JINHA

NEWS CENTER –Two separate groups of marchers are continuing on their long trip from the city of Urfa to Amara, birthplace of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, to demand his freedom.

Two groups of marcherssetting out from the cities of Urfa and Adıyamanwill celebrate Abdullah Öcalan's birthday in the Amara village of Urfa province's Halfeti on April 4. The marchers from Urfa and Adıyaman will first join the celebration in Halfeti's town central on April 3 and will continue marching to Amara to celebrate the birthday of the Kurdish leader in his birthplace the next day.

The Urfa marchset out yesterday morning from the Aligör neighbourhood of Suruc. The people in the villages en route welcomed the marchers enthusiastically as they pushed onward through the heavy rain. They reached the village of Almaşar, near Birecik, where they spent the night.

The Adıyman march first reached Çakal and Ürgüç villages, where the marchers had their lunch. They were welcomed in the villages by slogans and applause. The marchers then continued on their way towards Kuyulu (Turus) village where they spent the night after a 50-kilometer march.

Democratic Regions Party (DBP) executive ZeynalAydın made a speech on behalf of the marchers when they reached the village. "Peace cannot be sustained without the freedom of its architect, Abdullah Öcalan," he said. He added that the freedom of the leader means the freedom of the Kurdish people as well.

The marchers will continue their march today through the villages of Kavşid, Sam, Kerçewan, Turnus, Tutluk, Kargoli,Kosar, Arpetin and Gogan.

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