The Executive Committee of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) released a statement paying tribute to the militants of the Brigade of Immortals who carried out a sacrificial action against the Security General Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs near the Parliament in Ankara on 1 October.

The PKK statement released on Thursday includes the following:

“At a time when fascist-genocidal repression, terror and atrocities have reached the highest level in Kurdistan and Turkey, when more dead bodies come out of prisons where severest torture is executed, when no news has been received about the life of Leader Abdullah Öcalan for 31 months, when the 9 October 1998 international conspiracy against Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan) marks its 25th anniversary, when chemical and tactical nuclear weapons are used against the guerrillas in Zap, a succesfull sacrificial action was carried out by comrades Rojhat Zilan and Erdal Şahin, militants of the “Brigade of Immortals”, against the General Security Directorate of the Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs, where all forms of repression and massacre are planned and operated. The fact that the action was carried out at a hundred-meter distance from the Parliament of Turkey on the opening day increases its political meaning and importance. The fact that nobody other than the targeted criminals was harmed increases its influence and success. All the necessary information and documents regarding the action was provided to the public by our Central Headquarters Command. What needed to be said was adequately expressed.

The sacrificial action against the Security General Directorate showed clearly that no crime committed against the Kurdish people, women and youth, and no crime committed against the peoples of Turkey and humanity will go unpunished. This action, which was quite a success, put fear in the hearts of all criminals and made them tremble like an aspen leaf, and gave great moral and courage to the powers of freedom and democracy. It proved to everyone the power of the Kurdish people who trained and organized themselves with the Apoist freedom consciousness, and their capability in the event of their red line being crossed. It designated the measurement of courage and sacrifice of the great struggle to be waged in the 26th year of the international conspiracy, and the system of torture, isolation and annihilation on Imrali. We hope that everyone receives the message on their part and does what is necessary.

On this basis, we remember with deep respect, love and gratitude the sacrificial comrades Rojhat Zilan and Erdal Şahin who hit the Turkish Republic’s Security General Directorate, the center of all the crimes and evil. In the name of our Central Headquarters Command, we congratulate everyone who contributed to this action, all the HPG and YJA-Star commanders and fighters who put up a successful struggle against the fascist-genocidal enemy in all areas, and wish them continued success. We call on all our patriotic people and friends, first and foremost the young people and women, to understand and embrace the heroic comrades Rojhat and Erdal who carried out the 1 October Ankara action with success in the footsteps of Zilan.”