Guerrillas of the HPG (People's Defense Forces) and YJA Star (Free Women's Troops) in Shengal spoke to ANF on the 18th anniversary of the international conspiracy against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

HPG-YJA Star guerrillas stated that the conspirators received a heavy blow in the face of the resistance of people and the guerrillas, and the construction of democratic life in Rojava and Shengal. The guerrillas stressed that 2017 would be the year of ensuring the free future of peoples and peace through the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan.

"KURDISH PEOPLE WILL NOT SURRENDER"

VİYAN APOCU BAWAN: “As HPG and YJA Star guerrillas, we condemn the February 15 Conspiracy on its 18th anniversary. As a result of the international conspiracy, in which a dirty alliance including several states defied all moral and humane values, Leader Öcalan was captured. They thought that they could eliminate Kurds' struggle for freedom with the captivity of our Leader. However, on the contrary, people in all four parts of Kurdistan rose up and embraced Öcalan when he was captured. Unprecedented actions of self-sacrifice took place. Of course, this shocked everyone. They did not think that our Leader would be defended this much. We must bring the conspirators to account by becoming stern warriors with the philosophy of our Leader and be worthy of the efforts of the Leader who has sacrificed himself for his people and their freedom. The youth who were burnt alive in the basements of Cizre and the children that refused to surrender and were massacred in the streets of Nusaybin showed how people adopt the struggle of Öcalan and will never surrender."

"ÖCALAN IS THE LEADER OF DEMOCRATIC TRANSFORMATION"

DENİZ ARARAT: "We commemorate our martyrs that set their bodies on fire to condemn the conspirators and formed a ring of fire around our Leader. We will always follow in the footsteps of those comrades and fight to realize their goals. Imperialist powers first attacked Leader Apo in order to redesign the Middle East because Öcalan and the PKK were the biggest obstacle to their colonialist plans for the region. Young and old alike resisted in mountains and prisons in order to prevent the conspirators from reaching their goal, but it is today intended to continue the conspiracy through the isolation of Öcalan and the intensified attacks on our people. However, the resistance developed by Kurds, mainly during 2016, prevented the Turkish state and other conspirators from getting the results they wanted in four parts of Kurdistan and the Middle East. Our Leader's resistance in İmralı was the determining factor here. He told the people and the militants how to live and resist. With his philosophy and resistance, Öcalan is leading the people's resistance and the democratic transformation in the Middle East.”

"WE WILL BREAK THE CHAINS OF CAPTIVITY IN 2017"

BERXWEDAN QERECDAX: “I condemn the conspiracy against our Leader that began on October 9 and ended with his captivity on February 15, and commemorate our martyr comrades. Leader Apo defends equality, justice and freedom for all peoples. The conspiracy was carried out to eliminate the freedom struggle of the people led by Leader Apo who upset imperialist plots through his efforts. He defeated the conspiracy in order to enable the fraternal and just coexistence of all peoples. We will liberate our Leader and break the chains of captivity on our people and entire humanity in 2017. We will ensure peace and the democratic future of all peoples through the freedom of Öcalan and will assure peace."