People’s Defense Central Headquarters Commander Murat Karayılan addressed the guerrilla forces by radio on August 16 for the anniversary of the August 15 Lunge.

Karayılan addressed the guerrillas fighting in Northern Kurdistan and made striking analyses about the current developments.

In his speech, Karayılan pointed out the martyrdom of Zeki Şengalî, a symbol of the Yazidi people and a leader of the Kurdistan freedom struggle, and said: “This attack is without a doubt a continuation of the 73rd genocide ISIS carried out on August 3, 2014. Such an attack against unarmed civilians is the greatest terrorism there is.”

THEIR BLOOD WILL BE AVENGED

Karayılan continued: “We condemn this cowardly and sordid attack. But we won’t just condemn it, and this attack will be avenged. Our Yazidi people and all Kurdish people should know that Comrade Zeki and Comrade Atakan will be avenged.”

Highlights from Karayılan’s speech are as follows:

“We have arrived at the 35th year of August 15 at a very significant and strategic time. Today, there is a strategic and peaking war between us and Turkish colonialism. This war is not just in Bakure (Northern) Kurdistan, but has spread to 3 parts including Bashure (Southern) and Rojavaye (Western) Kurdistan. The outcome of this war will bring about many developments. Such is the period we are going through. Of course there are martyrs in such a strategic time. From our first martyr Haki Karer to Commander Egîd, from Egîd to Erdal (Engin Sincer), to Adil, Nuda, Delal and the most recent martyrs Atakan, Roni, Welat, Serdar and Baran and our last martyr Comrade Zeki, we remember all our martyrs in their person with respect and bow to their memory.”

EVERY MARTYR IS A REASON FOR A NEW OPERATION

“Our struggle is also the struggle to keep the memory of our heroic martyrs alive. Our struggle for freedom has arrived to this day with the resistance and great sacrifices of our heroic martyrs, and will continue from now on in the same style to achieve the final result. Every martyrdom in our history of struggle has been another reason for important new operations, forming a basis for them. When Comrade Egîd was martyred, the enemy said ‘Apo’s right hand man has been destroyed, and the guerrilla warfare has ended’. But the ARGK (People’s Emancipation Army of Kurdistan) was declared instead in his honor. Our revolutionary war launched under the ARGK has continued for 32 years, and grows with every passing day. For the memory of comrades Atakan, Welat and Zeki, we want to turn the 35th year of August 15 into a year of great struggle. We will increase our resistance in all parts of Kurdistan against the AKP-MHP-Ergenekon and Al Qaeda fascism and invasion, and we will avenge our martyrs.”

“Our party has never weakened due to martyrdoms. Every martyr has brought on a great strength for the struggle and fortified our resolve. We must take our lessons from wrongdoings and shortcomings that have resulted in losses. In July and in early August, Comrade Welat and the group with him were martyred in Garzan, then comrades Serdar and Baran and their group were martyred in Farashin, and lastly comrades Atakan and Roni and their group were martyred. We must take lessons from these martyrdoms and go deeper in the correct military line of the period for their vengeance. We must make these esteemed martyrs the basis for great operations and the promise for success and victory for the Kurdistan Freedom Struggle. The approach and decision by our movement is as such. The fight to avenge the heroic martyrs will be a march to victory.”

THE GOAL OF THE IMRALI ISOLATION IS TO DISBAND THE MOVEMENT

“Our leader is currently in captivity at the hands of the Turkish state. But there is no basis in law or morality for what is being done in Imrali. The enemy knows very well that they can’t push Leader Apo’s free human will incarnate through oppression and isolation. But they engage in these inhumane practices and tyranny to create doubt within the guerrilla, to sever our ties to the Leader, to create problems and weak points among us and to disband our revolution in essence.”

“All comrades should know that, despite the enemy, we must come together with the Leader even more, every one of us must march onto their duty like the Leader, and be a belligerent and resistant militant of victory. We must respond to the enemy as such. The only way to smash the Imrali system and the current isolation is this. The colonialist genocidal system can only be smashed through such a resistance. This fact we must know well.”

ATTACKS AGAINST SHENGAL ARE VILE

“As the HPG, we have officially withdrawn from Shengal. But the Turkish state has not given up on their animosity against Shengal. The enemy carried out an air strike assassination in Shengal last night (August 15). Comrade Zeki was in the memorial service for the massacre of 2006 in the Kocho village. As Comrade Zeki was returning from this ceremony, his vehicle was hit in the air strike. Comrade Zeki had great labors in our struggle. He wasn’t engaged in any military effort in Shengal. His efforts there were social and civilian. But the enemy carried out such a vile and cowardly attack against him because they fear his efforts.”

“Comrade Zeki was engaged in civilian efforts in Shengal for our Yazidi society. But they attacked nefariously and martyred him in an assassination. This attack is without a doubt a continuation of the 73rd genocide ISIS carried out on August 3, 2014. Such an attack against unarmed civilians is the greatest terrorism there is.”

“Comrade Zeki Şengalî was a symbol for all our Yazidi people. He was a leader for our Yazidi people. His biggest goal was the unity of our people in Shengal and the autonomy of Shengal. Night and day he worked for this goal. This attack was, above all, an attack against our Yazidi people and the Kurdistan Freedom Struggle.”

WE WILL HOLD TURKISH COLONIALISM TO ACCOUNT

“We condemn this cowardly and sordid attack. But we won’t just condemn it, and this attack will be avenged. Our Yazidi people and all Kurdish people should know that Comrade Zeki and Comrade Atakan will be avenged. Neither Comrade Zeki nor Comrade Atakan will go unavenged. A historic holding to account is on our agenda. We will hold the cowardly and despicable enemy to account. All must know this fact.”

“With this, we offer our condolences to the Yazidi people, all the people of Kurdistan and the families of martyrs. All our people should know that our martyrs will live on in the increasing Kurdistan Freedom Movement. The efforts of martyrs and the tradition of resistance they created will carry this struggle to victory. This is our oath in the struggle and our promise. We don’t see it necessary to say too much. Like the army was formed in his memory when the great Commander Egîd was martyred and a new era began, the months of July and August will play the same role in our struggle.”