Gülçin Gever, a delegate at the 12th Congress of the PKK, stated that the initiative launched under the leadership of Abdullah Öcalan is a new hope, adding, “The principles and standards of the PKK will continue to guide our struggle.”
Gülçin Gever, a delegate at the PKK's 12th Extraordinary Congress, spoke about the decision to dissolve its armed structure and end its military struggle. Gülçin Gever stated that this decision was not the end, and that their goal was to lead the way for an equal and free society based on the paradigm of Abdullah Öcalan.
‘Every stage of the PKK has been filled with great excitement’
Emphasizing that the congress was held under extraordinary circumstances, Gever said the following: "Undoubtedly, just as the 1st Congress was of great importance in the history of the Kurdish people, the 12th Congress was held with the same excitement, the same hope, and the same feelings. The decision to dissolve the PKK was made at the congress. Undoubtedly, every process and every stage of the PKK has been filled with great excitement. When the PKK was founded in 1978, there was great excitement, enthusiasm, and morale, and at the same time, the Kurdish people's hopes for the future blossomed at that congress. At the congress where the PKK was dissolved, these hopes grew even more within the paradigm of Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan).
Leader Apo has been working hard for 52 years, as have thousands of our friends, for the freedom of the Kurdish people and the people of the Middle East. Today, with the dissolution of the PKK, these efforts and this paradigm are no longer limited to Kurdistan, but have become universal. This is undoubtedly a source of great excitement and hope for every member of the PKK.
‘Leader Öcalan’s ideas and paradigm have become universal’
The PKK started out for the identity and freedom of the Kurdish people and Kurdish women, but with each passing year, Leader Apo's ideas and paradigm have become more universal. With the dissolution of the PKK, actually a new era is beginning for the PKK. Under the leadership of women, a new era is beginning for Kurdish women, for women in the Middle East, and for women around the world. Actually, we should have reached this stage much earlier. This is a matter of self-criticism for us. However, the conditions we find ourselves in and the reality of the enemy prevented us from entering this stage of change and transformation earlier. This is a matter that requires self-criticism before the leader and those who have paid the price for 52 years. But now is the time for this change and transformation. Every comrade, especially those participating in this congress, has embraced this process with determination, confidence, and self-criticism.”
‘The principles and standards of the PKK will continue to guide our struggle’
Remarking that the Kurdish Freedom Movement made great sacrifices to reach this point, Gülçin Gever continued: "Our goal is to lead the way toward a democratic, equal, and free society in Kurdistan, Turkey, the entire Middle East, and the world, based on the paradigm of Leader Apo. The gains we have achieved so far must not be limited to Kurdistan but must spread throughout the world. We can say with confidence that the paradigm of Leader Öcalan, the initiative launched under his leadership, is a new hope and a bright future not only for us but for the whole world. This process is not an end; the PKK is being dissolved, but the principles and standards of the PKK will continue to guide our struggle. Leader Apo's ideas inspire and give hope to people. We aim to fulfill our duties and the role that falls upon us to ensure that our society leads a moral, political, equal, and democratic life in the coming period.
‘We paid a heavy price to reach this point’
Undoubtedly, this process did not come about easily. We paid a heavy price to reach this point, losing 45,000 martyrs. Our congress is also dedicated to the martyrs. Two of these martyrs are comrade Fuat, who participated in the PKK's 1st Congress and was one of its founders, and comrade Rıza Altun. On the occasion of the PKK's 12th Congress, I pay tribute to all the martyrs of the freedom struggle in the person of these comrades and bow before their sacrifices with respect.
Rêber Apo always says that the freedom of society lies in the freedom of women. For this reason, he created the women's freedom paradigm. In this sense, we women owe a debt to Leader Apo. The universalization of our revolution was also achieved thanks to his efforts. For this reason, we wholeheartedly congratulate the 12th Congress of the PKK, especially Leader Apo, and all our people, as well as our comrades who are still fighting on the front lines against the enemy under these difficult conditions. We wish everyone success.”
