HPG and YJA-Star guerillas continue to resist against intense attacks by the Turkish state in Hakkari’s Şemzinan (Şemdinli) district.

Roza Bager, a YJA-Star guerrilla from Şemzinan, spoke about the path of struggle woven from Şemzinan to Xakurkê (Hakurk). Bager stressed the strategic importance of the Şemzinan region and said: “Şemzinan is where I opened my eyes, where I knew myself. I grew up here and joined the ranks of the guerrilla. For that, Şemzinan is the place of all my firsts. In our 40 years of history in the struggle, Şemzinan has a certain significance. Şemzinan is an area specially targeted by the enemy, the people have been forced into the village guard and the enemy has made the people dependent. Şemzinan lies on the trade routes between the South, North and the East, so it has a colorful cultural tradition. Because the residents’ only means of making a living is trade, the enemy makes the people depend on them through poverty. They are forcing the village guard on to people deliberately.”

"THERE IS RESISTANCE AGAINST INVADERS IN XAKURKÊ"

Bager said the people are displaying a great struggle against the fascistic practices of the Turkish state, and added: “The enemy can’t even tolerate the meaningful colors that make up our flag. But green represents life and nature, yellow represents the sun that warms us, and the red shows our rage against the enemy. Even these colors are banned.”

Roza Bager said it was her dream to be a guerrilla: “I joined the ranks of the guerrilla and came to the Xakurkê region. When I went up to the summit, for the first time I felt freedom. This is my second practice in Xakurkê this year. Right now, there is a great resistance and fight against the invasion attempts in Xakurkê. I fight alongside guerrillas whose very presence excites me. I am living the life I would dream of.”

“WE EXPECT THEM EVERY NIGHT, EVERY MINUTE”

After saying they will continue to follow their commander Agiri, Bager concluded her words: “The enemy entered the region using technology, and the soldiers live under the shadow of technique, trusting in the technology they have. The soldiers can’t step outside the positions they make. In the face of this fear, we witnessed the courageous resistance of Agiri, Berfin and many others. There are epics of resistance in every position. The enemy says Xakurkê is over, but friends fight in positions all through Xakurkê now.

They deliver strong blows to the enemy. The enemy says they could come suddenly one night. So we expect them to come, every night, every minute. There is no life for them on our mountains, and there never will be. We pay a price for a valuable struggle. But like Martyr Agiri said, it is not possible for this movement not to succeed. We fight with infinite faith in this, and we will continue to fight.”