Kobanê Day: 10 years of Kobanê Resistance

Bombs are being heard, black clouds of smoke are rising, the attacks are close at hand. This is the reality of war. A war in which many children are killed in the most brutal way, in which people form living shields with their own bodies, in which vital infrastructure is a consistent focus of the attacks. A war that wants to ruthlessly wipe out an entire society, that wants to destroy every cell of life and hope, and a war that, instead of being viewed with contempt, is universally approved. 

This is the reality here in Rojava. From the outside it may be hard to deeply understand this reality of war. Even if the most central player in the war is EU, USA and the NATO. It is based on the geopolitical and economic interests of the hegemonic powers, and it is an immoral and disgusting attempt to gain control of the whole of the Middle East. The plans are aimed at the homogenization and assimilation of the region, the capitalisation off of societies and exploitation of the resources of the once most fertile land. NATO and EU states play a major role in providing practical support through arms deliveries and proxy wars. 

But all over the world, we are in a state of war, the Third World War has reached every cell of life. In the reality capitalist modernity we are in a state of special war. It attacks people’s minds, takes their thoughts and needs, uses them for its own ends, and shapes them into dependent Marionettes. This war feels distant if we cannot conceive of it as such.

This makes our role as internationalists, all the more important. We have to build a bridge between different cultures, bring resistance together and build an alternative together. Because only together can we stand up to exploitative and hostile states. The resistance in Kobanê, North-East Syria has shown that what was thought impossible, the liberation of the city from Daesh, is possible with the will of the people. 

Exactly 10 years ago, the people of Kobanê, with the support of many internationalists, with the guerrillas from the mountains, with children, old women and men, proved that revolutionary forces are mighty. They gave their lives fighting for a free and democratic society. This time, the spirit of determined resistance, has become the symbol and the basis of the revolution. Because without the liberation of Kobanê, a free Kurdistan is not possible. Without the liberation of Kurdistan, no solution can be found for the Middle East. And without a liberated Middle East, the hegemonic powers will prevail and continue capitalist modernity to our destruction.

The people followed the call of Rêber Apo (Abdullah Öcalan), who recognized the importance of the battle for Kobanê and called for strong resistance. Rêber Apo is the pioneer of the Kurdish people’s resistance and forms the ideological basis for a free life. He has been in solitary confinement on the prison island of Imrali for 26 years and there has been no sign of his life for over three years. But on October 24th we received a message and a greeting from Rêber Apo. He continues to put up immense resistance to defend the principles of a free, social and ecological society. His resistance is part of our lives, is also our resistance.

We are taking great steps to follow the pioneers, we are following our Şehîds, who soaked the earth with their blood in the battle for Kobanê and in all other places of resistance. We will continue the revolution, taking it to every place and transforming the cells of hate and oppression into cells of love and struggle. 

With the spirit of youth, the vision of a free life, we are destroying the mentality of the states. No bomb, no gun, no attack can deprive the youth of their hope and their future in a moral society. The most powerful weapon we have is the power of organization. Our weapon is not one that destroys life, but creates something new! We create a life in communality, in unity with people. We have the responsibility to bring our revolution to every place and to create an alternative in the fire of resistance. As the resistance of Kobanê is known as a milestone of the women’s liberation we are calling every woman to follow the path of Şehid Arîn Mîrkan and spread the spirit of revolution everywhere. With feelings of hope, we greet all friends who take the flag of the revolution in their hands and walk this path together with us! 

Bijî Rêber Apo! Biji Berxwedana Kobanê! Smash the Turkish Fascism! Jin Jiyan Azadî!

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