The Co-Presidency of the KCK Executive Council issued a statement to mark the 40th anniversary of 15 August 1984, when the first bullet was fired by the PKK, thus starting the armed struggle.

The statement said: "We are approaching the 40th anniversary of the 15 August breakthrough that brought the Kurdish people back into existence. After 40 years of uninterrupted development, we congratulate this meaningful and historic breakthrough to Rêber Apo, the heroes that enabled the breakthrough, all the martyrs, the patriotic people of Kurdistan, the freedom guerrillas, all comrades resisting in prison, women, oppressed peoples of the world, and our international friends. We express our endless gratitude to all those who took part and contributed to this historic breakthrough and once again commemorate all the martyrs of revolution and democracy with respect, love, and gratitude by commemorating comrade Agit, our great commander and the hero of the breakthrough, and we bow respectfully in front of their precious memories. We reiterate our promise that we will walk on the path of the martyrs until we achieve victory."

The statement continued: "The breakthrough of 15 August has been one of the most meaningful and great steps in history. The Kurdish people, who were about to be annihilated under the grip of occupation, exploitation, and genocide, regained new life with the August 15th breakthrough and regained their will, consciousness, and identity. It ended the history of denial, reaction, and exploitation in Kurdistan and started the history of free and democratic development. The Kurdish people gained honor and glory with the breakthrough of August 15th. This historic breakthrough also led to the resurrection of Kurdish women, who gained free consciousness and will and created the developments that have led to today. The August 15th breakthrough is also a development with regional and global consequences. The effects of Rêber Apo’s [Abdullah Ocalan] paradigm on the world and the Kurdish woman’s reaching the level of leadership in the women’s liberation struggle are two fundamental aspects that reflect the regional and global character of the August 15th breakthrough and reveal its historical significance. Rêber Apo has always emphasized that the August 15th breakthrough was not a purely military action and was not limited to Kurdistan, but was a democratic and universal development. As time passes, this truth is understood better."

The statement added: "15 August is a great historical development that needs to be emphasized and understood in many respects. First of all, the breakthrough of August 15th is a development that has not stopped and is still continuing. For forty years, this breakthrough has been going on without interruption and with great developments. This is one of its most important and distinctive features. Undoubtedly, one of the points that must be emphasized and understood is to know the conditions under which the August 15th breakthrough took place and to recognize the historical individuals who realized this. The August 15th breakthrough can be understood by learning about the practices of the genocidal, colonialist, racist, and denialist mentality developed against the Kurdish people; the cries of the Kurdish people whose language, identity, and culture were banned; and the oppression, torture, and massacres of the September 12th fascist junta against the peoples and revolutionaries; the great memories of the comrades like Mazlum Dogan, Kemal Pir, Hayri Durmuş, and Sakine Cansiz, who resisted the greatest persecution in history in the prison of Amed (tr. Diyarbakir). Again, in order to understand the breakthrough of August 15th, it is necessary to learn about the great passion for freedom, and the love for the country that the people who carried out this historic breakthrough carried in their hearts.

Today’s extermination and genocide attacks on our people reveal how vital the struggle expressed in the breakthrough of August 15th is. It is very clear that, as a people, we can only stand against the attacks of occupation and genocide in the spirit of the August 15th breakthrough. And it is certain that by raising the struggle with the same mentality, we can break the invasion and the genocidal attacks in order to defeat the colonialist enemy. The breakthrough on August 15th represents the will to resurrect Kurdistan and its success. In this respect, it is necessary to truly understand and live according to August 15th. Understanding and sustaining this historical development that enabled us to exist until today is what we need the most."

The statement underlined that "the Kurdistan freedom guerrilla continues the August 15th breakthrough and follows the path whose foundation stone was laid by comrade Agit, the great commander of this breakthrough, by resisting the invasion and genocide attacks with great sacrifice and heroism. We salute this meaningful stance and unique resistance of the guerrillas once again on this occasion and congratulate all comrades on the 15 August Resurrection Day. The people of Kurdistan should celebrate the breakthrough of August 15th with great enthusiasm everywhere. On this basis, they should increase the struggle and carry the struggle to victory by standing side by side with the Kurdistan freedom guerrillas, resisting against occupation, genocide and betrayal."