The KONGRA-GEL Co-Presidency Council has issued a written statement on occasion of the anniversary of the August 15 Initiative which marks the PKK’s first attack against the Turkish army in 1984.

“Happy the 37th anniversary of the August 15 Initiative, we congratulate especially Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, the families of our martyrs, the people of Kurdistan, all our friends who are in the mountains and resisting in the prisons. We commemorate all the August 15 martyrs with respect in the person of the great commander, Comrade Egid.

The historic August 15 Initiative has changed the fate of the people of Kurdistan and became a milestone for the peoples of Kurdistan. Under the leadership of Britain, the imperialist states divided Kurdistan during the First World War and handed the Kurdish people over to four racist states. Until the establishment of the PKK, the occupying states suppressed all Kurdish uprisings in a few months-years span. Kurdish leader Öcalan smashed the vicious circle with the 15 August Initiative. The August 15 Initiative became the day of the Kurdish people's resurrection and democracy, and it has been maintained for 37 years. 

'TURKISH STATE'S SYSTEM WILL BE ENDED'

Following the August 15 Initiative, the guerrilla resistance became the hope of freedom for the people in four parts of Kurdistan with its heroism, militancy and life. Kurdish women and youth from all over Kurdistan flocked to the guerrilla ranks. They formed the guerrilla, the army of the people of Kurdistan, and became their defence force.

The racist Turkish state and its partners are trying to break the guerrilla resistance based on advanced warfare by mobilizing all their means. However, the Kurdistan Freedom Guerrilla, with its modern warfare, has frustrated the plans of the racist Turkish state and its partners in Heftanîn, Metina, Zap, Avaşin, Xakurkê, Zagros, Botan, Serhat and Dersim. The guerrilla is getting stronger each day with a new war style. On the 37th anniversary of August 15, there is greater hope and belief to put an end to the racist Turkish state's system in a struggle that the guerrilla and the people of Kurdistan will carry out together.

The anti-Kurdish policy developed by the Turkish state has not succeeded, which leads Turkish state system into a major crisis. The regime of Turkish fascism is introducing racist attacks against Kurdish families and Syrian refugees in order to put off its own collapse and change the agenda. These racist attacks and massacres aim to intimidate the people and to push back the popular resistance. However, these racist attacks by the state only increase the hatred of our people towards the fascist system.

'ALL KURDS MUST MOBILIZE'

We, the people of Kurdistan, can overthrow the racist system of the state through common resistance. However, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) allies with the Turkish state and is a major obstacle to the guerrilla in the recent battles in the Metina-Zap-Avashin regions. This is not acceptable. A Kurdish party cannot be a partner with the enemy of the Kurdish people.

This is the most dangerous problem for our people. The solution should be found out by the people of Kurdistan. Therefore, all Kurdish political parties, non-governmental organizations, intellectuals, artists and the Kurdish media must step into action immediately to eliminate this danger. Such an effort may yield results and frustrate the plans of the racist Turkish state.

We praise the resistance of the guerrilla, particularly the Metina-Zap-Avashin resistance. This spectacular resistance is a source of pride for our people. We are entering 38th year of the August 15 Initiative with great hope and faith.

We celebrate the Day of Resurrection, Kurdish leader Öcalan, the people of Kurdistan, all friends and colleagues, and we say that success shall remain with the guerrilla and the people of Kurdistan."