15 August Initiative, the operation in which the PKK launched its first action against Turkish forces, which is deemed by the Kurdish people the Day of Resurrection, has been marked on its 33rd anniversary with an enthusiastic ceremony in the Medya Defense Zones.

The field of the celebration was decorated with the flags of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union), HPG (People's Defense Forces), YJA-Star (Free Women's Troops) and the pictures of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

People's Defense Central Headquarters Commanders Murat Karayılan, Zozan Çewlîg, Bahoz Erdal and Gulîstan Gulhat and PKK Executive Committee Member Bozan Tekin took part at the ceremony with hundreds of guerrillas.

Following the minute of silence in remembrance of the martyrs of the freedom struggle, Murat Karayılan held the opening speech for the guerrillas.

"THE GUERRILLAS WILL BECOME GUERRILLAS OF VICTORY"

Karayilan first congratulated Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, the Kurdish people, mothers of martyrs and all defense forces of the peoples of Kurdistan on the Day of Resurrection.

People's Defense Central Headquarters Commander Karayılan said: "The true owners of this day are the heroic martyrs", and drew the attention to the impact the 15 August Initiative had on the history of Kurdistan and the entire region. Karayılan recalled that the Defense Force of the People of Kurdistan, that commenced its struggle based on the 15 August Initiative, have now become the assurance of the future of the whole region.

Karayılan pointed out that the guerrillas have proved to be invincible, but this alone being still not enough, as the guerrillas needed to become guerrillas of victory. Karayılan remarked that on this ground the Kurdistan Freedom Guerrillas will sacrifice themselves in every possible manner.

Following Karayılan’s speech, the guerrillas who joined the ceremony felicitated each other and held a meeting on the meaning of that day. They also engaged in mirthful dancing to music and slogans. At the end of the celebration the guerrillas chanted with great enthusiasm and morale the slogans "Long live Leader Apo", "Long Live the Kurdistan Workers' Party", "No life without Leader Apo" and "Long live August 15".

The speech issued by Karayılan during the ceremony of 15 August is as follows:

"THE TRUE OWNERS OF THIS DAY ARE OUR HEROIC MARTYRS"

"First of all, on behalf of the Kurdistan Freedom Guerrillas, I congratulate the August 15 Initiative in its 33rd anniversary for our Leader Apo, and express our loyalty, our regards and respect to him. Happy Day of Resurrection to all the peoples of Kurdistan, the peoples of the Middle East, mothers of martyrs and all our comrades.

Those who made this day a holy day, who crafted this Day of Resurrection with their epic resistance, who embellished the history of Kurdistan's Freedom Struggle with their blood, our heroic martyrs, are the true owners of this day.

We pay tribute to all our martyrs of revolution in the person of the great commander, comrade Egîd, and reiterate the promise we have given them once more: Our martyrs! You shall rest in peace. Your weapons have not remained on the ground, your flag is flying higher than ever and your cause will prevail.

"WITHOUT 15 AUGUST, THE ROJAVA REVOLUTION WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE EITHER"

The August 15 Initiative has not only saved our people from the brink of destruction, but has also opened the way to many vital national accomplishments in Kurdistan. It has generated first and foremost the Revolution of Resurrection. The society of Kurdistan has been recreated on the basis of an intellectual, social and women’s revolution. The August 15 Initiative has a major role in the gains made in all four parts of Kurdistan. If the war in Northern Kurdistan did not take place on the basis of the August 15 Initiative, today's achievements in Southern Kurdistan and the Rojava Revolution would not be possible either.

"THE SECURITY OF LEADER APO IS THE SECURITY OF ALL LEADERS OF TURKEY"

Today there is a war raging in the Middle East. Everyone knows that the Middle East will be redesigned after this war. The Freedom Struggle and the Kurdish people have come to the fore in this war, and this makes the enemies of Kurdistan infuriated. Each one of them is launching attacks from its own side. In particular the Turkish colonialism is attacking Leader Apo, our people and our movement. For the last two years these attacks have reached an extensive dimension. They launched these attacks initially on İmralı. Today’s İmralı system is a system of genocide against the Kurdish people. The isolation and psychological torture of the İmralı system stands for a genocide on Kurdistan. Today in İmralı there is an attack on our people's will and future. We, the Kurdish people and movement, cannot tolerate it anymore. Erdoğan should know that he can achieve no results with the İmralı system and animosity against the Kurdish people. Erdoğan should also know that if he is alive today, it is thanks to Leader Apo. We said it before, and say it again; The security of Leader Apo means at the same time the security of all the leaders of Turkey. This reality should be known by everyone.

"IF IT WASN'T FOR THE GUERRILLA, ISIS WOULD HAVE BECOME A BIG PLAGUE FOR HUMANITY"

We, the Kurdistan Freedom Guerrillas are soldiers of Leader Apo. We are an altruistic and professional force. Our duty is to secure the safety of whole Kurdistan. If Kurdistan's Freedom Guerrillas had not rushed to the help of Shengal, our Êzidî community in Shengal would have been totally wiped out and Shengal would have witnessed a genocide of the century. If Kurdistan Freedom Guerrillas had not reached out to the resistance and cry for help of Kobanê, today Kobanê would not exist and the rags of ISIS would have been hoisted over Kobanê by now. ISIS would not have been defeated like today, on the contrary, they would have become much stronger in the Middle East and would have turned to an immense plague for all mankind.

"THERE IS NO FORCE THAT COULD EVER HINDER THE FREEDOM OF KURDISTAN"

The Kurdistan Freedom Guerrillas, who have fulfilled until now their tasks and duties unwaveringly, will meet also from now on their tasks and duties firmly and implement them victoriously. The Turkish state and its army cannot put up a fight against us on the ground. They are resorting therefore to air strikes, trying to defend their agenda and secure their existence. But the Turkish colonialism will not be able to survive with these methods. Everyone needs to know, that the AKP-MHP fascism is living the weakest period in their history of colonialism. No power can prevent the realization of a free Kurdistan any longer.

"A COMMON STRATEGY FOR NATIONAL UNITY IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE"

We want to make two calls from this important stage of the Kurdistan Freedom Struggle:

Firstly, we say that the National Unity must be introduced, so that this utmost important period can be taken advantage of in our people's interests. We call on all sides to come together in all four parts of Kurdistan, to create a common national strategy, and to fulfil their duty for the accomplishment of the Kurdistan freedom cause.

“YOUTH SHOULD JOIN THE RANKS”

Our second call is for the youth of Kurdistan who should play their role in this historic and significant process. It is an important and strategic matter to enlarge and strengthen the Kurdistan Defense Forces. Kurdish youth should take their place in the ranks of defense forces, no matter where. Regardless of which force they are affiliated to, what matters is to strengthen the Kurdistan Defense Forces, and join the ranks, deeming this a sacred duty.

“KURDISH REVOLUTION BECAME THE REVOLUTION OF THE MIDDLE EAST”

“The people of all Kurdistan, those in Bakur in the first place, should know that that AKP-MHP regime is living its last period. This fascist regime is experiencing an isolation in both Turkey and the world. The struggle of our people, democratic forces of Turkey and the region, and Kurdistan freedom guerrillas will triumph. Despite the deterioration, the enemy is telling lies and waging a psychological war more than ever, while Kurdistan Freedom Struggle is rising even more.

Our struggle is not the freedom struggle of Kurdistan anymore, it is at the same time the struggle of the Middle East Revolution. If we triumph over Turkish colonialism today, not only will Kurdistan be free, but also Turkey will become a democratic country. If the Rojava Revolution triumphs in Syria, not only the Kurdish people but also the Arab people will attain a free and democratic life. In other words, the Kurdish revolution has become the revolution of the Middle East, and freedom and democracy revolution of the peoples. The revolutionary struggle rising in Kurdistan based on Leader Apo’s paradigm will create the Middle Eastern Revolution alongside itself.

“34TH YEAR WILL BE THE YEAR OF FREEDOM FOR KURDISTAN AND LEADER APO”

We as the Kurdish movement aim to make the 34th year of 15 August the year of great success. The marchc of 34th year will be the year of Kurdistan’s and Leader Apo’s freedom march. Kurdistan Freedom Guerrilla have proven their invincibility. However, the invincibility is apparently not sufficient by itself. Kurdistan Freedom Guerrilla must be a force of victory. To this end, the concentration and trainings in Apollo Academies and all academies are of great importance. Based on our 33 years of experience, we want to enhance our concentration, deepen human capability, mind and expertise, and create professional-modern guerrilla. We want to vitalize the guerrilla of victory in this way. This is our goal. In the 34th year, we will realize the professional guerrilla with our march to victory based on the victory of 15 August spirit. In this manner, we will make the expectations of Kurdistan people, and the dreams of our brave martyrs real.

With this hope and commitment, we once again congratulate the Day of Resurrection for all our people and comrades, and state that our march based on 15 august spirit will be the march of victory.”