RIHA - The demand for "freedom for Abdullah Ocalan" came to the fore wherever the "Great Freedom March" took place. Describing the moments that impressed them the most, the marchers emphasized that the mothers who welcomed them with enthusiasm longed for peace and gave the message, "This march will continue."

 

Politicians and democratic mass organization representatives, who started the "Great Freedom March" from Qers and Wan on February 1 to ensure the physical freedom of PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan and to solve the Kurdish issue, reached Riha (Urfa) yesterday on the 15th day of their march. For 15 days, the marchers met with the public in many centers and explained the purpose of their actions.

 

The marchers, who were welcomed with enthusiasm at every center they passed through, hosted families in the evening. The main agenda of the conversations held during the visit were discussions about the physical freedom of PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan and the solution of the Kurdish issue.

 

The slogans that stood out throughout the march were "Bijî berxwedana Îmraliyê (Long live resistance of Imralı)", "Bijî Serok Apo (Long live Leader Apo)", "Jin, Jîyan, Azadî" and "Down with February 15 conspiracy". At every point of the march, initials and phrases from the books written in prison by PKK Leader Ocalan were read. These parts of the march were the moments when the enthusiastic masses were most excited and attentive.

 

Wherever they passed, marchers commemorated those who lost their lives in the Kurdish freedom struggle at their graves. Those who lost their lives in the massacres that took place on different dates were not forgotten. Banners with the words of PKK Leader Ocalan were also held in the hands of those who welcomed the marchers. In the statement made in Xelfetî, it was emphasized that this program was completed, but the actions and activities to demand "freedom" will continue.

 

Members of parliament and democratic mass organization representatives who took part in the march spoke to Mezopotamya Agency (MA) about the 15-day period.

 

 

 

THE MOMENTS THAT IMPRESSED AYDENIZ THE MOST

 

DEM Party Deputy Saliha Aydeniz, who was in the Wan branch of the march, noted that the thing that impressed her the most during the march was the delivery of the berets, scarves and socks knitted by the Mothers for Peace in Botan to be delivered to PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan. Aydeniz said: “Mothers said, ‘If Mr. Ocalan gets cold, we get cold too. If our leader is not comfortable, we are not comfortable either.’ The children handed over their toys to us. This march, with all its emotion, once again showed everyone that Mr. Ocalan is the will of the Kurds."

 

 

 

 

CICEK: TRUTH IS LOVE

 

Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) Co-Spokesperson and DEM Party Deputy Cengiz Çiçek, who took part in the Qers branch of the march, said that the importance of the march will be understood more years later. Çiçek said: "This march was a proposal for a new line of struggle. This march is the march for truth. Naime Çetin, who lives in the Milazgir (Malazgirt) district of Muş, knitted a wool sock for Abdullah Ocalan 25 years ago. And she said, ‘May the end of this march be freedom. I knitted this sock for the Leader.’ It touched me very much when she gave it to me. There were very emotional moments at Aysel Doğan's grave in Dersim. Because Aysel Doğan was a peace ambassador from Europe when Mr. Ocalan was handed over to Turkey. We saw the price paid by the Kurdish freedom movement everywhere we passed. We saw the price paid even in the smallest settlement. Mr. Ocalan said, 'Truth is love, love is living freely.' And we said, 'Truth is transcendence, love is living free.”

 

 

 

 

 

OTLU: WE FELT THE UNITED STRUGGLE

 

DEM Party Deputy Ciçek Otlu, who was in the Wan branch of the march, said that the visits to the graves of those who lost their lives in the Kurdish freedom struggle impressed her. Otlu said, "The meeting of the two branches was like the meeting of small fires. Each branch passed through places where they witnessed historical moments in their own way. Some of us were at the place where the first meeting was held in Kars Castle and some of us were at the revolutionary bridge in Zap. We visited the graves of our friends whose perpetrators went unsolved. We were guests of the families of the prisoners. Approaching Amara increased our excitement. Citizens want Mr. Ocalan's physical freedom. It was nice to feel this and to feel the united struggle. The small fires that accumulated have now become the voice of a great resistance. We have shown the greatness of the great freedom march."

 

 

 

 

 

IRMEZ: MOTHERS MARCH FOR PEACE

 

DEM Party Deputy Mehmet Zeki Irmez, one of the Wan branch marchers, emphasized that the marchers continued in every city despite all attempts to prevent them. Irmez said: "I have witnessed the revolutionary solidarity and companionship very closely since we started this march. Those who took part in the march walked with great will, despite all the obstacles. The people, marching for Mr. Ocalan's freedom, expressed their gratitude to us for walking on this path. We were also touched when we witnessed the tears of joy of mothers. Mothers march for peace. For this, Mr. Abdullah Ocalan must regain his physical freedom as soon as possible."

 

 

 

 

 

 

OCALAN: MOTHERS WANT AN HONORABLE PEACE

 

Omer Ocalan, nephew of PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan and DEM Party Deputy, who took his place in the march held in the Qers branch, said: "The moments that impressed me were the moments when Mothers for Peace showed to us the place of peace. Their children are in dungeons, on hunger strike, on the periphery of war... All mothers want is an honorable peace. We were guests at a different family's house every day for 15 days. Sometimes we stayed in the city and sometimes in the village. We had evening public meetings in every house we visited. In those meetings, we witnessed how closely the citizens followed the politics of the Kurds. Some of the public's reactions also caught our attention. Citizens think that the Kurds' struggle must not be sacrificed to the interests of daily politics. Citizens expect us to think big and prioritize the interests of the Kurds."

 

 

 

 

 

 

TURKOGLU: ADOPTION OF WOMEN GIVES HOPE

 

DEM Party Women's Assembly Spokesperson Halide Türkoğlu, who is in the Wan branch, pointed out that women's support for the march was great. Türkoğlu said: "The people embraced the march with the warmest feelings. We saw that the struggle in Kurdistan would not come without a price. We witnessed excitement in the meetings we held with the people. If the people had not integrated themselves into this march and included themselves, our march would not have had enough meaning. With the support of the people, street by street, village by village . This march reinforced our faith and determination."

 

 

KAYA: IT CREATED GREAT EXCITEMENT

 

 

DEM Party Deputy Adalet Kaya, who started the march from Qers, touched upon the importance of women embracing the march. Pointing out that enthusiasm and excitement are increasing day by day, Kaya said: "The excitement we felt on the first day at minus 20 degrees in Kars grew considerably as the last day approached. We spent time with all the family members and neighbours in the houses we hosted. It was nice to feel that warmth. This walk being successful and walking in a different city every day created great excitement for everyone."

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUMBUL: THIS MARCH WILL CONTINUE

 

Şahin Sümbül, DEM Party Şirnex Provincial Organization manager, who was in the Wan branch of the march, said: "We were met with great enthusiasm in every step we took for Mr. Ocalan's physical freedom. Although there were attempts to prevent it, our march could not be prevented. When we stayed at the people's houses, we had a meeting with the families. They shared not only their food but also their feelings and thoughts with us. They prayed for Mr. Ocalan's physical freedom. This march will continue until Mr. Ocalan is not free."

 

 

 

 

 

 

CUBUK: THE COMMON STRUGGLE SHOULD BE GROWED

 

DEM Party Deputy Burcugül Çubuk, who took her place in the march in the Qers branch, emphasized that they continued their way, drawing strength from the warm welcome of the citizens. Çubuk said: "We were always with the families throughout the march. The people want Mr. Ocalan's physical freedom. This march gave the people morale. Despite all the impositions, the people are together with their own values. It is a program that continues both in Europe and in Istanbul. There will be masses. They need to be strengthened. Voices need to be raised from everywhere. This march showed us once again that the common struggle of the people of Turkey must be enlarged." 

 

MA / Adnan Bilen - Emrullah Acar