PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani with Akam Omar, former commander of Kurdistan Commando Forces.
photo: KurdSat English via PUK President press office.
Statement of PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani on the passing of Commander Omar.
The passing of Akam Omar, brother, friend and commander of Commando Forces of Kurdistan, created a big wound in our hearts that certainly will not heal soon but, on the contrary, will deepen as years pass by.
Today, as we announce the martyrdom of this brave commander, we cannot avoid thinking about all the struggle and bravery that this sincere and revolutionary brother of mine embodied. From the onset, he had gifted himself to Kurdistan and its people. His life was a series of continuous sacrifices for the sake of Kurdistan's prosperity and the prosperity of his Kurdish people.
He was honest with himself and with Kurdistan. Despite the injuries he sustained in various military confrontations, he stood tall like the mountains of Kurdistan and was ready to protect the lives of the Kurdish people with bravery and a selfish spirit. A look back at recent history and the fight against ISIS reminds us that the blows Commander Akam and his solid force gave to the enemy will be proudly registered in the annals of history.
Friends and foes know he was a high-flying hawk, a mountain of bravery, and an unwritten epic. We know very well that the void created by Akam's absence cannot be filled easily. We are also equally confident that the force he helped create will not bow easily in front of storms.
They will continue on the same path with the same high values held and defended by their commander. And to show the highest levels of loyalty and sacrifice, they will write history with their blood. May the soul of Commander Akam rest in peace. I vow, in honor of his bravery, to be a Peshmerga ready to sacrifice for Kurdistan.
We will protect the lives and livelihood of our people; we will make sure this brother's soul will rest in peace. I send my condolences from the bottom of my heart to the family, friends, and trench comrades of Commander Akam. I promise them that we will make his memories the guiding light for our path and take revenge for the blood he gave for the sake of Kurdistan.
Bafel Jalal Talabani President of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.