JINHA

AMED - A vigil was started five days ago under the leadership of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) to lift the blockade in the Sur district of Diyarbakır. The blockade of Sur has been maintained for 56 days. Citizens have maintained the vigil despite the cold weather. They light a fire at night and they sit around the burning fire all night.

For 56 days, State forces have continued to attack on Sur. A sine-die vigil was started in Sümerpark Commun Life Area five days ago under the leadership of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) to lift the blockade in Sur. JINHA was with the people on vigil last night. Special forces busted the vigil three times last night with scorpion type and Ranger type vehicles. However, the citizens have maintained the vigil despite the police raids and cold weather.

The first day of vigil, the people put up a tent, however police removed the tent. Thus, the people canvased a place in the Sumerpark and they have continued the vigil in this place. Many citizens participate to the vigil every night.

Meliha Görlük, a woman on the vigil, said, " We resist here. If everyone come to support us and if the spirit of unity emerge, this resistance will gain a victory. State attacks on us with tanks and artillery. However, we just have our willpower and we resist with this willpower."

Fehime Ete, another woman on the vigil, said, " If the attacks continue in Sur, our actions will continue. We know they started this war to annihilate the Kurds. We are right to struggle for our own language and our identity."

(ny-ea/gc/gd)