AMED - Politicians and trade union representatives who participated in the Amed Newroz emphasised that the call of Abdullah Öcalan was clearly embraced in the Newroz area and said, "Therefore, the government cannot ignore the call."
A spectular Newroz celebration was held in Rezan (Bağlar) district of Amed (Diyarbakır) on 21 March with the slogans "Rêbertiya Azad Civaka Demokratîk (Free Leader, Democratic Society)" and "Democratic Society for Freedom" with the participation of hundreds of thousands.
While Newroz was marked by Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's "Call for Peace and Democratic Society", hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the area chanted "Bijî serok Apo (Long live Leader Apo)" throughout the celebration. Hundreds of thousands gathered in the area gave a clear message to the government and the state.
Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) Co-chair Murat Çepni, Confederation of Public Laborers Union (KESK) Co-chair Ayfer Koçak and Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) Co-spokesperson Ali Kenanoğlu, who witnessed the historic Amed Newroz from the protocol, shared their observations on the Newroz, which was welcomed with Abdullah Öcalan's call.
PEOPLE WANT FREEDOM
Murat Çepni pointed out that hundreds of thousands of people came to the Newroz area with great enthusiasm and noted that this Newroz has a different meaning than other Newrozes. Çepni said, "This year, due to the call of Kurdish People's Leader Öcalan, the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue and the demand for democratic peace were voiced most strongly. This Newroz will be a Newroz where the Kurdish people everywhere raise their demand for a just, honourable, democratic, peace and solution. The Kurdish people want freedom, justice and a democratic solution. They want freedom and respect for their political will."
Çepni added, "The Kurdish issue is an issue that Turkey's rulers, capital and fascism have not solved in order to maintain their own survival. This call is a call that paves the way for a democratic solution to this problem. In this sense, it is a historic call. It is also a call that can produce a response to the contradictions in the Middle East, in Syria. This call, which is welcomed by the whole world, requires an urgent response and steps by Turkey and the AKP-MHP government. This Newroz is also an intervention to the steps that have not been taken and a call to ‘take a step’. Everyone should see this."
IN THE NATURE OF AN ANSWER
KESK Co-Chair Ayfer Koçak stated that the people's enthusiastic arrival at the Newroz area was a response to the calls for peace and said, "The Kurdish people have clearly expressed their stance in favour of a democratic society and peace. The next step will be to build a democratic society and peace. On 27 February, the people clearly responded to the call for peace here. Our duty is to stand by the problems of the people. Kurdish and Turkish labourers are giving their answer in their struggle against the trustees in Istanbul and in the Newroz celebrations in Kurdistan provinces. Our duty is to listen to these voices and build a democratic society."
PEOPLE ARE BEHIND THE CALL
Ali Kenanoğlu said, "This Newroz is a Newroz in which the 'Call for Peace and Democratic Society' made by Mr Öcalan on 27 February is embraced, shouted in the squares and signalled that this is a new beginning. Therefore, we consider this Newroz as the Newroz of the century, as the Newroz of the century, as the beginning of a new era in which the people embrace the step towards a democratic republic and the formation of a democratic society. We find this Newroz as the beginning of a new era extremely important in the creation of a democratic republic and society."
Stating that it is clear from the Newroz area that the people support Öcalan's call, Kenanoğlu stressed: "The people express that they are behind the call. Therefore, what needs to be done next is for the state to take action. At a place where the call for democratic society and the call for peace is raised in the Newroz areas all over Turkey and Kurdistan, this call cannot be ignored. The state must take steps to fulfil this call. Mr Ocalan has made a call: All parties of the Kurdish political movement have accepted it, the people have embraced it, now it is the government's turn."
MA / Rukiye Payiz Adıgüzel