NEWS CENTER – 2023 Newroz was started in Şemzînan (Şemdinli) district of Colemêrg. Delegations came to the city in the evening for Newroz, which was held with the motto “Every der Newroz, always free” and dedicated to those who lost their lives in the Mereş-centered earthquake this year. Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-chair Berdan Öztürk, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Saliha Aydeniz, Tevgera Jinên Azad (TJA) members and Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputies met at the HDP District Organization for Newroz in the morning
Many citizens came to the party building with their local clothes. Participation of young people and women drew attention. The slogans of “Newroz be piroz”, “Jin, jiyan, azadi” and “We will win by resisting” were frequently raised in the mass statement.
‘WE WILL BEAT THIS REGIME’
HDP Deputy Sait Dede stated that they spent Newroz, which has been described as a resurrection and rebirth for thousands of years, in the shadow of great pain and debris. Dede said, “We suffered greatly because of the oppressive government that turned the earthquake into a great disaster. We wish God’s mercy on those who lost their lives in the earthquake in Şemzînan. The biggest reason for this loss of life is these despotic and oppressive governments. That’s why Newroz gives us a greater meaning. The end of all suffering passes through Newroz. Newroz is a history of resistance against this tyranny. As descendants of the Kawa, we have never succumbed to persecution. We will defeat these dictatorships. We will defeat them just as Kawa defeated the Dehaks. They are afraid in their palaces. That’s why they want to spread despair in society. We stand tall as descendants of the Kawas, We will be the winners,” he said. Dede emphasized that Şemzînan is the “heart of Kurdistan”. Meanwhile, the slogan “Repression cannot intimidate us” was raised from the people.
‘WE WILL BLAST FIRE EVERYWHERE!’
DBP Co-Chair Saliha Aydeniz said: “This year, we will not welcome Newroz with songs, zılgıts, enthusiasm and dances. But we will meet the spirit of Newroz with resistance, revolt, and resistance that will march towards freedom by giving messages. For this, we will start Newroz from Şemzînan here. We would like to welcome Newroz with enthusiasm like every year. But as it is known, we celebrate with the spirit of resistance of Newroz, not with a festivity due to the earthquake and the loss of hundreds of thousands of people’s lives. We commemorate those who lost their lives in the earthquake. We are saying once again here that we will raise the struggle everywhere to demand an account of the ruins as soon as possible. The beginnings we have made from here, for the struggle for freedom for thousands of years, for unity, for the future days to be democratic days, by burning the Newroz fire everywhere,
‘WE WILL PUT THE END AGAINST DEHAK ON MAY 14’
Stating that Şemzînan has an important meaning, Aydeniz continued: “Şemzînan is the place where three parts of Kurdistan come together. It is the place where the unity of Kurdistan will be formed. That’s why, by standing side by side with the spirit of resistance, we will start in accordance with the spirit of Newroz in Şemzînan through the denial of the Kurds for a century. We started with ‘Dem dema jin jiyan azadi’ on March 8th. With this philosophy, we have raised our voices everywhere as women against this tyrannical system, against the masculine state, against the isolating and murderous state. We commemorate the lives we lost. Now we will continue this as we head towards Newroz. We will take this fight to the climax. As the Kurds and the peoples, we will certainly give the final point on May 14th. On May 14, we will give the final point as Kurds and women. Dehak’ of this cruel era
The year 2023 has a political, political and social significance. Because 2023 is the centennial of Lausanne. For the Kurds, Lausanne was a situation of erasing them from history, an attempt to disgrace and purge the Kurds from their language, culture and geography. For a century, the Kurds have resisted this policy everywhere and never accepted it. The Kurds also increased their unity and resistance against the centuries-old Lausanne policies. We curse the centennial of Lausanne. The Kurds no longer want to live in this century without status, without language, without a way to govern themselves.
‘NOT JUST LIFT ISOLATION; ABDULLAH ÖCALAN SHOULD BE FREE’
The AKP-MHP government continues to play the role of Dehak for a handful of administrators, for their own future in the earthquake. But we will always raise our fight against it. This power is fed by war policies and isolation. It feeds on the massacres of women. We are in Şemzînan to raise the struggle against war policies. While people were struggling with their lives and waiting for food in the earthquake, this government continued its war policies. They continued the war in Rojava and Bashur and used chemicals. We condemn these approaches here.
Another point where this power is fed is the policy of isolation. Mr. Abdullah Öcalan’s faith in democracy and honorable peace is eternal. Mr. Öcalan’s physical freedom must now be ensured. It’s not just about lifting the isolation. We all applied for it. We will raise the struggle in every field until there is freedom. Because Mr. Öcalan has a solution perspective against this crisis environment. We firmly believe in this perspective. We firmly believe that he is the Leader of the Kurdish People. We declare that we will spread the struggle everywhere in Şemzînan.”
‘ABDULLAH ÖCALAN IS RESISTING’
DTK Co-chair Berdan Öztürk expressed that they are celebrating Newroz in a bittersweet way. Öztürk said, “Newroz is not only a halay day for us, it is also the day we give our important messages. 15 million people were affected by this earthquake. Tens of thousands of people died. We remember the lives we lost. Earthquakes happen everywhere, but the earthquake did not cause so many people to die. The reason for this is the AKP-MHP government, which is hostile to the Kurds. It is the government that opposes the status of the Kurds and continues its war policies. Where did this war begin? This started with the isolation on Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan. You will not be able to reach your goal in this isolation. Mr. Öcalan is resisting with the spirit of the Kawas. This resistance continues,” he said.
Emphasizing the need to ensure the unity of the Kurds, Öztürk said, “First of all, the Kurds should establish their unity on democratic principles. This year’s Newroz will be instrumental in the physical freedom of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan. Once again, the Dehaks are on the verge of defeat,” he said.
NEWROZ FIRE IS SET
After the speeches, the fire was lit with 3 matchsticks, which became the symbol of the Newroz fire. Mazlum Doğan was engraved in memories by setting her body on fire with 3 matchsticks on March 21, 1982, against the inhuman practices experienced in Diyarbakır Prison.
After the Newroz fire was lit, the people chanted “Bijî Serok Apo” and “Bê Serok jiyan nabe” in unison.
