Şiyar Şevger, commander of the Defence Forces of Eastern Kurdistan (Yekîneyên Parastinê yên Rojhilatê Kurdistanê, YRK), assessed the developments in the past year to ANF. 2022 was a year of courageous resistance, the guerrilla commander emphasised, referring in particular to the guerrilla armies HPG and YJA Star, which confront the NATO-equipped army of the Turkish state in the Medya Defence Zones in Southern Kurdistan (Northern Iraq).

Şiyar Şevger also said that the YRK had prepared themselves well ideologically and militarily in 2022: "We have prepared ourselves according to the current situation and the modern form of guerrilla struggle within the paradigm of Leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan] for all kinds of attacks by the colonial powers in Kurdistan. Especially in Rojhilat [Eastern Kurdistan], we are ready for all kinds of developments this year."

"WE ARE BEHAVING IN THE INTEREST OF OUR PEOPLE"

The YRK commander pointed out that there has been a ceasefire with the Iranian state for some time: "Within the framework of this ceasefire and our strategy, we are behaving prudently towards the colonial power in our country. We have not carried out a single action. The Iranian regime, on the other hand, has carried out operations in several regions. In Shaha, Mukriyan and Mariwan, where units of ours are located, they have tried to test our patience with various methods. However, we are an organised movement with a firm will and convictions and act in the interest of our people. Therefore, we have restrained ourselves when the Iranian regime tried to create chaos in our base areas. The regime's attacks are not in the interest of the people of Rojhilat and Iran, the regime must understand this. In this time of resistance, the Basij paramilitary and the collaborators should also no longer be on the side of the colonialists. Today, there is war in all four parts of Kurdistan. The colonial powers are using Basij and other traitors and collaborators because the mountains in Kurdistan are difficult to access."

WARNING AGAINST COUNTER-GUERRILLA

Şiyar Şevger went on to say in his assessment that in 2022, the Iranian state attacked the YRK using various methods: "Counter forces were sent to our base areas. These people spoke to the population on our behalf. However, the Kurdish guerrillas are known for their ethics and culture. Therefore, the population can distinguish between us and the counter-guerrillas."

The Turkish state, in cooperation with Iran, has attacked guerrilla organisations from Rojhilat several times in the past year, the YRK commander continued: "Especially in our base area Asos, Turkish air attacks have taken place continuously. Comrade Rûken was killed in Şaho. She was a precious friend. In addition, our comrades Rêzan, Bawer, Serhed and Sîrwan were martyred in Turkish attacks. They were from Bakur, Rojava and Rojhilat and we remember them with great respect and gratitude.”

"IRAN HAS A KEY ROLE IN THE MIDDLE EAST"

The YRK commander remarked that: “This century is an age of change and transformation, the Iranian regime must also change. Society does not find itself in the existing system. The people of Rojhilat want to live together with the people of Iran, but the regime is pursuing a policy of denial against all peoples. Yet Iran could become the most advanced and developed state in the Middle East if these policies and laws were changed. This has already been pointed out by Leader Apo in his defence writings. Without such a change, the crisis in the Middle East will continue because the Iranian state has a key role in the region."

"THE PEOPLE MUST NOT RETREAT"

The change not brought about by the Iranian regime must be implemented by the people, said Şiyar Şevger, concluding: “The revolution requires a high price from the people, but it is inevitable. The regime must understand the following: If it commits massacres against the people, the people must defend themselves. The people of Rojhilat and Iran have yielded many martyrs in 2022. So far there have been about 500 martyrs and now there must be no retreat. The youth in Rojhilat and Iran must fight together, organise together and form together for the defence of society. I would like to emphasise this again: Our struggling people must not retreat and must increase the resistance even more in 2023. We will also organise ourselves even better this year and increase our struggle."