PKK declares Newroz for leader Ocalan’s Physical Freedom

  The PKK has issued a statement regarding the upcoming Newroz, emphasizing the call for the physical freedom of leader Abdullah Ocalan. The statement, released by the PKK's leadership committee, reads as follows:

 "We are currently marking the 37th anniversary of the Halabja massacre, which occurred on March 16, 1988, one of the most heinous assaults by the state system and global governance. As is well known, this massacre resulted in the deaths of over 5,000 Kurdish individuals, the majority of whom were women and children. These genocidal attacks turned Kurdistan, once described as a 'paradise' in sacred texts, into a hell. We once again condemn the perpetrators of this crime with profound hatred, and we solemnly remember the martyrs of Halabja with respect and gratitude. We urge our people across the four parts of Kurdistan to never forget the martyrs of existence and freedom, to consistently uphold their memory, and to commemorate them in a Free Kurdistan.

 'Newroz of Physical Freedom for Leader Ocalan'

 Once again, as the Freedom Movement and the Kurdish people, along with our democratic allies, we celebrate a new Newroz. We observe Newroz 2025, based on the call of Leader Apo for 'Peace and a Democratic Society,' and we enthusiastically celebrate this Newroz in all parts of Kurdistan and throughout the world as the 'Newroz of Physical Freedom for Leader Apo.' As Leader Apo has stated, Newroz with the PKK is sweeter and more meaningful. Our national people and democratic allies, especially women and youth, will fill the Newroz squares everywhere and will shout for the physical freedom of Leader Apo more than ever before.

 First, we congratulate Newroz to Leader Apo, all comrades in the party, our heroic guerrilla forces, the women, youth, our people, and our friends. In the person of the modern-day Kawa, Mazlum Doğan, we remember all the martyrs of Nowruz and our heroic martyrs who turned Newroz into a festival of contemporary freedom with love, respect, and gratitude, we call on our people and our friends to celebrate Newroz 2025 with great enthusiasm and massive crowds, demanding the physical freedom of Leader Apo.

 The Need for Practical Steps and Tangible Support

 As is well known, Leader Abdullah Ocalan, through the delegation that met with him, issued a historic call on February 27, which can be described as the statement of the era. We also responded to this call on March 1, announcing a ceasefire in preparation for taking practical steps, and we clarified that we would act according to the requirements of the call.

Undoubtedly, all of this is based on historical consciousness, love for the homeland and the people, and the desire for a free life. The goal was to democratize Turkey and the Middle East on the basis of Kurdish people's freedom, so that humanity can achieve freedom and democracy. We have taken steps with knowledge and faith.

 Now, nearly 15 days have passed since the call by Leader Apo and the announcement of the ceasefire. We, of course, are patient and understand the difficulties we face. Leader Apo’s call and our declaration have been positively received both domestically and internationally, which pleases us. However, time is of the essence, and in order to succeed, we must make optimal use of time and take steps with in-depth discussions. Rather than offering positive opinions regarding Leader Apo's call for an 'Era of Peace and a Democratic Society,' we must now take practical steps and provide tangible support.

 Silencing All Weapons

 Over the past 15 days, there have been some positions critical of our ceasefire declaration, but without the silencing of weapons, no political or practical steps can be taken. This is why we believe the ceasefire we declared is an important practical step, and we are confident that it is a crucial move toward implementing Leader Abdullah Ocalan’s call on the ground.

Obviously, such practical steps cannot be taken by unilaterally halting the war. For these steps to be implemented, all weapons must be silenced.

 Regrettably, the Turkish government's practical steps have not aligned with this, and although military attacks by the Turkish army have decreased somewhat compared to previous periods, during the two-week unilateral ceasefire, there were a total of 73 airstrikes, 4,175 artillery and mortar attacks, and 8 attacks with banned weapons. Additionally, reconnaissance planes continue to fly over the region daily. Since February 27, there has been no meeting with Leader Abdullah Ocalan, and we do not know whether there have been any changes in the conditions and circumstances at Imralı. The Imrali regime remains as it was, and despite media claims of meetings and discussions, we have not seen any tangible actions in Parliament.

 What We Stated in Our March 1 Statement Still Stands

 We are reiterating this, on the occasion of Newroz, for the purpose of informing the public. We are continuing to monitor the discussions and efforts regarding the process, and we believe that after Newroz, there will be a clear reassessment, as everything is clear to us. To date, we have received a written message from Leader Abdullah Ocalan and responded to it promptly. We also responded on March 1 to the call made by Leader Abdullah Ocalan on February 27, and the public has been informed and shared about the contents of the message. Apart from that, we have had no contact with Leader Abdullah Ocalan in the past period. What we mentioned in our March 1 statement regarding fundamental issues such as holding a conference, laying down arms, and dissolving the PKK still stands, as we have not received any information from Leader Abdullah Ocalan regarding when and how to proceed with these matters.

 The Process Requires Seriousness, Sensitivity, and Patience

 It is very clear that the process we are undergoing requires seriousness, sensitivity, and patience, as well as substantial effort and struggle based on sound principles. The process involves everyone, and the past demands change and a democratic transformation through serious accountability based on self-criticism. This is how we approach the process, and we believe that success will be achieved on this basis. We call on everyone, both within and outside the country, to approach the era of peace and democratic society in this manner.

 Women and youth, in particular, as the leading force in this process and the core strength of the struggle of our national people and our democratic allies, must be highly sensitive and tireless in this regard. They are successfully leading the process through democratic change, pressuring the ruling authorities with the democratic actions they develop, forcing them to take tangible steps.

Clearly, the celebrations on March 8 marked a new beginning in this regard. Now, Newroz celebrations, extending for weeks, must be based entirely on this principle, and the physical freedom of Leader Apo must be adopted with the loudest and strongest voice.

 In this context, we once again congratulate our people and our friends, especially Leader Apo, and we call on them to turn the Newroz celebrations taking place everywhere into events demanding the physical freedom of Leader Apo."

 a.k

ANHA