he focused on the basics of self-defense and was targeted by the Turkish state. In 2011 he was arrested and spent about half a year in prison.

“Heval Sîdar, despite all the pressure, did not deviate from the truth that he knew and defended. During the phase of his imprisonment, his anger towards the intruders grew,” according to the HPG. After his release, he became even more involved in various forms of resistance against the Turkish state's anti-Kurdish policies and attempts to smash the Kurdish movement.

After the Kurdish region of Afrin was occupied by Turkey and its jihadist allies in 2018 after a two-month aggression, Sîdar Amed made the decision to go to Rojava. In 2019 he joined the local defense units. "He has made great efforts to become a competent fighter," said the HPG about the martyr. In the course of the Turkish invasion of South Kurdistan, he left Rojava at his own request and went to the Medya Defense Areas.

Guerrilla Sîdar Amed went to Avaşîn. Here he took part in various offensives against Turkey. He was deployed in the "tunnel wars" as well as in the open, where he was a leading member of the mobile guerrilla units. “Heval Sîdar resisted every attack by the occupiers,” said the HPG.