Introduction
In 1996 a 28-part series of “Action Teaches”, was published in Turkish. This series which is published in our magazine attempts to show the history of the Revolutionary Left (Devrimci Sol) to the DHKP-C, it covers thousands of revolutionary actions. Those who read the series will see that the “Action Teaches” series is not just an archive of historical facts, but that it is the foundation and principles of the thousands of comrades in the DHKP-C and that it also carries the aim of educating us as well. The military field: mass organisation, agitation, propaganda and the political struggle in the democratic mass organýsatýons, trade unions and other fields. The aim is to publish teachings, lessons, practicalities and nationalisation (appropriating private property for revolutionary use).
In particular, if we take into account the needs of those that are new to actions and have no experience in action we see that this is required. With this aim, the DHKP-C has prepared teaching materials in different areas: for example materials for the working class, for the youth, for the civil servants, for the shantytowns, for the rural areas and other organisational areas, and sees itself as the foundation for the “People’s Class”. We hope that we may educate and inform our comrades around the world with our material. At the end of the series, there is a section named “Biterken” (“At the End”).
In this section the aims of the series are summarised. But we have seen fit to discuss this at the beginning.
FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY LEFT TO THE DHKP-C
We come to the end of our series of “Action Teaches” in Part 28. Or to put it more appropriately, we take a break. Between the years 1977 to 1990, approximately 50 actions were explained during our series. All the actions were directed by particular revolutionary understandings, particular revolutionary strategies, revolutionary beliefs and principles. In “Action Teaches” we attempted to establish and underline the principles of the action. We focused on their authenticity and victories with its structural form and its aims: the action possesses many variations. We cannot state that we have reflected all these actions but we have attempted to establish and observe in one or two acts, in the anti-imperialists’ actions, the nationalisation actions. The anti-fascist actions, the punishment actions and in the warning actions taken, how these actions should be structured.
But as mentioned previously, because of the structural variations of the actions, we are faced with a very hard task in reflecting these in Part 28 of “Action Teaches”.
We have only managed to reflect a few actions taken in Anatolia.
Our history is a very full history; because at no time in our history have we been without politics or have gone without an action. This history is a great force and strength for us, it is a great teacher.
Each page of our history with its politics, its militarisation, its culture and its organisation has been very educational.
By transcribing a small section of the actions and pratices of the Revolutionary Left (Devrimci Sol) and the DHKP-C, we have equipped our fighters with information.
For example, all the actions, during our cadre period and military education have been evaluated from these actions.
When an action is taken in hand, evaluated and argued there is no doubt that this is far more educational than mere dry military training.
What we have seen from our experiences is that we should never separate ourselves from our history, as our history has answered our question whether it be in a political context or a military context. For this reason it should be noted that our comments on history is not
for academic information. Our history is an inseparable part of our teaching and cadre development.
Through all our narration, it is openly seen that actions are not acts taken by superhuman beings or the product of exceptional situations. Our history was written by poverty and difficulty and this is how it will continue to be written. Hundreds of actions, described and undescribed, have become the creator of an infinite tradition among Turkey’s left. These traditions are as important as the tactics and the politics. It has become the trust amongst our masses, thus the actions should also be seen in this context. “The actions continue.” They continue to educate and teach.
All those who want liberation, who want to fight for the revolution are learning from these actions and are becoming the creators of all new actions. So thus our struggle and fight flows in this continuous entity. And until victory we are going to learn, teach, see and continue this flow.
(Liberation for the People No:6, October 16, 1996)
(People’s Liberation Publications Dec. 1996)
PART 1
No rifles, no information and intelligence about the enemy
But we have our hearts and courage, our brains and our flags, this is enough.
THE ATTACK ON THE CEVIK KUVVET(RAPF)1 BUS IN HALICOGLU
It was after April 16/17 [1992]. On those days our leading comrades were massacred. But with their struggle, and our burning desire to settle accounts, the oligarchy choked on their own words of victory.
The police were psychologically weakened due to the blows they had received, one after the other.
The actions taken by our movement which had fallen on the oligarchy’s head like a sledgehammer had started to put fear and confusion into the torturers and enemies of the people. All of a sudden they were faced with an onslaught of attacks.
With our revolutionary intensity we brought them to a stage of immobility. We were a militia group, we also had to take a part in settling accounts. We were constructing effective actions against the oligarchy.
Because we were a newly established militia group we did not have intelligence on the enemy available. But this was not seen as an obstacle. After coming together and discussing, we decided to wait in a particular area and exterminate the enemy. It was going to be the first time that we were to participate in this type of action. We were all prepared: we agreed a time and place for the next morning. We all arrived at the same time in the morning: this showed our determination to go ahead with the action. We collected our weapons and in a state of enthusiasm we all went to our central points and waited for the enemy. We were joking and making comments like “Which enemy of the people is going to win the lottery?”
We had been waiting for approximately 10 minutes when a military vehicle went past and dropped off some guards along the side motor way.
I told the friend in charge: “We could take a soldier’s G3 automatic rifle and organize a more satisfactory action.” He then asked me: “Do you know how to use it?” and I replied “Yes, I know it well.” The decision for action was taken.
Firstly I went towards a soldier to ask for directions, a few metres behind me the friend in charge was coming. The soldier was totally calm, hands in his pockets, looking around him.
I asked him for directions and before he had time to reply, I pulled his weapon off his shoulder. The soldier became anxious and did not know what to do, he tried to intervene but the friend took out his gun and made the soldier lie on the ground. During this, I dismantled the weapon and started putting it into a bag.
Together we left the area of action. We had completed the action successfully. Now we could focus on our true target. Now the enemy was going to be shot with his own weapon.
During April 16 and 17, the RAPF had made their move.
The RAPF were at the front when people attended demonstrations, The RAPF were the ones who beat and injured the masses, it was now the time to settle accounts.
We immediately started working on our intelligence gathering.
We knew that the vehicles passing by carried members of the RAPF, who went past on the motorway constantly. What we had to do now was to find out the times when the vehicles would pass. After a few days we had established this. We also established where we were going to shoot from. When our friend in charge was giving a final briefing, we decided that we should leave our flag at the scene of the action.
This proposal was accepted. This idea made us both emotional and enthuasiastic, we had to go beyond our emotions and enthusiasm and we could then trap the enemy with our flag.
We spoke and agreed, we were first to strike them with our flag and then with the G3 rifle, which was stored in a box. Me and another friend went to nationalize a car. Our commander was going to wait for us in a particular place. We had accomplished this action in a short while. We encountered no problems. We took a car, we brought it to the area where the action was to take place.
The friend in charge sat down at the steering wheel. The car was working but it was not moving. He tried again and again: the car would move slowly, slowly and then stop, then we would start it up again. We went a few hundred metres at an incredibly slow pace.
Eventually we understood why our commander gave such an early time to meet up.
We had used a car a few times before but we had no great experience in this area. But we had to use a car in this action. So we learnt how to drive in this action.
We got to the area of the action. I and the friend in charge got behind a torn-down shantytown building and took up position. Another friend was further away waiting to give us the signal. I took out the G3 and waited at the ready. Yes, the friend gives the signal.The friend in charge starts to pin up the flag. The target is in front of us. It is the RAPF’s bus. As soon as the bus sees the flag it starts to slow down. Yes, our flag had struck them. They knew this flag. They stopped. I opened fire. In my head were thoughts of April 17 in Çiftehavuzlar. Our flag was flying there and now it is flying here. Tomorrow, everywhere in our country, this flag is going to be flown, with this belief I shoot until all the bullets have been fired. The bullets hit the target. When I move my hand away from the trigger I hear the shooting continue. When we turn our backs we are faced with police. Due to the gunshots, a team of police nearby came on the scene, but even though our backs were turned to them, they had not been able to get near us.
Fear was embedded in their minds. With our weapons in our hands we approach and get closer to them. They were so afraid of us that they started to run away. This showed their courage: this is what their courage is. After the action we meet up with our friends. All of us are happy and enthusiastic. We go to a place where we could hear the news. We find out that eight police officers were injured and that one was critically wounded. (This police officer later died. )
With the action we took, we created a state of panic in the oligarchy and we became proud that we had gained revenge for our comrades. When Eda Yuksel in Çiftehavuzlar had stated:”Our comrades will seek revenge,” we used this to establish the foundation of our action.
The Lesson Learnt From The Action:
To Shoot The Enemy With Their Own Weapons.
Straight After April 17.
They were a militia group they had learnt about the developments from the radio and television. They were also a fairly new organised militia group. They did not possess a weapon or have information on the enemy. Furthermore they had no previous experience in this type of action. But they had their anger and their beliefs. They received no orders from elsewhere, but they decided even if there are disadvantages that they will take action. In their ears they heard the message coming in waves from Çiftehavuzlar. They overcame their disadvantages with their determination, their productivity, their courage and their devotion, loyalty and solidarity with their comrades. With courage, no matter what the situation is, we will fly our flag all around the country. Loyalty, devotion and solidarity to the voice raised in Çiftehavuzlar.
A revolutionary who does not feel a desire for revenge when a comrade is killed or does not go out to settle accounts cannot be seen as a revolutionary.
During this period the emphasis and importance of the action taken are these.
The enemy has attacked, there should be no room for panic in our ranks.
But this is not enough. No one should wait for an order to attack. This is the criteria required to become a militia organisation and to assimilate the perspective of power. Thus the revolutionary movement adopts this, and after April 17, the oligarchy’s torturers could not put one foot on the streets. This action alone can be seen as the pure manifestation of carrying the principles of the revolutionary and people’s struggle. The revolutionary and people’s army take the weapons away from the hand of the enemy and use these same weapons to win victory. In China the Red Army and in Cuba the guerrillas in the Sierra Maestra won victory by shooting the enemy with their own weapons.
This does not mean that the revolutionary and people’s army should not create its own weapons or find different sources to gain their weapons, but the principle is this. Never have the weapons of the revolutionary and people’s army been better than those of the enemy, but the emphasis is on those who use them, which is the revolutionary with his or her belief, determination and productivity.
An example of the people’s army is when we take the Vietnamese people – a people which defeated the most modern army in the imperialist structure.
The main principle of the people’s army is its belief, its determination and its courage and with these principles it will achieve victory.
No force will overcome revolutionary belief and will, even the modern technological weapons of the imperialists become empty gun barrels when faced with the belief, determination and will of the revolutionary. Action is the principle of the revolutionary strategy, but, another factor is the will of the fighter, and even if they do not initially have access to a weapon the determination is there.
THIS WAR WILL NOT BE WON WITH WEAPONS, IT WILL BE WON WITH REVOLUTIONARY WILL.
Note:
1 CEVIK KUVVET: Rapid Action Police Force (RAPF)
This article originally was published in
