A huge Newroz celebration is taking place in Van. Since early morning, thousands of people have been flocking to the Newroz Park at the foot of the historic fortress on the banks of Lake Van. The event is held under the Kurdish motto "Rabe dema azadî û serkeftinê ye" (Stand up, it's time for freedom and success). People wear traditional Kurdish clothing and wave flags of the DEM party, loudly chanting the slogans "Bijî Serok Apo" (Long live leader Öcalan) and "Bijî berxwedana zindanan" (Long live prison resistance).

The program began with a minute's silence, after which "Şehîd namirin" (Martyrs are immortal) was chanted. The central theme of the event is the demand for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question. Ebru Demirtepe declared on behalf of the organizers that the isolation of the Kurdish leadaer on the prison island of Imrali is unlawful and unethical: "We do not accept isolation, it is inhumane and immoral. Our people will break the isolation."

Other announced speakers include co-mayoral candidates Neslihan Şedal and Abdullah Zeydan for Van, TJA activist Berivan Bahçeci, DBP co-chair Keskin Bayındır and DEM Party co-chair Tülay Hatimoğulları. The program also includes performances by musicians Faraz Sine, Suavi, Koma Aryen and Helîmê Omerî.

Large Newroz celebrations are also taking place today in many other cities in Turkey and northern Kurdistan.

Addressing the crowd, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Keskin Bayındır said: "The struggle of the Kurdish people has been going on for 100 years. Today this square shows this very well. Their policies are collapsing in the face of this. No matter what you do, you will not succeed and Kurds will not bow down to you. Our people will continue their struggle against war and occupation. Believe me, the Kurds will not bow down. Erdogan and Bahçeli were so weakened by the struggle of the Kurdish people that they resorted to counter-attacks. They look for hope in those who murdered thousands of Kurds in Kurdistan. Those who were raised in JITEM headquarters in the 90s and killed Kurds are trying the same method today. You are murderers and our people know it. These plans of yours have collapsed in this Newroz area. The Kurdish people stand up for the freedom of Mr. Öcalan. The Kurdish people want the physical freedom of their leader. We will fight against isolation and Kurdish hostility all over the world. Whatever happens, success will be ours."

Speaking after, Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları took the floor and said, "As long as you are with us, those who are trying to spread fascism from Ankara should know that we will not be defeated. Let Erdoğan come and see this square. Let him see how Kurds protect their culture, language and struggle. Mr. Öcalan's message contained peace and proposed that the people live together. We appeal to all interlocutors; the Kurdish question is a status problem and must be solved. The Kurdish question is a problem of the 4 parts, a problem of the peoples and must be solved. An environment where peoples can live in peace must be built and this must be under the guarantee of the constitution."  

Stating that education in mother tongue is a right and should be guaranteed, Hatimoğulları said, "We are already living in peace with solidarity. The solution to the Kurdish question is peace. Peace comes through struggle and we are carrying out our honorable struggle together."

Tülay Hatimoğulları also expressed the following regarding the March 31st elections: "We are working to come out of the election with a great victory. We will teach a great lesson to those who impose war on Kurdistan and hunger on the people. You will give the biggest answer at the ballot box to those who are hostile to peoples and beliefs, who ban the Kurdish language in Parliament and play Kurdish on election vehicles. Erdoğan has embraced Hizbulkontra, who shed the blood of many people in Kurdistan. We will give them the biggest lesson in the elections. For this we need to work with a spirit of mobilization."