Sırrı Süreyya Önder, a member of the People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) İmralı Delegation and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, lost his life on May 3, on the 18th day of his treatment in the intensive care unit of an Istanbul hospital following a cardiac arrest on April 15.

The PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) Executive Committee Member Duran Kalkan's assessment of Imrali Delegation Member Sırrı Süreyya Önder at the 12th Congress is as follows:

“Our comrade Sırrı Süreyya Önder, a brave son of Turkey’s people, a revolutionary and socialist, provided the most strength, support, and assistance to the work carried out by Leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan]. He was truly a very valuable friend and comrade. The effectiveness of his relationships, his human relations, was clearly evident in the news reports and discussions that followed his hospitalization due to a heart attack and his passing. He was deeply influenced by Leader Apo. We read and saw Leader Apo's statement on his martyrdom. From these remarks, we can see and understand how much influence he had on Leader Apo. They were extremely profound, meaningful, and emotional remarks.

In laying the groundwork and creating the environment for such a mission, he was one of the few individuals who worked most closely with Leader Apo. He was the spokesperson for the delegation responsible for maintaining relations with Leader Apo. Therefore, he was the most influential figure. His contribution to our congress and the organization of such a meeting was immense.

The decisions taken at this meeting will also contribute greatly to the realization of Sırrı Süreyya Önder's dreams, goals, and passions. They will bring about results that will lead him to victory. We must crown Leader Apo's dreams and goals with victory.

This will be the best response to his words and call. We believe this.

There are also a couple more things worth mentioning. We find the answer to the question, “What should a socialist personality be like?” in the leadership line. We find it in the characteristics of Leader Apo. He described Sırrı Süreyya Önder as one of the people who best put this into practice. So, there are things we need to learn from him.

There are important answers we can give to the question of what a socialist personality should be like by examining the reality of Sırrı Süreyya Önder. Of course, we should not be individualistic or absolutist, but Leader Apo defined a democratic socialist society in his final writings. While seeking answers to the questions, “How should the representation of a democratic socialist society be? What should its personality be?” we naturally examine and take as our basis Leader Apo and our martyrs, their personality traits, but we can also draw many lessons from the personality of Sırrı Süreyya Önder.

All those activities, that unifying and guiding power... He did not achieve this through his authority. Yes, he was a member of parliament and served as deputy speaker of the parliament, but he never influenced or mobilized society to this extent through these roles. He did it through his socialist personality.

For thirty years, Leader Apo has been fighting hard to overcome this bureaucratic, grim-faced, rigid, frozen, emotionless, and uncommunicative personality that emerged from real socialism and, and to overcome the socialist ideology that has led to the division, fragmentation, comparison, and demonization of others.

During his relationship with Leader Apo, Sırrı Süreyya Önder's personality also underwent many developments that formed exemplary characteristics in this regard. How can a socialist be multifaceted? How can he influence everyone? How can he unite people? How does he feel, have emotions, laugh, and enjoy life? He provided the best answer to the question of how one creates something, produces values, and influences people not through authority or opportunity, but through ability and effort. The success of our congress will be the most fundamental contribution of our party to the martyrdom of Sırrı Süreyya Önder. We believe this.

On this basis, we once again commemorate him with respect and gratitude.”