Haki Armanc, one of the HPG Central Headquarters Commanders, participated in the special program broadcast on Stêrk TV and evaluated the issues on the agenda.\
Haki Armanc said that the AKP-MHP’s re-election to power after the election process in Turkey and Bakure Kurdistan poses a danger to everyone, and emphasized that there is no other way than to fight against this danger. Reminding that the people of Kurdistan have been facing oppression and attacks for years, Armanc said, “The Kurds will defend against these attacks from now on. They have great experience. Kurdish people, our movement is struggling and paying the price. The aim is the democratization of Turkey, the end of fascism and the freedom of the Kurdish people. That’s why our resistance will continue,” he said.
HPG Central Headquarters Commander Haki Armanc’s interview broadcast on Stêrk TV is as follows:
In 2022, the guerrilla showed a relentless resistance against the attacks of the Turkish state. After the Mereş-centered earthquake on 6 February, a ceasefire was declared by the KCK. What was the attitude of the Turkish state and AKP-MHP government after the ceasefire decision?
This issue has not been discussed much in Türkiye and the public. Our movement is a human movement. He always considers what is happening in Türkiye, Kurdistan and the region. On this basis, after the earthquake, our KCK Executive Council Co-Presidency adopted a moral and humanitarian approach and decided to ceasefire. It was a sensible and humane decision. However, the Turkish state used this in a different way, and with the logic of this opportunity, it increased its attacks against Bakur, Bashur, Rojava, Maxmur and Shengal. It has been revealed once again that the Turkish state and its power have not had the share of humanity.
We were going through a very important process. There were many actions of the guerrilla both in the east and west of the Zap. The Turkish state was in a stalemate and could not advance. It was a season where we could take action. As it is known, we had strong plans in February, March and April, so the weather conditions were favorable. When our KCK Executive Council Co-Presidency made a statement, our friends were preparing for the protests. After this decision, we canceled all our action plans. There was an earthquake, and our people, the peoples of Türkiye, suffered a lot. Then a select process has already started. Therefore, the ceasefire has been extended and we have arrived in June. This process showed once again that the racist and fascist Turkish state insists on war.
HPG Press Center also recently announced the balance sheet of the war. You stated that the Turkish army did not stop its attacks during the ceasefire process. Especially the nature of Bakur was burned and destroyed, thousands of trees were cut down. What is the purpose of the Turkish state’s massacre of the Kurdistan nature and what should be the attitude towards it?
The Turkish state has increased these attacks even more in recent years. There are great attacks on the nature and culture of Kurdistan, especially in Dersim and Botan. It systematically burns and destroys the forests of Kurdistan. It builds dams in some areas, it builds different roads in some areas, it kills the nature of Kurdistan. Some people cooperate with the Turkish state by taking part in nature massacres. We know very well who they are. They are getting tenders, their crimes are increasing day by day, they will definitely be held accountable. It is known who these people are, and they know who they are.
The people of Kurdistan, especially our Botan people, should stand against the massacre of nature. Our people are struggling economically, the enemy is pursuing such a policy in Kurdistan. Our people should definitely not take part in the state’s massacre of nature. Of course, they are experiencing economic difficulties, but no matter what, they should not be an instrument of the enemy’s policies. It is our call to our friends in the field of Besta; A few days ago, our friends informed us that the enemy was following a special policy in Besta, that they wanted to completely destroy the forest and cut down the trees by the hands of the villagers, that some people from the Osyan people also took part in these works, that they came across them several times, and that they acted with common sense to avoid conflict. We have known our people of Osyan for a long time. It is a big village. The enemy also put a lot of pressure on them to stand up to our movement. Our Osyan people showed an honorable stance and did not accept this situation. They failed many efforts of the Turkish state. We know all this. Maybe there are people working against the enemy in the village, we know them too, but in general, our people in Osyan showed a patriotic stance and rejected the Turkish state’s policy of making brother against brother hurt.
The enemy wants to pit our people against us once again, with policies directed towards the nature of Kurdistan. Since our friends knew this, they acted with common sense and did not allow any conflict to occur. But our people should definitely be careful about this. If our Botan people need trees, there are trees that dry up. They can meet their needs with them. But we never accept the cutting of normal trees. This is a matter of Kurdistan nature. Our people should be very careful in this regard. Otherwise, they will be responsible for the occurrence of unpleasant things when something wrong happens tomorrow. Friends are already approaching sensitively. There are also very valuable intellectuals in Osyan village. Their taking on more responsibility should warn the people the enemy wants to use. If this happens, the enemy’s policies will be in vain. Of course, friends also take action from time to time. But the enemy’s involvement in our people has an effect on our friends. Friends stated that this has come to a point where it can be intervened. We believe that our people of Bakur, especially the people of Botan, will act carefully in this regard and will not become an instrument of these policies of the enemy.
There were also martyrdoms in the attacks of the Turkish state against the guerrilla. How do you evaluate these attacks, which have been carried out incessantly in the past months despite the ceasefire?
As I said at the beginning, the enemy saw the ceasefire as an opportunity and increased their attacks. We had friends who were martyred in these attacks, and the enemy also suffered great losses. In our state of Amed, friends punished 13 invading soldiers. All 4 of our friends were martyred. Heval Dilgeş, Bawer, Innocent and Zîn were martyred. These friends were dear friends who worked there for a long time. There were also enemy attacks on the Bagok area. Our friends punished 8 invaders. Our friend Bahoz was martyred in these attacks. Again, major operations were carried out in Botan-Besta. 7 of our female friends, including Heval Leyla, were martyred. In the last attack, clashes broke out in 2 places again, heval Rençber, heval Bawer responded to the enemy in a self-sacrificing manner. In these clashes in which these two of our friends were martyred, the enemy also suffered heavy losses. Heval Şerger and Dilşêr were also martyred. Our friends only defended themselves against the attacks. The Turkish state is based on technical and air attacks. Again, agents and friends are trying to locate them. The guerrilla will not leave a single attack of the enemy unanswered.
The youth of the village of Heşet in the Botan region played a major role in the freedom movement. In the last attacks, the guerrillas in the village of Heşet were also martyred. What would you like to say about these guerrillas?
First of all, I commemorate our comrades Heval Xemgin Heşetî, who is from the village of Heşet, and Abbas Herekol, who is from the village of Ewrex. The village of Ewrex, like the village of Hêşet, is a patriotic village that adheres to its values. Heval Abbas was a comrade who commanded the Herekol and Kato areas. Abbas was named after his brother, Isa Ipek, who was martyred. Also, his uncle’s daughter heval Serhildan was martyred in Herekol in 2020, and his uncle’s son Zinar was martyred in Kobanê in 2015. On this occasion, I convey my greetings and respect to the people of Ewrex and Heşet village. I believe they are proud of their martyrs.
12 friends I knew from the village of Heşet were martyred. The names of the friends who participated and became martyrs after 2009 are as follows; Heval Hêvî was our commander, he was martyred in the province of Mêrdîn. He took part in the battle of Nisêbîn during the self-government process. Heval Rozerîn was martyred in Rojava. Heval Dilsoz was martyred in Botan. He was also our regional commander. Heval Herekol was also a mobile unit commander. He carried out successful actions in the Botan area for a long time, and he was martyred in Besta. Heval Bawer was also a very intelligent and warlike comrade. He too was martyred in Kato Jîrka. Heval Xemgîn was martyred in the Masîro area of Kato. Zerdeşt was martyred in Heval Besta. Heval stayed with Egîd Civyan for a while. Heval Tofan was martyred in Amanos. Heval Tofan, who joined the guerrilla ranks at a very young age, was also a mobile unit commander. Heval Brusk was a friend of ours who joined at a young age. He was martyred with Heval Doğan in an air attack in the south of Muş. Mahsum heval was martyred in Amed. Heval Mahsum, a doctor, was assigned to Amed as a doctor. Heval Dara had also joined the party at a young age. He had visited almost all areas of Botan. He was martyred as a result of an air attack in Metîna.
These friends fought in all areas of Kurdistan and were martyred. They were all very dear, clean friends. Our people of Botan, especially our people of Heşet, should be proud of these heroes. We are proud too. We repeat once again the promise that we will take their revenge.
An election process took place in Türkiye and Bakure Kurdistan. How do you evaluate this selection process? What is the danger for the peoples of the AKP-MHP coming back to power?
Everyone except the Fascist People’s Alliance knows that the elections were not held fairly. They resorted to immoral methods. The oppression, especially against the Kurdish people, continued unabated, they arrested people. These immoral methods were carried out especially by Erdogan. Carrying out such a dirty policy is a disgrace to humanity. They are back in power. Our people have already been oppressed and attacked for years, but they never give up their resistance. There was no change in power, but the places of Soysuz and Akar were changed. Süleyman Soysuz was saying that he would end the PKK, he ran away. Why couldn’t he finish the PKK? These were exposed. They have worn out Turkish society in many ways. Again, Hulusi Akar was one of those who waged the war, but was defeated in the end. That’s why Erdogan changed them.
We will see what will happen in the coming period, but we know that what is coming is the continuation of these. Everyone should know that; Many governments, Presidents and Prime Ministers have changed in Turkey; all of them were helpless in the face of the struggle of the Kurdish people and the freedom movement. They were defeated. Erdogan was also defeated, but he remained in power due to the passivity of the opposition and with tricks and tricks. Everyone is in danger right now. This fascist AKP-MHP-HUDA PAR and Ergenekon government is the greatest danger to Turkish society. The Kurdish people have been exposed to attacks for years, and they will defend against these attacks from now on. They have great experience. This power must be fought against. Kurdish people, our movement is struggling and paying the price. The aim is the democratization of Turkey, the end of fascism and the freedom of the Kurdish people.
They increased their attacks on Rojava, Maxmur and Shengal. Again, there is great pressure and attacks against our people of Bakur. A 5-year-old boy was murdered in Gever. They didn’t even give it to the press. They bring it to say it happened by accident. This is how they killed tens of Kurdish children. No one was arrested or held accountable for this. Many of these murderers were even rewarded. According to state policy, the murder of Kurdish children is legitimate. It is impossible to understand what kind of silence there is against this. Those who call themselves intellectuals do not talk about these murders even for a day. Except for the Kurdish people and their friends, no one talks about these events. A 5-year-old boy is crushed by a panzer, but no one is found guilty. The Turkish state will continue to pursue such policies. The important thing is to continue the struggle against these policies.
On 13 June, the KCK announced the end of the ceasefire. What are the reasons for this statement? How should the guerrilla, the people of Kurdistan and also the Turkish government evaluate this decision?
We complied with the ceasefire decision of our movement. We did our part by following this decision in all cities, villages and guerrilla areas. Although we were attacked and our friends were martyred, we cold-bloodedly fulfilled the ceasefire decision. But the Turkish state continues its attacks without interruption. Our people are being slaughtered everywhere. They attack Bashur, Rojava and Maxmur every day, we have martyrs. So the genocide plan is in effect. The ceasefire decision against all this is meaningless. Everyone should be treated this way. From now on, our actions will continue. Our martyrs, the attacks on our people, and the murdered Kurdish children will definitely be held accountable. The Kurdistan guerrilla will play its part against fascism everywhere.
YJA Star and HPG Command Council Member Leyla Sorxwîn (Hamiyet Yalçınkaya) was martyred last January as a result of the Turkish state’s attack. In the upcoming period, how will the Kurdistan guerrillas follow to avenge their martyred comrades?
We commemorate all martyrs of the revolution with respect in the person of Heval Leyla. We repeat the promise that we will stick to your memories. It is not possible to describe Heval Leyla in a few hours. We stayed together for a long time, so it is not easy to describe heval Leyla very comfortably. She spent 30 years fighting for freedom. It’s important to understand how he has struggled in these 30 years. Because if this is not understood, we cannot understand heval Leyla. While heval Leyla is talking about the accession process, they are persistently looking for friends in Bismil district of Amed, and they can finally reach them. And then he is 12-13 years old. He has a passion for freedom even at that age.
He begins to engage in guerrilla activities in Botan. 1993 was the year when the war was at its peak. The enemy was attacking from all sides. Heval Leyla played a leading role both in the war and in organized life. She stayed in Botan from 1993 to 2000. He leads huge actions, he is injured many times. Heval Leyla was a very popular person among her comrades. It shows great will in every field, ideologically, organizationally and militarily.
He went back to Botan area from Bashur during the June 1st Operation. He joined the 1 June Campaign from Gabar. Gabar was the commander. He stayed there for 3 years. Heval Leyla took charge there at the highest level and led the way. He has already planned and coordinated many actions himself. He came to Bashur again in 2006. He was a humble and very clean friend. We were in management together. Throughout its struggle, the PKK took the PAJK line as a basis. He has always taken a stance on this basis. Because of this, he was loved by all his comrades. In 2018, he was reassigned to the Botan field as a commander with great enthusiasm. Heval Leyla’s youthful enthusiasm and enthusiasm never ended. Martyr Medya Mawa and Martyr Rizgar Gever Heval Leyla led the Revenge Campaign. With this move, he planned the actions carried out in many areas of Botan in 2019.
They showed such a stance in all areas of life. He put a lot of effort into it. We should never forget their hard work. He was a great commander. As those who stayed with him, we will always take him as an example. The warriors of Heval Leyla are performing actions against the enemy in Botan today. In all our states, heval will take effective actions to avenge all martyrs in the person of Leyla. Because each of our martyrs has created a value for us. Our martyrs come to mind with every step we take. We cannot live without thinking about them. We will continue our struggle based on them. This happens by taking action. I believe that the friends in Bakur will continue to work with a fighting spirit.