Kurdish New Year Newroz on 21 March was celebrated with a glorious military ceremony by the guerrillas in the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq).

Speaking at the ceremony, HPG (People’s Defense Forces) Central Headquarters Commander Amed Malazgirt gave a speech on the current political and military situation and the attitude of the guerrillas towards the dialogue process initiated by Öcalan. In a historic “Call for Peace and a Democratic Society” at the end of February, the Kurdish leader called for the dissolution and disarmament of the PKK so as to pave the way for a political solution to the Kurdish question in Turkey and an honorable peace.

The PKK responded to the appeal with a unilateral ceasefire and switched its armed forces to defense mode.

Amed Malazgirt wished a happy Newroz to the Kurdish people, Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, people of Kurdistan and their friends, political prisoners and families of martyrs.

Malazgirt pointed out that Newroz means a new day for some, but it has a different meaning for the Kurdish people: “For the Kurdish people, Newroz is resistance, the breaking of the spirit of slavery, the construction of a free and honorable life.”

'The PKK is a Newroz party'

Highlighting the importance and meaning of Newroz in the PKK's history, Malazgirt stated: “Comrade Mazlum Doğan celebrated Newroz by lighting three matches in a dungeon of the occupying Turkish state under heavy torture. Thus, he spread the spirit of resistance as a culture in four parts of Kurdistan. Later, Comrade Zekiye, Comrade Rahşan and dozens of others celebrated Newroz by setting their bodies on fire. The PKK built itself on the basis of this spirit and character. With the spirit and resistance of Newroz, the PKK waged a tough struggle. Leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan] took the decision to found the PKK on a Newroz day. Therefore, the PKK is a Newroz party. Likewise, the struggle that has been waged until today has also been waged with the enthusiastic Newroz spirit.”

Commander Malazgirt pointed out that they have had a new agenda of struggle under the leadership of Öcalan for the last two months and said, “Leader Apo waged a great struggle and resisted the occupying Turkish state in the Imrali prison. The Turkish state was forced to negotiate with Leader Apo in the face of his resistance. The main aim of the Turkish state was to liquidate the PKK and ignore the Kurdish people, but it failed in the face of the resistance of Leader Apo and the PKK, and it could not liquidate the PKK.”

'The PKK forced the Turkish state into a political solution'

The HPG commander remarked that Öcalan has always been in favor of a political solution to the Kurdish question, but since the denial of the Kurdish people emerged as a systematic concept, he deemed armed struggle necessary. Regarding the search for a solution from the early 90s to the present, Malazgirt said: “The PKK initially emerged as an armed force. A very tough war was waged against the Turkish state's policies of denial and annihilation. The PKK reached the peak of its power in the 1990s. As a result, it forced the Turkish state into a political solution, which was brought to the agenda through some forces. In 1993, Leader Apo took the first steps towards a ceasefire and expressed many of the thoughts he expresses today. Despite Leader Apo taking positive steps, the Turkish state authorities were preparing for war against the PKK. In 1994, there was a very violent conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state, but this was also inconclusive. In 1998, the Turkish state sent a letter to Leader Apo saying that there was too much bloodshed and that the problem should be solved through political means. Once again, Leader Apo took the necessary steps. But in 1999 an international conspiracy took place that resulted in Leader Apo's captivity. Still, Leader Apo took steps for peace so that Kurds and Turks would not be enemies forever. Guerrilla forces withdrew in groups. On the other hand, the Turkish state again resorted to deception and trap methods, and hundreds of our comrades who were in the process of withdrawal were martyred. Nevertheless, the PKK did not disturb the process and did not go to war to ensure the success of Leader Apo's decisions, while the Turkish state responded to Leader Apo with conspiracies every time.”

‘It is the Turkish state itself that has been weakened’

Amed Malazgirt recalled the talks between Öcalan and the Turkish state for the solution of the Kurdish issue in 2013, when, he said, the Turkish state put a similar concept into action again as it did in 1993. He continued: “Senior commanders of the Turkish army and state officials went to NATO and knocked on the doors of European states. They acquired weapons and technical equipment and prepared for a large-scale war. In 2015, they launched a full-scale aerial attack against our forces. Since then, a very tough war has been taking place between us and the Turkish state. The state believed that it could end the PKK with its war technology, but in the last ten years, when the biggest war has been fought, the PKK could not be destroyed. The Turkish state has not achieved any results for ten years; on the contrary, it is the Turkish state itself that has been weakened. Economically it has declined, militarily it has failed. The PKK paid a price, and the price was heavy, but we succeeded.”

‘We have not carried out any planned actions since the ceasefire’

Evaluating the developments on the guerrilla front after the call made by Öcalan on 27 February , Amed Malazgirt pointed out that they have not carried out any planned actions against the Turkish state since they declared a ceasefire, while the Turkish state has increased its attacks even more. Malazgirt told the guerrillas that “we must be careful as military forces” and emphasized the following: “Leader Apo responded to [MHP Leader] Devlet Bahçeli's call. We ask Bahçeli; what concrete step have you taken? We are keeping a close watch on the state. It has been more than 15 days and there has been no positive message from the state. Leader Apo fulfilled his historic responsibility and the PKK responded positively. The People's Defense Center (HSM) also followed the PKK's response and decided to stop its actions. Since then, we as military forces have not carried out any planned actions against the Turkish state.

We observe that the Turkish state's intentions are bad. We as military forces have to be careful in this regard because the Turkish state's attacks have increased after the PKK declared a ceasefire. They attack with fighter jets, with artillery and tanks, and reconnaissance aircraft hover over our areas 24 hours a day.

'We take Leader Öcalan as our basis, we listen to him'

In conclusion, let all our comrades know that we are not interested in what the state says, how the state discusses, what the state says about the PKK. We take Leader Apo as our basis. We listen to him. What is important for us is what we understand from what Leader Apo says, what he means. The main thing for us is Leader Apo. It is Leader Apo who created this movement. Only he can make the decision to dissolve the PKK and lay down arms.

But the Turkish state thinks it is very clever, history shows it! It says, 'PKK should lay down its arms, convene a congress as soon as possible and dissolve itself'. What does it mean? It will follow us from above, and in case of a gathering, it will want to destroy us. Why are we saying this? We come to this conclusion from the attacks of the Turkish state. The attacks on our areas have not stopped. The Turkish state's attitude towards us has never changed. How can there be peace between Kurds and Turks without the Turkish state changing its mentality and manner, without restructuring itself according to the new process? In Kobanê, a patriotic family that had nothing to do with weapons was targeted by the Turkish army and 9 people were martyred. 7 of them were children; the youngest was only 4 months old. The Kurdish people are evaluating all this; asking how they can be brothers and sisters with this mentality, with this state amid these massacres. The Kurdish people are not the Kurds of old; they are political, organized, they see and interpret everything.

'Unless Leader Öcalan is ready, no one can make such a strategic decision'

In short, we are closely following the Turkish state and its steps. We will never relax and we will wait for Rêber Apo's response. If a strategic decision such as laying down arms is to be taken, no one in the PKK can make that decision except Leader Apo. How do they see the PKK? If the Turkish state is sincere, if it wants peace between the Kurdish and Turkish peoples, if it even wants a reconciliation within the state, it must take sincere steps. Otherwise, unless Leader Apo is ready, no one can make such a strategic decision, either at the congress or elsewhere, to dissolve the PKK or make it lay down its arms!

Favorable conditions for Leader Apo must be created for the PKK to dissolve itself and lay down its arms. Many self-sacrificing militants believed in Rêber Apo and joined the struggle. There are some things they disagree with and are not convinced of. We are not convinced about some things either, and the people have not been convinced yet. It is Leader Apo who will convince them and, in order for this to happen, he must be physically free. The Kurdish people will continue their struggle until Leader Apo is free.”

Concert by Awaze Çiya

The speech by HPG commander Ame Malazgirt was followed by a concert by the music band Awaze Çiya. The guerrillas danced around the Newroz fire until late at night, celebrating Newroz with great excitement, enthusiasm and morale.

Sharing their views, the freedom guerrillas drew attention to Öcalan’s messages and said, “Leader Apo is still not physically free. Leader Apo's physical freedom is our main goal. Our struggle will grow day by day until Leader Apo is physically free.”