The Amara Festival Days, organized under the slogan “Toward Democratic National Unity with Free Leadership” as part of Abdullah Öcalan’s 77th birthday, continue. Veysi Aktaş, who stayed with Abdullah Öcalan in Imralı Prison, spoke at the festival taking place at the 4 April Park in the center of Halfeti (Xelfetî).
Addressing the thousands who filled the area, Veysi Aktaş shouted the slogan “Bijî Serok Apo” as he took the stage. Beginning his speech by celebrating Öcalan’s birthday, Aktaş said: “I celebrate the birthday of the Leadership on April 4. Today is a very exciting day for me. It is a very historic day. How much I can express this excitement is open to debate. I had the honor of staying with the Leadership for 10 years. Every Kurd dreamed of spending even one day with the Leadership. Today is not the birthday of one person; it is the birth of a nation. It is the day the Kurdish tragedy was destroyed. Apoism means addressing a problem that no one touches, dares to touch, or has the courage to face; a problem from which others withdraw in fear. It means putting in effort, working, and striving. The Kurdish question is such a problem, and the Leadership addressed it. He showed that courage. This is something very important. There has been nothing like this in our history.”
Now is the time for freedom
Aktaş said that Öcalan represents not only an awakening for the Kurds: “This day is not only important for the Kurds. It is also very important for women. It is actually the day when women see freedom as well. We are going through a new historic process. Leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan] has taken very serious steps to resolve the current issue through dialogue and democratic negotiations. He has made sacrifices. In return, the state has certain responsibilities. The state has made certain promises. The declaration of February 27 was an important declaration. It was an important manifesto. One of the articles of that declaration was democratic negotiation. Democratic negotiation is negotiation between equals. However, that equality has not yet been achieved. The coming period must fulfill the requirements of this negotiation. That means improving Leader Apo’s conditions, ensuring his freedom, and guaranteeing the right to hope. In this sense, just as the Kurdish people gained will through Leader Apo, organized themselves through him, and became politicized through him, now is the time for freedom with Leader Apo, the time for liberation.”
People raised their demands at Newroz
Emphasizing that a historic process is underway, Aktaş said: “We are going through such a historic process. In this sense, the state must fulfill the responsibilities that fall upon it. Steps must be taken in line with the spirit of the February 27 declaration, in line with the spirit of the manifesto. This is the expectation of the people. This is the call of the people. This is the demand of the people. Millions shouted this at Newroz. In Amed, Wan, Istanbul, Bursa, and everywhere in Turkey and Kurdistan, these demands were expressed. In this sense, we have also left behind an important Newroz. Another message of this Newroz was the message of democratic national unity. One of the issues that Leader Apo emphasized most in the new manifesto was explaining the conditions necessary for such unity. In this sense, the Kurdish people have today captured the same opportunity they had at the beginning of the 20th century. Either they will face another 100 years of oppression and tyranny, or they will win the next 1000 years. We are in such a historic process. Leader Apo saw this very well and read it very well. In this sense, he has taken serious steps for it.”
We must support the process
Aktaş stated that people also have important responsibilities in this process: “As a people, many responsibilities fall on us. There are things we must do. We must organize. I am talking about the organization of a democratic society. The more we can organize ourselves on a democratic basis, the more we will seize this historic opportunity. We will turn it into a great gain. Now everything depends on us taking responsibility. This applies not only to the people but also to political parties. If we want to support the peace process, we must take responsibility.”
The state must act
Emphasizing that legal steps must now be taken, Aktaş said: “Now the time has come for a law to be enacted as soon as possible so that those in the mountains, those in Europe, and those in prisons can be included in democratic politics. The time for this has come. In this sense, we hope that steps will be taken in the near future. We expect it and demand it. This is the demand of society, this is its expectation. Where are all our brothers, our sons, our daughters? Either in the mountains, in prison, in Europe, or somewhere else. If a new brotherhood is desired, if the solution to this issue is desired, it must be placed on a legal basis. This is important. In this sense, the construction of a new constitution is also essential. First the law, then democratization, then the constitution. Step by step, in this way, this brotherhood must be renewed on the right foundation.
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