Celebrations of the 36th anniversary of the founding of the PKK are continuing in all four parts of Kurdistan and abroad.

In the Medya Defence Areas the guerrillas are enthusiastically celebrating the 36th anniversary of the founding of the PKK (Partiya Karkerên Kurdistan – Kurdistan Workers Party).

Prior to the celebration a military ceremony commemorated all those who have fallen in the Kurdistan Freedom Struggle. Following the ceremony, PKK Executive Committee member Duran Kalkan spoke, saying: “We are celebrating the 36th anniversary of the official founding of the PKK and marching determinedly along the freedom path opened up by Leader Apo, pledging once again to hold high the flag of the freedom struggle handed to us by our 30 thousand martyrs.”

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Duran Kalkan continued: “This great freedom march began in this way 42 years and is continuing without a break. The development of the party and the guerrillas was on the basis of the freedom of the people which combined with the fundamental reality of women’s freedom. This is undoubtedly the greatest historical development of the last quarter of the 20th century and the first quarter of the 21st century.”

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Duran Kalkan emphasised that although it is the 36th anniversary of the official founding of the party, the struggle of the PKK has been going on for 42 years.  

‘The PKK has become the hope and beacon of freedom for humanity’

"The struggle has been arduous and we have paid a heavy price, with tens of thousands of martyrs. Society has gained a new life and put everything into the struggle. Despite the sacrifices it has been precious and resulted in great gains,” added Kalkan, recalling that after the First World War the Kurdish people were consigned to oblivion, and that the PKK, after 42 years of struggle, has become the leader, the hope and a beacon of freedom for all humanity.

‘All humanity has been defended’  

Kalkan emphasised that although neither the Iraqi nor the Syrian state had been able to stand up to ISIS, the Kurdish guerrillas had withstood their onslaught. He stressed that the guerrillas were not only defending the Kurds and Kurdistan, but also the existence of all the peoples of the Middle East.

Duran Kalkan drew attention to the struggle of the PKK in 2014, saying: “The Kurdish people and guerrillas under the leadership of the PKK waged a great struggle in this 36th year and was able to halt the onslaught of ISIS fascism. With this struggle the reality and magnitude of the Freedom Struggle in Kurdistan and the guerrillas’ role in defending rights, justice and freedom has with its heroic resistance been an example and shown the way to all humanity.”