Leadership

Let’s extend the struggle against occupation on May Day

We are convinced that this May Day will accelerate the collapse of AKP/MHP fascism and we call on our patriotic people, all working people, women and youth to fill the squares in order to overthrow this dictatorship," said the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in a statement marking the May Day.

PKK congratulated all its companions, first of all Abdullah Öcalan, the people of Kurdistan, all workers, revolutionary and socialist forces on the international working-class struggle day and wished success to all people who are in resistance for "freedom and democracy".

PKK remembered the "last great martyr" of the Kurdish liberation movement, Sinan Dersim (Dalokay Şanlı), who belonged to the Command Council of the People's Defense Forces (HPG) and represented the PKK in the Executive Council of the HBDH (Peoples' United Revolutionary Movement), as well as its May martyrs with love and respect and reiterated its promise to always keep an honorable memory for them and to realize the ideals of the martyrs.

While we as the movement and people of Kurdistan, like all the working people of the world, are also facing a significant May Day like this one, we have to note that the fascist-genocidal Turkish state and its government have started a comprehensive occupation and annihilation attack against Metina, Zap and Avashin regions in the Medya Defense Zones on April 23. The fascist army and its special war mercenaries have crossed the border via Uludere, Çukurca, Yüksekova and Şemdinli, and are attacking HPG and YJA-Star bases from four sides.

These attacks involve the use of mercenaries from ISIS remnants, in addition to ground and air forces and consequently fighter jets, helicopters and reconnaissance aircraft. Under the cover of heavy bombardment, troops are airdropped to capture strategic points in a geographic area controlled by the guerrillas in order to occupy the entire region. Following this, villages and settlement areas are forcibly depopulated. In the efforts to completely occupy Rojava and Bashur (South Kurdistan), which the AKP/MHP's anti-Kurdish fascism initiated with the invasions of Afrin and Serêkaniyê and continued in Xakurke and Heftanin, another decisive step is now intended to be taken in Metina, Zap and Avashin.

Our media informs the public about all details on the course of the selfless resistance of the HPG and YJA-Star against these genocidal occupation attacks and the heavy losses the guerrillas inflict on the occupiers in all regions. The guerrilla headquarters publishes daily and concrete information on results of the war. It is already becoming apparent that it will not be easy to occupy these areas. The forces of the fascist Turkish state are in the guerrilla trap. The grandiose Zagros Mountains will be the grave of the colonialist-genocidal fascism of the KP/MHP. The victory initiated by the guerrillas in Zap in 2008 and extended in Gare this February will culminate in Zagros. In this sense, we salute the resistance carried out by the HPG and the YJA-Star and wish good luck in the revolutionary offensives 'Bazên Zagrosê' and 'Cenga Xabûr'.

It is noteworthy that the current attack immediately followed the first conversation between the new U.S. administration and Erdoğan administration on April 23. The February 2008 Zap attack had also been preceded by a conversation between the then-U.S. administration and Tayyip Erdoğan that took place on November 5, 2007. Beginning on December 1, 2007, the U.S. opened its airspace to the Turkish Air Force and started to transmit information obtained by means of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to the Turkish state, and Turkey’s occupation attack catapulted onto the agenda in February 2008. Without a doubt, these are not coincidences. The fact that these are forces that oppose the existence of the PKK in Iraq, let along its struggle, and have been actively supporting Turkey in its attacks against PKK guerrillas on Iraqi territory since December 2007, makes the situation even more understandable.

The genocidal attacks of AKP/MHP fascism against the Kurdish people are taking place with the backing and support of the US, EU and Russia. The US and Iraq are providing direct assistance by clearing the airspace for Turkish forces. Kurdish forces that do not oppose the occupation, first and foremost the KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party), openly and unequivocally support the invasion. For the sake of clarity, it is important to record these facts here and to bring them to the attention of the public. There is talk of forces promoting genocide against the Kurds. From this perspective, the condemnation of the Armenian Genocide 106 years ago loses credibility. The proverb 'False friends run with the hares and hunt with the hounds' aptly describes this mendacious policy. If these forces do not correct themselves, their policies will be judged by history.

It should be taken for granted that we, as the Kurdistan Liberation Movement and the Kurdish people, will oppose the intended genocide with all our strength. No matter in which part of Kurdistan; the struggle for the freedom of the Kurdish people will be fought to the end. Whatever the cost, we will pay it. Our selfless guerrillas as well as our patriotic people will be on the offensive every day and turn Kurdistan into hell for the fascist colonialists. The fascist-genocidal mentality and politics will be buried under the ground in the mountains and cities of Kurdistan. In this sublime struggle, it would have been desirable to see all Kurdish political forces on our side. We would have preferred that no one bears on his forehead the stigma of a genocidal crime.

Our patriotic people should understand that the scale of the invasion is far-reaching and the fascist-genocidal enemy intends our annihilation. It is under this impression that we meet May Day this year. The situation is serious, the current stage can be called difficult. It is the day of struggle and the day to overwhelm the enemy in Zap and Zagros. There should be no doubt that our heroic guerrillas will do more than enough. But great and historic tasks also fall to our people in Kurdistan and the diaspora, women and youth. In particular, the attitude of our people in South Kurdistan is significant and will play a decisive role in the Kurdish liberation struggle. It is up to the patriots of Kurdistan to fulfill this historic mission and to enhance the struggle against the fascist-genocidal AKP/MHP dictatorship - wherever they are in the world. An important concern for them should be to unite the peoples of Turkey, the Middle East and all humanity under the umbrella of this resistance.

Obviously, what we are currently going through as a movement and as a people makes May Day more meaningful and leads us to internalize and live the principles of unity, solidarity and struggle even more intensely. So, let us unite the principles of freedom, equality and democracy emblematic of this day, strengthen solidarity and bury AKP/MHP fascism in Zap and Zagros by waging greater struggles. Let's destroy all forms of male-dominated reactionary ideologies by developing the women's liberation revolution and forming a free life and democratic society on this basis. Let's catapult the system of capitalist modernity, the root of the corona virus, to the dustbin of history through the realization of the ecological revolution. So let's go out on May Day, fill the squares and enhance the struggle against the occupation attacks of the fascists. Bijî Yekê Gulanê! Long live May Day!

Long lifes the resistance agains fascism!

Long Lifes the first may!

Bijî 1 Gûlan!

Bijî Rêber APO!

 

27 April 2021

PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) Central Committee