Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) issued a statement marking the anniversary of the 15 August Initiative and said; “15 August Initiative has today become the spirit and the resisting force of the freedom and democracy struggle of the Kurdish people in all four parts of Kurdistan”.

Kurdistan Communities Union (Koma Civakên Kurdistan, KCK) Executive Council Co-Presidency issued a statement marking the anniversary of the 15 August Initiative and said: “15 August Move has today become the spirit and the resisting force of the freedom and democracy struggle of the Kurdish people in all four parts of Kurdistan The spirit of Mahsum Korkmaz, who led the 15 August Initiative, has become the spirit of the entire people of Kurdistan. 15 August has become the guarantee of the Kurdish national existence and created a folk struggling for its freedom under any conditions”.

KCK commemorated in its statement the legendary PKK commander Mahsum Korkmaz and his friends who initiated 15 August Initiative, describing it as the biggest revolutionary action in the history for the peoples of Kurdistan, of Turkey and the Middle East,and vowing to realize their dreams.

KCK said 15 August revolutionary action, which was successfully carried out as a result of intense efforts of the revolutionary Leader Apo, has changed the faith of not only Kurdistan but also Turkey and the Middle East, creating a new historical direction in the Middle East and saying No to hegemony of imperialism and despotism imposed on the people in the region. “It has manifested to the entire world that the peoples of these lands, which have historically been the cradle of humanity, have their own will and say”, added the KCK.

'15 August is a blow on all kinds of reactionary forces'

The Co-presidency of the KCK went on saying that the 15 August action initiated the major Kurdish rebellion against the cultural genocidal colonialism and all kinds of collaboration, and revealed the will and determination of the Kurdish people.

KCK further recalled the efforts of the Kurdish Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has worked hard to create the organisation and raise consciousness among the Kurdish people, and said he first overcame all kinds of reactionary thoughts in himself before working for the achievement of the same thing by his comrades and the people. KCK added that Öcalan created a movement of democracy, freedom and socialism after changing himself first.

KCK stressed in its statement that 15 August was a strong blow inflicted on all kinds of reactionism, cruelty and repression and has reached a new level of being a move for the revolution of Middle East.The statement pointed out that the 15 August Initiative was also a blow on 12 September fascism in Turkey for aiming to reconstruct the Middle East, which therefore became the hope of the peoples in the Middle East.

KCK then recalled the words of Öcalan, who said “Our struggle up until now was just a preparation, and the real struggle is still yet to start” and added that today the move of 15 August has reached a level of leading a revolution in entire Middle East. KCK mentioned the Rojava revolution as grounded on the same root and values with the spirit of 15 August.

'The spirit of Mahsum Korkmaz is the spirit of all Kurdistan'

KCK commemorated in its statement the PKK commander who initiated and led the 15 August Initiative and called the 15 August the birth of the Kurdish people. KCK pointed out that the spirit of the 15 August is being incarnated today in North Kurdistan through the declarations of self-governance in locals that concretize a national, democratic, social and cultural revolution in villages, towns, cities and neighbourhoods, and in West Kurdistan through the cantons for a democratic life based on participation of all the peoples.

“Starting from North Kurdistan and extending to other countries and parts, 15 August has become the hope of the peoples as a new spirit to liberate all the countries in the Middle East”, said the KCK.

'Our people mobilize to build their own democratic life'

Pointing to the declarations of self-governance in North Kurdistan at the anniversary of 15 August, KCK said; “The Kurdish people who raised an awareness of democracy and free life in line with the spirit of 15 August reclaim their own will today as they do no longer want to live under the hegemony of a colonialist and centralised ruling aiming a cultural genocide.”

KCK said the mobilisation of the Kurdish people for a democratic and free life will not be defeated just like the spirit of 15 August could not be defeated, and will liberate Kurdistan, which will also enable the liberation and democratization of Turkey. KCK stressed at the end of its statement that the liberation and democratisation of Turkey will at the same time mean the liberation and democratisation of the Middle East.