Staff members of Radio Rojava (Radyoya Rojava) who became targets of Turkish warplanes in Qereçox (Karachok) talked to ANF about their radio station.

Member of Rojava Radio Canşêr Welat gave some important evaluations regarding the broadcasting of their radio channel and the reasons behind the attack from Turkey.

Welat remarked that Radio Rojava was launched by the People's Defence Units (YPG) on the 1st of April 2013 with a five man strong group and said that one of those five had been Hekî Bagok who fell martyr in the airstrikes of the Turkish state on the 25th April this year.

Canşêr Welat recounted the beginning of the radio's broadcasting: "Rojava Radio has set it stance at the frontline against the ISIS gangs and became in Northern, Southern and Western Kurdistan the primary source of information on the war and progress of the revolution, and has become the voice of the resistance."

RADIO ROJAVA WAS BLESSED WITH COMRADE HEKÎ

Canşêr Welat stated that at the beginning of the radio's start off, Hekî Bagok joined all the hard work and accomplished an unprecedented job. Welat said: "It is very difficult to find a person like martyr Heki again. He was a sorely skilled and intelligent person. He was working hard for Radio Rojava. He attended every educational lesson. He worked day and night and prepared programs about economy and society. Still now, if one talks about Radio Rojava, you cannot leave out martyr Heki."

RADIO ROJAVA IS MULTIFARIOUS

Çanşêr Welat pointed out that Radio Rojava played also in Northern Kurdistan an important role, saying: "Radio Rojava revealed the truth of the Turkish state and became also the voice of the Arabic community. Because brotherhood of all peoples is a fundamental component of Radio Rojava's guideline. There were many radio programs, but the most favourite program of the people was 'Morning in Rojava' (Sibeha Rojava), a program that was societal as well as political and met all necessities of the society."

RADIO ROJAVA, EVERYONE'S VOICE

Welat stressed that Hekî Bagok had a firm place in all of the YPG's press conferences, saying: "The program Haki moderated was political and so many discussions were held, that everyone listened to it very attentively. This program was broadcast sometimes live and sometimes pre-recorded. There were also programs like Rengê jinê (Colours of Women), Dengê kolanan (Sounds of the alleys), Parazvanên Rojava (Guardians of Rojava) and Emotions of Veterans (Hestên Birîndaran). All those programs were pre-recorded. And for the Kurdish people it presented something totally new and wonderful. The Radio's programs and news sessions were broadcast in Kurdish and Arabic. And Martyr Haki was working in every field. Magazines, websites and Radio Rojava, they all carried his stamp."

RADIO ROJAVA IS LISTENED TO WITH GREAT DEDICATION

Welat pointed out that whenever the audience picked up their phones and called the radio station, Hekî Bagok conducted each and every conversation with that much affection, cheeriness and morale that he consequently also brightened them up. Welat said: "There was also the weekly program 'Art from Rojava', in which artists from all over Rojava participated. The music bands Koma Ş. Xebat and Koma Tolhildan had also their particular programs. 'Our culture' was a program promoting Kurdish culture and voiced the opinions of artists to the people. Despite all attacks and efforts of annihilation, we will continue the work of our radio on the path of our martyrs."

Canşêr Welat ended with these words: "I repeat my vow for martyr Haki and all comrades who fell martyrs. We will carry through this task they handed over to us to the highest degree. We will also continue to broadcast in two languages and all societal programs until the end and we will stand by the labour of Heki and his comrades. I also commemorate Şilan and Rêbend who fell martyrs in that same airstrike of the Turkish army."

ATTACKS ON RADIO ROJAVA ARE EFFORTS TO SILENCE THE PEOPLE

Also staff member of Radio Rojava Şevîn Dêrik recalled those radio employees who fell martyrs in the Turkish airstrikes on mount Qereçox (Karachok) on the 25th of April, saying: "First of all we commemorate all martyrs of Kurdistan and Qerecox and salute them. The attacks conducted on Qereçox are not disconnected from the attacks on Northern Kurdistan. The occupying state executed its invasion policy on the Rojava line and at the same time on Northern Kurdistan's front. Either way, the goal was to silence the Kurdish people. And for this reason our broadcast became their target. For Radio Rojava gave audience to all parts of Kurdistan, the north, south and east. Fathers, seniors, the youth and members of the YPJ, all received a voice. Following the operations step by step and passing the heroism of the fighters across to all places, we can say for sure, that Radio Rojava became an answer as to place information at the people's disposal."

SHORT STORY OF THE RADIO'S HISTORY

Rojhat Cûdî, staff member of Radio Rojava, gave following account of the foundation of Radio Rojava: "Our radio station entered on the 1st April 2017 its fifth year of foundation. In the course of the years Radio Rojava had to cope with many difficulties. Its priorities have always been the Rojava Revolution as well as the clashes of the fighters against gangs. Radio Rojava developed under such conditions. When a military base of the YPG on the mount Qereçox in Derik was targeted by Turkish airstrikes, 20 of our comrades fell martyr, some of whom were staff members of Radio Rojava. Qereçox is situated in the triangle of the South, West and North. We will always defend ourselves against all attacks and never remain silent. We will become the voice of the truth and conscience of our people."

AFTER TURKISH AIRSTRIKES, THE PROGRAMS STILL GO ON

Cûdî continued that Radio Rojava is broadcasting now six different programs and said: "Guardians of Rojava, Morning in Rojava, Sounds of the Alleys, Colours of Women and Rojava Agenda are all programs that are aired systematically. The program Morning in Rojava is also broadcast twice a week on the Radio station Dirbespiye FM. Martyr Comrade Heki had played a big role in that program Morning in Rojava, which was led by Martyr Heki's enthusiasm and morale and we aim at keeping up to the tempo of comrade Haki. This program has not seen one single break since its very first broadcast and we carry on with the same enthusiasm this program of martyr Haki. Morning in Rojava was an academical, cultural and ideological program and its enhancements will continue. The programs sequences are already being prepared and recorded. It is aired every day at eight o'clock in the morning. The AKP government has made with its attacks on Qereçox clear, how much of an enemy of us they are. After the founding of Radio Rojava, the people lined up to join the YPG. Radio Rojava has become a window to the stance and resistance of Rojava and Northern Syria."