The march organised by the Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party Youth Assembly from Amed (Diyarbakır) to Amara neighbourhood of Xelfetî (Halfeti) district on the 76th birthday of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan continues on its second day. 

 

The march organised by the youth with the slogan "We are walking to freedom with a democratic society" reached Curnê Reş district of Riha (Urfa). The people of the district welcomed the youth with the slogan "Bijî Serok Apo (Long live Leader Apo)", applause and cheers. The youth were welcomed with flowers by the citizens, including Curnê Reş Co-Mayors and DEM Party Riha MP Dilan Kunt Ayan, and marched along Izollu Bozan Bey Street. During the march where the banner "The sun born in Amara rises in Imrali" was unfurled, the youth sang songs of resistance. The slogan "Bijî Serok Apo" was frequently chanted during the march and the people of the district supported the youth.

 

The police officers who tried to prevent the march from time to time were responded with the slogans "Emê tecridê bişkînin (We will break the isolation)", "PKK is the people, the people are here". Peace Mothers were at the forefront of the march and citizens supported the youth with applause from the balconies of their houses and traffic honked their horns.

 

CEMETERY WAS VISITED

 

After the march, the youth visited the graves of Cuma Tak, Salih Kandal, Emin Yazar, Halil Çavgun, Sultan Yavuz, Hanım Kaya, Fidan Kaya, Berfin Yetkin, who were among the PKK's leading cadres who lost their lives in 1979-80s, in Hilvan Asri Cemetery. During the visit to the cemetery, Salih Kandal's sister Aynur Yılmaz, DEM Party Mêrdîn (Mardin) MP Beritan Güneş Altın also participated in the visit and a moment of silence was observed in memory of those who lost their lives in the struggle for democracy and freedom.

 

Speaking at the commemoration, Beritan Güneş Altın stated that they would commemorate those who lost their lives in the struggle for freedom in every district they visited during the march and said, "We will carry the flag they handed over to us until the end."

 

Salih Kandal's sister Aynur Yılmaz told her memories of the pioneers who lost their lives and added, "You young people are carrying this flag. We are proud of you. We will protect their struggle until the end." The commemoration ended with the placing of flowers on the graves. 

 

PIRSUS

 

After completing their programme the youth marched to Pirsûs with the slogans "Biji serok Apo". The people of Pirsûs (Suruç) welcomed the marchers at the entrance of Aligor neighbourhood. DEM Party MPs, Riha Peace Mothers Assembly, DEM Party and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Riha provincial and district organisations also accompanied the masses. In Pirsûs, one of the symbolic districts of the Kobani resistance, Amara marchers often referred to the Rojava Revolution.

 

Young people marched from the entrance of Aligor neighbourhood to the entrance of Pirsûs district with the slogans "Biji serok Apo" and "Biji berxwedana Rojava (Long live resistance of Rojava)". The march ended here with slogans.