The press centre of the People’s Defence Forces (HPG) has issued a statement about the guerilla fighter Jakob Riemer (Şiyar Gabar), who fell last year.

Full text of the statement reads as follows:

“In Kurdistan, a war is being fought with the utmost selflessness and most tireless commitment. A liberated way of life unfolds due to our heroic fallen comrades’ belief in freedom and in life itself. Our fallen comrades’ conscious and selfless way of life has created a force that will lead to unconditional success under the leadership of the PKK.

When fighting the colonial occupation of Kurdistan, our friend Şiyar Gabar fell in a military operation of the Turkish army in Çarçella, Gever (Yüksekova, Colemêrg/Hakkâri province). Our friend Şiyar was born in Germany in 1994. Early on in life, he recognised the injustice of the existing system and started looking for ways to fight back. He fought against the capitalist moderaty, where people do not count and the gulf between social classes is ever-increasing. Şiyar believed that a social system without exploitation is possible and became active in various left groups in Germany. That is where he first learned about the Kurdish people and their liberation struggle. He recognised that international liberation could be achieved on the basis of Abdullah Öcalan’s ideas about a free life and decided to fight for this goal in the ranks of the PKK. In 2013, he went into the mountains of Kurdistan and joined the HPG.

Şiyar quickly got used to living conditions in the mountains. He made an effort to evolve ideologically and gain a solid foundation for his worldview. At the same time, he focused on guerilla life and strove to become more proficient in the military arts. His discipline, thoroughness, modesty and morals earned him the love and respect of his friends. Şiyar learned to speak Kurdish fluently within a short period of time, which is another reason that he was considered exemplary everywhere. As a guerilla fighter, he always preferred to fight in the most difficult locations. He loved the Zagros Mountains and wanted to fight on the summits of this region, which represent the cradle of humanity.

Hevel Şiyar set an example for international solidarity. He joined the Kurdish liberation struggle with great enthusiasm, thus taking a place that will never be forgotten. The fallen internationalist comrades from Haki Karer and Kemal Pir to Andrea Wolf and Jakob Riemer enlighten our path. The Riemer family can be infinitely proud of their son Şiyar Gabar. We express our deep condolences for their painful loss.

Today, we remember our friend Şiyar Gabar and all fallen internationalist comrades who lost their lives in the liberation struggle of all oppressed peoples. Once again, we give our word that we will continue their struggle and carry the banner of freedom to victory.”

Cadre name: Şiyar Gabar
Name: Jakob Riemer
Birth place: Germany
Mother and father’s names: Katharina, Lutz
Day and place of death: 9th July 2018, Çarçella