The march of the youth in South Kurdistan from Suleymaniyah to Hewler continues on its third day. The youth stayed at Suleymaniyah's Chamchamal district last night and visited the Anfal Monument here around 07:00 this morning.

Perwez Rıfat spoke on behalf of the demonstrators and stated that the genocide against Kurdish people in Anfal and the conspiracy against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan shared the same purpose, but the resistance of Öcalan in Imrali prison and of Kurdish people in general have upset these plans.

‘NEW ANFALS WERE THE AIM OF THE CONSPIRACY’

Perwez Rıfat said “With the conspiracy, they tried to eliminate Leader Öcalan and the Kurdish people through another Anfal massacre. However, Leader Öcalan's resistance at İmralı foiled the plans of the enemy and prevented a new Anfal. With this resistance, genocides against not only Kurdish but all peoples of the region were prevented. Our march is the clearest evidence of the failure of these plans. As the Free Youth Movement of Kurdistan, Free Young Women's Movement, Resisting Youth's Movement and the Rojava Youth Union, we want to protest the imprisonment and isolation of Leader Öcalan and liberate him with the long march we are carrying out from Suleymaniyah to Hewler. We are concerned by the stance of the European Court of Human Rights and the CPT regarding Leader Öcalan's isolation. These powers should take a stance. We will continue our struggle on this issue.”

‘THEY WANT TO RE-IMPLEMENT LAUSANNE AND SYKES-PİCOT'

Anfal Monument administrator Habil Ahmet greeted the youth, thanked them for their visit, and wished them success in their struggle. Ahmet remarked that the resolve of the Kurdish youth would prevent new Anfals from happening, and said “Our people were put through genocide many times in history. Today, the Turkish state is perpetrating the genocide that the Ba'ath regime committed t in South Kurdistan. As you know, Leader Öcalan was arrested 18 years ago. This conspiracy was carried out in a inhumane way, but was defeated by the resistance of Leader Apo. The enemies of Kurdish people cannot tolerate Kurds' struggle for freedom and are trying to re-implement Sykes-Picot and Lausanne decisions. These plans are still active but Leader Apo resisted them and always gave messages of freedom and peace.

LEADER APO IS THE MANDELA OF KURDISH PEOPLE

Ahmet stated that with his struggle for peace, Öcalan is the Mandela of Kurdish people and that all conspiracies will be defeated as the struggle grows. Ahmet said “I believe that as long as they have the youths who are passionate for freedom and stand up for their martyrs, Kurdish people will guarantee victory. I believe that Leader Öcalan will be the Mandela of Kurdish people with this struggle and become the symbol of freedom just like Mandela did."

After the visit to Anfal monument, the youth resumed the march towards Kirkuk.