KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) Executive Council Co-Presidency issued a written statement on the 12th year anniversary of the June 1 Initiative, and commemorated all martyrs that sacrificed their lives and showed the world the faith, will and experience of Kurdistan Freedom Guerillas.

In its statement, the KCK emphasized that it declared ceasefire and gave the opportunity of solving the Kurdish issue to the AKP government several times, including the three year-long ceasefire at the beginning of AKP’s rule in Turkey. The KCK said that Erdoğan and AKP officials approached the ceasefire tactically and continued to ignore the Kurdish issue, thinking that the guerillas would not be able to resist state oppression. The KCK Co-Presidency noted that as the second August 15 Initiative, the June 1 Initiative upset the plans of the Turkish government and helped Kurdish people earn political, social and cultural gains.

KCK continued, highlighting that unlike the AKP’s claims, the Kurdish movement is not merely a military force but a people’s movement that strives for the freedom of Kurdistan and the democratization of Turkey. The KCK stated that the Turkish state and other actors of the International Conspiracy had hoped to eliminate the Kurdish Freedom Movement but now face their own elimination, and the guerilla resistance combined with the people’s will of self-administration would continue to upset the plans of Tayyip Erdoğan.

Lastly, the KCK underlined that the will of August 15 and June 1 initiatives would defeat AKP fascism, democratize Turkey and liberate Kurdistan.