JINHA

AMED – A slate of important speakers from across Kurdistan addressed the crowds of millions at the Newroz celebrations in Diyarbakır (Amed) before the reading of a message from Abdullah Öcalan.

Millions are still in the Newroz field in Amed after the speeches, in spite of the rain that has continued intermittently all day in the main Kurdish city. Speeches were punctuated by musical performances from artists including Rodi, Cömert, and the Mesopotamia Culture Center's Revolutionary Songs Chorus.

After a musical performance, Rêkar Ahmet spoke on behalf of 7 political parties in South Kurdistan, calling for the immediate release of Öcalan. He called on Erdoğan to fulfill his share of the duties in the democratic negotiation process that jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan was taking part in.

PYD (Democratic Union Party) Co-chair Asya Abdullah took the stage to applause and slogans, saying that this was a "Newroz of resistance." She condemned the twin attacks targeting Newroz celebrations in Hesekê.

"No powers can weaken the fire of Newroz," she said. "The solution of all these battles is democratic politics and a path to peace. Mr. Öcalan's road map is a road map for the democratic solution of the Kurdish question and for the democratization of Turkey." She emphasized Kurdish national unity, praising the congress of the PKK planned for spring.

After a brief speech on behalf of the "Freedom for Öcalan" marchers who had just arrived after a seven-day march from the Kurdish city of Cizre, Congress of Free Women (KJA) member Elif Kaya addressed the crowd.

"If woman are not free in the society, then the society is not free itself. Freedom is a part of the fire," she said. "The freedom struggle of Zilan, Viyan, Semas and Arin Mirkans is growing. Öcalan's freedom is essential and vital for peace in society."

Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-Chair Selma Irmak said that this Newroz was a new day, the end of days of darkness.

"Newroz is the holiday of uprising and insurrection. The fire of Kawa has flared up in this square. The borders among peoples have been destroyed today. This century, the 21st century, is the century when all peoples will come together," said Selma.

Selma Irmak's was the final speech before Öcalan's message was read. As Sırrı Süreyya Önder, a member of the delegation that has been meeting with Öcalan and the representative who read the message in Turkish, noted as he took the stage, the sun came out and the rain ceased.

(fk/nt/cm)