Karayilan: Newroz 2024 not regular one, we receive it in historical period

This came during a message published by the member of the Executive Committee of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, Murat Karayilan, on the occasion of Newroz 2024, which read:

"I extend greetings, respect, and devotion to Rêber Apo on behalf of the leadership of our movement on this special occasion of Newroz. On this momentous day, I congratulate all the people of Kurdistan, the mothers of martyrs, all the people in the region, progressive humanity, and all friends, sympathizers, and workers abroad. I hope that everyone has an extremely prosperous new year. We honor our contemporary Kawa1, comrade Mazlum Dogan, on this auspicious day in remembrance of all the revolutionaries and martyrs of Newroz.

"Newroz has an important place in the history of our people and the peoples of the region, but more so in our movement and struggle. Exactly fifty-one years ago on Newroz Day, Rêber Apo initiated this struggle. Since then, he has worked tirelessly to infuse Kurdistan with the spirit and flame of Newroz. Mazlum Dogan conducted the most powerful anti-oppression action on Newroz in the confines of the Amed (Diyarbakir) prison. In his footsteps, the free Kurdish women Zekiye Alkan, Rahşan Demirel, Ronahî, and Bêrîvan added strength to the Newroz flame by sacrificing themselves. Once again, across Kurdistan, particularly in areas such as Cizîra Botan and Nisêbîn, our brave people made great sacrifices. In doing so, they ignited the flame of Newroz and raised its spirit, carrying it to an important place in history and igniting a national struggle.

On October 10, 2023, our internationalist allies announced the commencement of an international campaign with the goals of solving the Kurdish question and achieving Rêber Apo’s physical liberation. This campaign continues to become formulated piece by piece and will gain more strength with this Newroz. I extend warm greetings to everyone involved in this campaign, particularly our internationalist friends, on behalf of the movement’s leadership. I also salute every mother who is participating in the vigil for justice, the prisoners who are still on a hunger strike, and the campaigners who have been keeping a vigil for Rêber Apo’s physical release in front of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg for more than a decade. I congratulate the patriots who have been holding the Freedom Watch in the Martyr Rüstem Cudi Camp and send them our greetings.

2024’s Newroz is not a regular Newroz. We greet Newroz this year in the midst of a historic moment. This year, the institutions representing the Kurdish people and the friends of the Kurdish people, have declared Newroz as the “Newroz of the freedom of Rêber Apo.” This has great significance and importance. With the slogans “Freedom for Rêber Apo” and “Long live Rêber Apo,” our people are celebrating Newroz in such numbers for the first time, in the four regions of Kurdistan as well as overseas. Today, this slogan is being chanted in the streets by millions, if not tens of millions. What are their desires? They desire Rêber Apo’s physical freedom. Rêber Apo’s freedom is seen by our people as their own. They are heading to the streets for this reason. They’re chanting, “Hear the voice of the Kurdish people, hear the scream for the freedom of Rêber Apo.” This needs to be communicated to the cunning and unscrupulous conspirators.

Secondly, after ten days our people will be electing the co-mayors in their municipalities. This must be drawn attention to. The regime of AKP-MHP appoints trustees and does not acknowledge the will of our people. There is no legal remedy for this. The official will of our people is being violated. Therefore, in the spirit of the 2024 Newroz, everyone—socialists, Democrats, and the friends of our people—must demonstrate their will by voting and participating in the elections in order to oppose such policies. They need to demonstrate that we reject trustee politics and that we stand by our decisions. Our people ought to vote in these elections in light of this.....

To be continued.....

a.k

ANHA