Guerrillas from the People’s Defence Units (HPG) and Free Women's Troops (YJA Star) spoke to ANF regarding the Kurdish New Year, Newroz, which -they said- has great meaning and importance to the Kurdish people.

The guerillas emphasized that as the selfless defenders of the Kurdish people, they would never give up the fight against repression and genocidal policies.

HPG guerilla Ramîn Lek: We wish a happy Newroz to our Leader, people and comrades who fight the enemy on the battlefield. No matter how much the enemy attacks, our resistance will continue. Freedom guerillas are making history every day with their resistance. Newroz has been an uprising against oppression since Kawa the Blacksmith. There are uprisings against the system in Rojhilat (East Kurdistan) and several places across the world. These uprisings are of great importance, and sacred to us as well. On the occasion of Newroz, we once again repeat our word of victory we gave to our Leader and people. After Newroz, there is ‘Heroism Week’ ahead of us. We follow in the footsteps of those heroes whose blood was shed for this land. We will continue the struggle of our heroes who rose up against the enemy seeking to destroy the Kurdish people.

HPG guerilla Rizgar Amanos: To us, Newroz means rebellion. Just as Kawa the Blacksmith revolted against the cruel Dehaq, so did Mazlum Doğan against repression in Amed Prison. Our comrades who fight the enemy today also maintain the Newroz tradition, following in the footsteps of Kawa the Blacksmith. The more Dehaqs emerged in history, the more insurgent Kawas appeared against them in history. The ones who rebel against Erdoğan in our time are the freedom guerillas. We, the selfless fighters committed to Reber Apo (Leader Abdullah Öcalan) and our people, will never bow to persecution and the policies of genocide. We should expand our struggle further to be worthy of our Leader and our comrades who are fighting in the battle tunnels against chemical weapons attacks. On this occasion, we wish a happy Newroz to Reber Apo and our comrades fighting on the battle front.

YJA Star guerilla Raperîn Zinar: When we talk about Newroz, we remember Mazlum Doğan, the Kawa of the modern ear, and our fallen comrades; Zekiye, Berivan, Ronah and Rahşan, who followed in his footsteps. These comrades have become the symbol of Newroz. Today, a great struggle is being waged in Zap, Avaşin and Metina with the resistance spirit of the likes of Mazlum, Rahşan and Zeki. We, as Apoist guerillas, state once again that the fire and torch of Newroz will never die down on these mountains. We will continue waving our freedom flag against the cruel Dehaqs of our time. Once again, we congratulate all peoples and our Leader on the Newroz festival.”