Almost a million people gathered in Newroz Park in Amed (Diyarbakır) to celebrate Newroz under the slogan "Rise up, it is the time of freedom and success" and to demand the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question.

"This Newroz will pave the way to freedom"

One of the speakers at the ceremony was Aynur Sarıca, an activist from the Free Women's Movement (TJA), who said: "This Newroz will pave the way for Abdullah Öcalan's freedom. There is a huge resistance in the prisons to break the isolation. We welcome this resistance and the justice vigils of prisoners' mothers. Today, women in struggle are the vanguard. We are running towards a free society under the slogan 'Jin, Jiyan, Azadî' (Woman, Life, Freedom)." With a view to the local elections on 31 March, Sarıca said: "We will send the trustees out of Kurdistan. We will succeed with the co-presidency system. Jin, Jiyan, Azadî!"

Berdan Öztürk, co-chair of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) and DEM (Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party) deputy, then took the floor and said: "On Newroz, we would like to clarify a few things that are prerequisites for freedom: We want a solution to the Kurdish question for a democratic Middle East and a democratic world. Finally, we want the physical freedom of Mr Abdullah Öcalan for the freedom of the Kurdish people and their rights. For this we say freedom, freedom, freedom."

Message from prisoners

Political prisoners, who have been on a rotating hunger strike for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan for 116 days, sent a message of greeting to the Newroz festival. The message read out by DEM deputy Zeynep Oduncu said: "Newroz was like the sound of a hammer on iron. Then it turned into the warmth of fire. It turned into the sound and colour of freedom in Kurdistan, the heart of the Middle East. We salute Rêber Apo [Leader Abdullah Öcalan], the resisting mothers, our people and all participants on the occasion of this Newroz of freedom and resistance. As revolutionaries in the prisons of Turkey and Kurdistan, we are participating in the campaign for the physical freedom of Rêber Apo. Our resistance continues and we firmly believe that the isolation will be broken and our leader will be released. The Newroz site is a place of freedom today, the call for freedom for Rêber Apo is being raised here. We wish everyone a happy Newroz with the good news of the beginning of spring."

After a performance by Xezel Mistefa, members of the DEM Youth marched onto the site behind a banner with the slogan "We started young and will suceed young". The demonstration of the youth movement was greeted with great applause and the slogan "Bijî Serok Apo" [Long Live Leader Öcalan].

"We will give them an answer they will not forget"

The DEM Party candidates for the office of co-mayor of Amed, Serra Bucak and Doğan Hatun, then took to the stage to great applause. Serra Bucak said: "I congratulate you all on Newroz. I also wish you, Kemal Kurkut, a happy Newroz." She was remembering the young activist who was shot dead by police during the Newroz celebration in Amed in 2017. With regard to the upcoming elections, Bucak stated that the trustees would be driven out of office on 31 March.

Speaking after, Doğan Hatun said: "Today, Kurds everywhere have risen up and are shouting out their demand for lasting peace to the world. The whole world should hear that we want freedom. We want everyone to know that."

Hatun recalled the past eight years under trustee administration, when the elected mayors were simply deposed and replaced by officials appointed by the government: "On 31 March, we must above all protect the ballot boxes. We will give the occupiers such an answer that they will not try to suppress our will again. We trust our people."

The music programme then continued. Although the number of people on the site is estimated at around one million, countless people are still waiting outside the entrances. Revolutionary slogans can be heard everywhere.