The number of Turkish army defectors who join the guerrillas increases day by day. Two young former soldiers who joined the PKK called upon everyone to not serve in the Turkish military and join the guerrillas’ freedom struggle against brutality.

Turkish army defectors who joined the PKK spoke to ANF.

BAGOK: OPPRESSION AND EXPLOTATION

Özgür Bagok defected from the Turkish army at the end of 2015 and joined the PKK in response to the oppression and massacre of Kurdish people. Bagok stated that he experienced oppression and exploitation in the Turkish military, and got caught the first time he escaped from his barracks. Bagok was given a temporary leave after his first escape attempt, and escaped again and joined the PKK after this leave in October 2015.

'EVERYONE IS EQUAL IN THE MOUNTAINS'

Bagok stated that he was happy to have joined the PKK, where service is voluntary and is based upon freedom unlike the Turkish army. Bagok emphasized that equality was the basis of life in the mountains, and said that guerrillas received not only military but also ideological training in the PKK. Bagok noted that the Turkish military had hierarchy at all levels, whereas PKK commanders dined and slept in the same room with guerrillas. Bagok highlighted that service was voluntary in the PKK, and Kurds could be themselves and fight for their freedom in the mountains.

'WE INVITE THE YOUTH TO PKK FOR OUR LEADERSHIP AND LAND'

Bagok called upon Kurdish youth to see the oppression of the Turkish state that kills Kurdish people. Bagok said that Kurds should not be Turkey’s slaves, and avoid military service. Bagok invited Kurdish youth to join the PKK for Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan and Kurdistan.

CUDİ: COMPANIONSHIP AND HONOR HERE

Devrim Cudi defected from his garrison in Kars and joined the PKK in 2014. Cudi was born in Mersin and served in the Turkish military for 5-6 months before joining the PKK. Cudi succeeded in escaping from his barracks in Kars in his third try, before which his former commander beat him up for trying to escape. Cudi said that he broke the hand of the commander who beat him, and then joined the guerrilla. Cudi described military service as illogical, and emphasized that service in the PKK was on a volunteer basis. He said that the PKK was fighting for peoples’ freedom, and there was an environment of companionship and honor in the mountains. Cudi criticized the discrimination and oppression soldiers experience in the Turkish military, and said that Kurdish soldiers were treated particularly worse and distrusted openly.