In the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq), specialized guerrilla teams in the resistance tunnels celebrated Newroz, Kurdish New Year, on 21 March.

Egîd Reşîd, one of the HPG commanders, made a speech at the military ceremony and said the following:

“Happy Newroz of Rêber Apo's democratic society and freedom, to Rêber Apo [Leader Abdullah Öcalan], the martyrs of the revolution, the Kurdish people, the people of the region and our comrades. On February 27, Rêber Apo made a historic call to our movement, the Kurdish people and the peoples of the region. As Kurdistan Freedom Guerrillas, we received great enthusiasm and morale from Rêber Apo's call, which caused us to increase our struggle even more. We welcomed Rêber Apo's historic call with great pride. It gave us enthusiasm, morale and pride to see Rêber Apo. We respectfully commemorate all the martyrs of Kurdistan in the person of comrades the Contemporary Kawa, Mazlum Doğan, Rahşan Demirel, Zekiye Alkan and the precious Peace Mother Sakine Arat. We reiterate our promise to carry the goals of our martyrs to victory.”

“We know very well that these developments have taken place thanks to Rêber Apo's unique resistance in İmralı for 27 years and the efforts and blood of our martyred comrades,” said Reşîd and continued: “We joined this movement and started the struggle to ensure the freedom of Rêber Apo, because we know that the freedom of Rêber Apo is the freedom of Kurdistan, the Kurdish people and the entire region.  We believe this wholeheartedly and we are always ready to give our lives for this cause. We have been educating ourselves with Rêber Apo's philosophy and views for years. For us, the words of others do not have an iota of value. What is important for us is the realization of Rêber Apo's physical freedom. Until Rêber Apo's physical freedom is not achieved, no words have any value in our eyes.

As guerrillas on the battlefield right now, we face immoral and dishonorable attacks from the enemy every moment. We know the colonialist face of the Turkish state very well and we face it every day. No one should impose a dishonorable surrender on us. We do not accept this. We are ready for freedom, an honorable peace and a democratic solution more than ever. But let no one compare us to their collaborators. We are not the old Kurds. We are conscious political people. We are the self-sacrificing fighters of Rêber Apo. No one should approach us wrongly. We say once again; Rêber Apo's physical freedom must be realized.

Our people have attached a very important meaning to this year's Newroz. We have received the results of the annual meeting of our HPG Command Council. We have been discussing, concentrating and preparing ourselves for days. We have deepened the doctrine and perspective of the current period. We are not attacking anyone. But whoever attacks us, we will respond in the harshest way. We will never leave it unanswered. No one should expect us to surrender to the Turkish state. If there is an honorable peace, freedom and democratic solution, we are ready. But more than ever, we have the strength and effort to protect ourselves, our gains and our people. This Newroz will be the Newroz of Rêber Apo's physical freedom and the freedom of Kurdistan and the people of the region. We salute the honorable Kurdish people. We say ‘Bijî Rêber Apo’ [Long Live Leade Öcalan] with the slogan ‘An Azadî An Azadî’ [Either Freedom of Freedom].”