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Dear people, dear Kurds, and dear peoples of Kurdistan,

We currently are in the month of Ramadan and Newroz, with Eid al-Fitr also approaching. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on Eid and send my greetings and respect to Rêber Apo¹. In this course, I also respectfully remember the martyrs who gave their lives in the struggle for freedom and democracy. They will always be the pioneers of our struggle.

As it is known, Rêber Apo has taken a historic initiative. In 1973, he launched a historic intervention for the Kurds and the peoples of Kurdistan, and again today, he is developing an even bigger and deeper intervention. When Rêber Apo first laid the foundation for this struggle, the Kurdish people were in the sleep of death. They had been cut off from their roots, their history, their values, and everything. They were heading towards extinction. Nobody estimated that the Kurds would ever be able to get on their feet again. But Rêber Apo did not tolerate this. A life that kills the Kurds could not be possible. So he decided to press ahead with his historic intervention with the aim of giving the Kurds a life. As a result, he was able to bring the people to their feet again. All roads had been closed; there was only one way left for the Kurds, and that was to take up arms against genocide and occupation. This is how armed struggle came into play. The guerrilla played a historic role and caused the Kurdish people to start serhildans². The Kurdish people had reappropriated the true meaning of Newroz. That people who were on the brink of death revived, rose up, and started to fight for their existence, for freedom and for democracy.

At that time, Rêber Apo said: “We have developed a revolution of resurrection and we have succeeded with it. Now it is time for the liberation struggle of the Kurds and Kurdistan”. Therefore he wanted to transform the armed struggle into a political one. He wanted to develop the struggle democratically on political grounds. Because Rêber Apo’s entire struggle and aim was to enable a people to fight for their freedom under all circumstances. And since this was realized, the political and democratic struggle had to develop. The solution had to be achieved on this basis. And so accordingly, he declared a ceasefire in 1993. Turgut Ozal responded to that ceasefire, and a democratic and political process was developing. But it was sabotaged. Both the gang-like structures within the freedom movement and within the state prevented that process from successfully developing, and in the course of it Turgut Ozal was also murdered. But Rêber Apo insisted on his decision. He pointed it out in his interview with Mehmet Ali Birand. In 1995, he submitted a report to our movement and called for a congress to bring about change in the freedom movement. And some changes were realized at this 5th Congress, but these were very insufficient and incomplete.

Despite even this, Rêber Apo still insisted on the strategy he wanted to develop, the change and transformation he wanted to make in the freedom movement, and so he took steps accordingly. When Necmettin Erbakan came to power in Turkey, he sent some letters to Rêber Apo, to which he responded. Necmettin Erbakan also wanted the Kurdish question to be solved. Maybe Turgut Ozal and Necmettin Erbakan did not want to develop a solution in the way we wanted, but they knew that if they did not solve this fundamental question, Turkey would face much bigger problems in the future. Therefore, they wanted to solve the question somehow. But just as Turgut Ozal was murdered, so was Necmettin Erbakan. But again, Rêber Apo continued to work on the basis of this strategy.

On August 15th, 1998, Rêber Apo made an evaluation in which he expressed that he works on fulfilling the work he had started in 1993 and developed in 1995. He wanted to complete the change and transformation he had started in the freedom movement. Based on this, he again declared a ceasefire. But the response to it was the international conspiracy. Through the international conspiracy, they searched to prevent the success of Rêber Apo’s efforts. They realized that if change and transformation were achieved within the freedom movement, they would not be able to stop it anymore. They put the international conspiracy into action to prevent the freedom movement from further developing. As is known, Rêber Apo was taken hostage, but he still did not give up his aim. Even though facing the most difficult circumstances in Imrali, he was able to complete the work he started in 1993.

Taking this as a foundation, he developed a new paradigm. Until 2005, he was able to put this paradigm into a comprehensive form, present it, and take responsibility for it. According to that paradigm, he started to work decisively and courageously, facing the Imrali conditions. He wanted to put the entire freedom movement on a democratic and political path. He wanted to solve the Kurdish question through democratic and political means. Every time he took a step towards this, those who do not want the Kurdish question to be solved, those who strive for war and profit from it, intervened. They intervened in 2003, 2005, 2009, 2013, and 2015 to prevent the freedom movement from implementing the new paradigm. They did not want the freedom movement to be organized according to the new paradigm in order to complete the genocide and liquidation. Rêber Apo still did not give up on this. Because Rêber Apo’s aim was to create a people who would be capable of fighting for their freedom under all circumstances, and he has been successful in this cause. That is why he said, “Now the era of the peoples has begun; the era of the parties is over.” The PKK had played its historic role. It had prevented assimilation and genocide, revitalized the Kurdish people, and brought them to their feet. It turned the Kurdish people towards freedom and democracy. Therefore, the party’s work was complete. It was now the era of the peoples, so it had changed the paradigm and wanted to organize society accordingly, to create an organized society, a people with a will.

The collaborators with the Turkish state, NATO, and the capitalist modernity system – those in Kurdistan or outside – have always stood behind the Turkish state and its policy of denial and annihilation. The Turkish state always strived to achieve results with this policy. It aimed to liquidate the freedom movement and complete the Kurdish genocide. With the capture of Rêber Apo, the movement suffered a blow. They calculated that if they went after the movement, it would not be able to implement the new paradigm and continue to wage an according struggle. They used all their means on this basis. They put a policy and a plan in front of them; they said they would “force them to their knees”. In other words, they said, they will break the will of the Kurdish people, liquidate their freedom movement, and complete the Kurdish genocide. They worked on this basis for years. Especially after February 15, they deepened these policies. They calculated that they would get results this way, but they didn’t. No matter how much they worked on liquidating the PKK and completing the Kurdish genocide, they at the end still failed. At the same time, Turkey’s problems have only gotten worse.

The Third World War developed with its focus on the Middle East. Turkey and Iran were given roles in the First and Second World Wars. Their role was to develop the mentality and system of the nation state in the Middle East. Based on this, the Sykes-Picot Agreement for the Middle East was formed by the alliance of Britain and France. It paved the way for the system of capitalist modernity. But now, the Third World War has set an end to the Sykes-Picot Agreement. The nation state system was dealt a serious blow, and a fundamental, new situation emerged in the Middle East. As a result, Iran and Turkey no longer have the role they used to have. After the First World War, the Turkish state was established, Shah Pahlavi became the head of Iran, and after the Second World War, Israel was established. Now through the Third World War, Israeli hegemony developed in the Middle East, thus taking over the role played by Turkey and Iran. That’s why Turkey and Iran are suffering so heavily. They were the ones who developed the nation state system which is now dismantling in the Middle East. A great danger has emerged for both Iran and the Turkish state.

Turkey is becoming aware of the great danger that awaits it. They fear the war that Israel is waging in the Middle East. They realize that they have no one to help them out of their bad situation except the Kurds. And so, they want both to prevent the danger posed by the Kurds and to get out of their difficult situation with the help of the Kurds. So there are not many options in front of them. Either they will improve their relations with the Kurds and get their support, and in this way they will get out of the bad situation they are in, or they will suffer a big blow. That’s why Devlet Bahceli took the initiative and went to the DEM Party in parliament.

They wanted to liquidate the PKK and complete the Kurdish genocide. For this, they were focusing on Rêber Apo, following the idea that once Rêber Apo was neutralized, then they would get results. But the developments and changes in the Middle East and the problems Turkey was facing proved them wrong and forced them to turn to Rêber Apo. Now they have started to accept Rêber Apo and the Kurds. This is a massive change that has taken place.

What their intentions are is not so relevant for us, but it is necessary to see and understand the changes, developments, and the steps taken on this basis. Rêber Apo developed the call for peace and democratic society under these conditions. Because Rêber Apo realized that if he takes the initiative, he can get results. He expressed that he has the power to develop this initiative. Rêber Apo saw that he could bring the process he started in 1993 to a conclusion because the conditions have changed a lot. He is capable of fulfilling his goals and objectives. Therefore, Rêber Apo said that the era of parties is over and that the era of peoples has begun. He wants to strengthen, organize, and develop the Kurdish society and communities. The move he initiated and the statement and call he made developed on this basis. It is not as if he sat down and negotiated with the Turkish state and developed this step. This movement is a movement of will. Rêber Apo made a historic intervention at a time when there were no opportunities, when there were many difficulties, when the genocide policy of the Turkish state was being carried out at full extent, when the Kurds were on the brink of death. Rêber Apo believes in himself, his will, his comrades, and his people; he has trained himself well, and on this basis, he is taking these steps. With the steps he is taking, he is also forcing the Turkish state to take steps. He wants to develop democratic politics and the people to have their own will so that the people can decide their own destiny. This is the goal and purpose of the move developed by Rêber Apo. Rêber Apo wants to drag the Kurdish question from the ground of war. What was needed to be done on the ground of war has been done; the remaining issues need to be solved without war. The movement and the people have reached this stage.

There are many states, powers, individuals, and politics among Kurds, in Turkey, and in the international arena who benefit from the war in Kurdistan. They do not want the war to end; they do not want the struggle for a solution to the Kurdish question to be moved to a political and legal level. The moment the Kurdish question is solved, they will lose their livelihood. Achieving this and letting their attempts at sabotage run empty is one of the aims of the move developed by Rêber Apo.

Back in the days of real socialism, many organizations, forces, and even states were organized by drawing strength from it. Once real socialism collapsed, the parties and states affiliated to it also collapsed one by one. The PKK also emerged under the conditions of the 20th century and was founded under the influence of real socialism. Today only the PKK is left, while all the others were liquidated. The fact that only the PKK survives is related to the reality of Rêber Apo. From the beginning to the present day, Rêber Apo has based every single step on change, transformation, and reorganization. He always pursued an independent line in ideology, philosophy, organization, and struggle. He never considers the things he has developed to be complete or sufficient; he considers them incomplete and wants to develop them better. This keeps the freedom movement alive, developing, renewing, and achieving success. The fact that all the attacks and conspiracies against the freedom movement at the end remained unsuccessful is due to this. It is Rêber Apo’s character, which is based on success and development. He knows no limits. He solely focuses on what serves his purpose.

The freedom movement started in the form of a party, and its aim was to create a people who would fight for their freedom under all circumstances. This was achieved in 1993. Rêber Apo’s struggle since 1993 was entirely for a democratic society. The paradigm he developed in Imrali is also on this basis. We could not fulfill that paradigm completely because of all the interventions, and we also had our shortcomings. That’s why this process took a long time.

Rêber Apo has made a historic decision and is developing an accordingly historic intervention. He has decided to put the freedom movement completely into service of the new paradigm. The new paradigm is based on women’s freedom, social ecology, and the democratic society. Rêber Apo works for brotherhood and peace on the basis of a free society. The freedom movement has gone beyond the borders of Kurdistan and has become an international hope. It is impossible to continue this struggle and achieve our goals just through a party. The party has fulfilled and completed its role. It does not sufficiently respond to the developing process; it remains narrow. Therefore, Rêber Apo is making changes in regard to organization and struggle according to the developments and changes. We do not give up our ideology, philosophy, and paradigm. We are carrying out a change and transformation on the basis of how we can apply them in regard to organization and struggle. The movement of Rêber Apo is being reorganized on this basis.

The PKK has greatly served not only the people of Kurdistan but all of humanity. Maybe some people today deny this, and some may even say, “The PKK is blocked; it has nothing left to do; all its paths are closed; there is only one way left, and that is to surrender.” They say this about Rêber Apo and the PKK. This is an insult. Only the unscrupulous and those who are sworn enemies of Rêber Apo and the PKK speak like this. Some of them have been hostile since the founding of the freedom movement, and they will continue to do so in the future. Our people must make sense of this. Those who are saying things like this right now, those who swear enmity against the freedom movement, and those who make such empty speeches are the ones who are weakening, are desperate, and are in great danger. They search to deceive everyone, hide their weakness, and make themselves look strong. They are waging a psychological special war against Rêber Apo and this movement. They are not doing this only today; they have been carrying out this policy since the very beginning. Maybe today they reached the highest level.

The PKK has achieved great things. It prevented denial, extermination, and assimilation. It revived the Kurdish people who were in the sleep of death and were facing extinction. The PKK turned the people to freedom and democracy and made them struggle for it. It paved the way for democratic politics, peace, and solutions. It created an identity for the Kurds and developed Kurdish unity. It developed a democratic revolution. It created changes in the mentality, personality, and life of Kurds. It developed the women’s revolution. It restored everything that had been taken away from the Kurds. The PKK has brought the Kurds to this stage. Now it is struggling to solve the issues of freedom and democracy. Rêber Apo has declared this move. The Kurdish people have become a respected people all over the world. The struggle for democracy and freedom is based on Kurdish women, Kurdish people, Rêber Apo, and his paradigm. And now Rêber Apo wants to remove the effects of real socialism from the movement. This is also one of the reasons why he is developing this move. Just as he wants to solve the problems of the peoples, he also wants to solve the problems of socialism. That is why the move he is developing is so big and historic.

When Rêber Apo expressed that he wanted to develop the move for peace and democratic society, many people tried to prevent it. They wanted to prevent Rêber Apo from making his statement. Trustees were forcefully appointed, arrests and insults were made, and all kinds of attacks took place. With these, they tried to create a reaction and prevent the declaration of the move, knowing that the announcement of the move would create many changes both in Turkey and in the Middle East. They did not want democracy, freedom, and peace to develop. Because they are profiting from war. But still, Rêber Apo announced this move with determination and courage. No one can stand in front of Rêber Apo and his paradigm anymore. Maybe they will attempt to sabotage Rêber Apo; they will try to isolate him, will try to weaken him, and will even try to destroy the belief in Rêber Apo. They will do whatever they can. Our people should be aware of this. And just as these groups want to sabotage the move and gain profit from it, our people, our international friends, the forces that strive for freedom and democracy, and those who work for establishing socialism must also protect Rêber Apo and the move he has initiated. They must unite around Rêber Apo. Rêber Apo has undertaken a heavy and historic mission, and as he has pointed out – everyone must share this responsibility. Just as Rêber Apo has pioneered this move, everyone must also take part in this move and lead it. They should aim for peace and the creation of a democratic society. Our people in Turkey, all the peoples living in Turkey, will achieve great results through it. If democracy develops in Turkey, all problems in Turkey, including the Kurdish question, will be solved. This will have a great impact in the Middle East, as democratization will also develop there. Democratic nation, brotherhood of peoples, unity of peoples, and justice will be achieved. The effects of the move can already be seen in Syria.

North and East Syria and the government in Damascus have formed an alliance. This can be a positive beginning. This situation has developed through the struggle of the people of North and East Syria. They fought and struggled heroically, and as a result, this alliance has developed. With this step, they want to take the struggle they have been waging for years – paying a heavy price and suffering great pain for it – to a new stage, a new era. They want to create a new Syria on the basis of democratic politics and a democratic nation. This move also serves this purpose.

If the move developed by Rêber Apo and his call reaches a conclusion in Turkey, it will have an even greater impact on the Middle East. And it will even have a great impact on humanity. For those who strive for peace, for those who strive for freedom and democracy, and for those who struggle for socialism and justice, Rêber Apo has developed precisely this move. Everyone must take part in this move and fulfill their duty. Everyone should focus on how to lead this move and how to build democracy, freedom, and peace.

The main role here falls on women and the youth. The women’s movement expressed that the move developed by Rêber Apo is essential for them. Our movement also said that the move is a manifesto for us for the 21st century. Women and the youth are asked to lead this, to create a democratic society. The paradigm developed by Rêber Apo is based on women’s liberation, social ecology, and the democratic nation. Women and the youth must play a strategic role in the realization of this paradigm. Both women and the youth have declared that they are ready for this, and I congratulate them on this occasion.

The Alevi people should know that they are also one of the main forces of this move. The move developed by Rêber Apo will keep them alive. The move developed by Rêber Apo is for all peoples, for all religions, beliefs, and cultures. It is a move for a democratic nation, freedom, democracy, peace, and justice. It is for everyone. It is not only for the Kurdish community, the Kurdish people, but also, for example, for the peoples of Turkey, the society of Turkey, the intellectuals, and politicians of Turkey. With this move, everyone will win. There is no loser in it. That is why no one should be against this move. Especially the opposition in Turkey, especially the CHP, the socialist and democratic forces, everyone should support this move. The Kurdish people support the move and struggle based on it. The Turkish state, the current government, has poisoned Turkish society. They need to remove this poison from Turkish society. And this is not only the duty of Rêber Apo, the freedom movement, and the Kurdish people, but also the duty of the peoples of Turkey. It is also the duty of those who lead those peoples, and those who struggle for democracy, freedom, and socialism in Turkey.

Rêber Apo pointed out that he should be given the opportunity to play his role; opportunities must be created so that he can take the movement to political and legal grounds. “I can do this,” is what he said. In this course he also called that “the PKK must dissolve itself and lay down its arms. For this, a congress should convene and take these decisions.” The PKK leadership also responded and clearly said that they are ready, that they are behind the move developed by Rêber Apo and the call he made. “In order for this to happen, a two-sided ceasefire must be established,” is what they said. Because the Turkish state has not given up the war. Every day UCAVs are hovering. Their daily bombardments with planes, tanks, and artillery continue. Everyone can assume that it is basically impossible and dangerous to convene a congress under these conditions. If the state really wants this, and considering the call of Rêber Apo, as well as the reaction of the leadership of the PKK, the appropriate conditions must be created so that a congress can take place and the necessary decisions can be made. The movement has pointed this out, and so did we, as the co-presidency of the Executive Council.

Some people in the Turkish state are making some speeches in their institutions, in the press, and in politics. We see with their speeches that they want to create chaos and muddy the atmosphere. This, of course, does not give confidence to anyone. If they want to solve the Kurdish question, if they want Turkey to be free from danger, and if they want Turkey to be democratized, then they should stop making these statements. Everyone wants and expects this.

As I stressed out, this is a very sensitive process, and it will not develop in a relaxed manner. Our people need to be aware of this. In order for the move developed by Rêber Apo to achieve results, the global campaign that was started for the physical freedom of Rêber Apo must not only continue but must even intensify. All of our people and international friends must mobilize on this basis. It is required to ensure Rêber Apo’s physical freedom and destroy the Imrali system. The struggle for this must be strengthened. This is what is asked of all of us. Not only in northern Kurdistan and Turkey, but in all parts of Kurdistan and abroad. All international friends of the Kurdish people must struggle on this basis. Everyone must take action for the physical freedom of Rêber Apo in order for him to be able to play his role. Only in this way can the move he has developed reach its conclusion.

If the struggle is strengthened on this basis, Rêber Apo’s physical freedom will be ensured and the Imrali system will collapse. This will create a new situation for our people, for all the peoples. Our people and our international friends should know that Rêber Apo has always fought for the Kurdish people and for all the peoples and humanity, even facing the most difficult conditions and conspiracies. From the first day the freedom movement was founded until today, he never lived a day for himself. He put his entire life at the service of the Kurdish people and humanity. He wants to bring this struggle to its goal. The move he has developed is entirely on this basis. We all need to embrace this, shoulder Rêber Apo’s burden, and not leave him alone. The Kurdish people, the peoples of Turkey, the peoples of the Middle East, and humanity will also win as a result of this move. Based on this, I once again congratulate everyone on Newroz and the Ramadan celebrations and express my greetings and respect.

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