YJA Star (Free Women’s Troops) guerrillas Xwînda Kobanê and Esma Amed spoke to ANF on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of the martyrdom of Bêrîtan's Hêvî (Gülnaz Karataş), a guerrilla commander in the ranks of the ARGK (People's Liberation Army of Kurdistan, the predecessor of the HPG), and pioneer of the Women's Army. She threw herself into an abyss in Southern Kurdistan (Northern Iraq) on 25 October 1992 to avoid falling into the hands of the KDP peshmerga, which collaborated with Turkey. Because of her exceptional courage and her passionate character, Beritan became a historical figure for the Kurds. Songs were written and innumerable newborns were named after her. Her life was portrayed in the movie “Beritan” by Kurdish director Halil Dağ in 2006.

Xwînda Kobanê: We cannot talk enough about the martyrs of the revolution. It is an honour for us to be in the same army with our great commander Bêrîtan and to fight for the same cause. The first thing that comes to mind when you think of Bêrîtan is her Apoist stance against the enemy and collaborators as a woman. With her action, comrade Bêrîtan created a new life both in Kurdish society and in the freedom movement. Comrade Bêrîtan's action made women who could not even take their heads out of the house to have a will. Today, thousands of Kurdish girls are named Bêrîtan, and hundreds of them have taken to the mountains of Kurdistan.

Comrade Bêrîtan's action and stance led Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan) to establish the women's army. Comrade Bêrîtan lived with the reality of Leader Apo and showed this to us. This situation is also evident in our comrades who are still fighting in positions against the enemy today. The women's army, YJA Star, in particular, is waging a unique struggle in the mountains of Kurdistan with the spirit of Bêrîtan. Our women comrades are leading this war against the enemy. We want to further strengthen our struggle on the path of comrade Bêrîtan, and we promise it.

Esma Amed: I commemorate all the martyrs of the revolution with respect and gratitude in the person of comrade Bêrîtan, who defended Leader Apo's line with her action and destroyed the line of betrayal. This line that Martyr Bêrîtan bequeathed to us is also the line of freedom for us. Many of our comrades in the mountains of Kurdistan take the name of Bêrîtan and follow in her footsteps. Today, our comrades are waging resistance in the line of Bêrîtan in the war positions. With her resistance and action, comrade Bêrîtan set an example for thousands of women seeking freedom. Many people who were influenced by comrade Bêrîtan's Apoist line of resistance took to the mountains and joined the ranks of the struggle.

Comrade Bêrîtan has been a hope for women struggling for freedom not only in Kurdistan but also in many parts of the world. From the past to the present day, there have always been attempts to deprive women of their will. With her action and her stance against betrayal, comrade Bêrîtan showed the power of struggling women to everyone who wanted to see women without will. She became a great source of courage for all our comrades fighting against the enemy. Therefore, as women, we owe a debt to comrade Bêrîtan. We once again honour comrade Bêrîtan, who carried out a self-sacrificial action against the betrayers, and we promise that we will keep the line of Bêrîtan alive in the mountains of Kurdistan.