Activities for August 15 and Öcalan in France, Germany and Russia

Kurdistan people living in Russia, France and Germany have celebrated throughout the week the 15 August Operation marking the first action of the PKK against the Turkish army in 1984, and marched for the freedom of Öcalan.

Kurdistan people living in the Russian Federation and in Europe celebrated the 33rd anniversary of the August 15 Initiative, Day of Resurrection, in which PKK launched its first armed actions against the Turkish army in Siirt’s Eruh and Hakkari’s Şemdinli districts in the year of 1984.

FRANCE - PARIS

Upon the initiative of Democratic Kurdish Society Center in France, Kurdish people and their friends gathered at 18.00 in front of 'Gare de l'Este' train station, and marched to the Republique Square, carrying banners that read "The Turkish fascism has lost, Kurdistan has won" and "Freedom for Öcalan".

During the march that was joined by representatives of ACTIT and Pir Sultan Abdal Association in Paris, the demonstrators denounced the aggravated isolation imposed on Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan and leaflets that were distributed to the people on the matter.

The march ended at the Republique Square where a rally was held. Following a minute of silence in commemoration of the martyrs of revolution, Co-chair of Democratic Kurdish Society Center Cengîz Baldaş referred to the aggravated isolation imposed on Öcalan, and said, "These are two years that we cannot receive any information on our leader. The request of his family and lawyers is only answered with rejection. In the person of our leader, all the Kurdish people are being isolated. We will reject a life without Öcalan until the very end, and will enhance our resistance for him.”

FRANCE - RENNES

Kurdish people gathered at Place Colombie for the 15 August Initiative celebrations in French city Rennes, and marched from there to Republique Square chanting incessantly "Long Live Leader Apo" and "There is no life without Öcalan".

The celebration continued with a rally at Republique Square, where speeches were held by members of Democratic Kurdish Society Council, stressing the aggravated isolation imposed on Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, and condemning the aggressions of the Turkish state against Efrîn and ecocidal practices on the nature of North Kurdistan.

GERMANY - DRESDEN

Kurds living in German city Dresden celebrated the 15 August Initiative.

The speakers marked the beginning of the armed struggle against the occupation of the Turkish army with the following words, "The first bullet fired on 15 August was a shot against the mentality of invasion and occupation. The operation on that day is the uprising against cultural genocide. It was the first step of resistance for our freedom, honour and culture, existence and identity."

GERMANY - ESSEN

On the occasion of the 15 August Initiative, a celebration was held in in German city Essen. The festivity started with a minute of silence to commemorate the martyrs of the Kurdistan Revolution.

After a speech held by Kurdish politician Mehmet Suruçlu on the importance of the 15 August military operation for the Kurdish people, famous Kurdish musician Seyda Perînçek held a concert for the audience.

GERMANY - MANNHEIM

Upon the initiative of Democratic Kurdish Society Center (NAV-DEM) in Mannheim and Ronahî-Berîvan Women's Council, Kurdistan people gathered in front of Mannheim Academy and marched to the Old Firestation, protesting the aggravated isolation imposed on Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan.

The march continued with a rally at the Old Firestation, where chairperson of NAV-DEM in Mannheim, Cano Yıldız spoke and stated, "It is a matter of honor to stand up for our leader Öcalan. We will never be silent or tired, until we have freed our leader Öcalan."

Yildiz mentioned also the ecocidal practices of the Turkish state on Northern Kurdistan, and said, "The true dirty face of the AKP has shown itself once again".

Speaking after, co-chair of KCDK-E (European Kurdish Democratic Societies Congress), Fatoş Göksüngür, stated: "Without Öcalan, there is no life. When it comes to the freedom of Öcalan, we never accept any repressive mindset. Just like the AKP is criminalizing the Kurdish people, also in Germany our symbols and patriotic people get criminalized."

Die Linke parliamentary candidate, Gökay Akbulut stressed that before everything the ban on the PKK has to be lifted, and demanded the immediate release of the Kurdish people's leader.

A statement was also read out by the representative of Partisan.

During the march and rally, slogans were chanted incessantly by the people chanting "Long Live Leader Apo", and a banner was held high demanding the freedom of Öcalan.

The demonstration was attended by members of DIDF, AGIF, ADHK, Revolutionary Party, SYKP, Die Linke and MLPD.

RUSSIA - STAVRAPOL

Kurdistan people living Russian city Stavrapol celebrated the 33rd anniversary of the 15 August operation with great festivities, and condemned the isolation imposed on Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Upon the initiative of Stavrapol-Kurdish Cultural Autonomy, many Kurdistan people and their friends attended the event in Stavrapol's Novoaleksandrov district.

After a minute of silence for the martyrs of the Kurdistan freedom struggle, the program continued with an opening speech by co-chair of Kurdish Cultural Autonomy, Nazê Bozoyeva, who said: "15 August has a very important place in the history of Kurdistan. We commemorate on this day, the great commander Egîd and his comrades with respect and honor. They have shown us how a struggle has to be like. Today in all parts of Kurdistan, fighters on the path of Egîd are building our homeland Kurdistan and struggle for freedom. Every Kurd must learn about the 15 August operation, and understand it deeply. If we do not understand what this day means to us, we will never be able to give a struggle. When we all really understand it, we will be able to break the isolation imposed on the Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan."

After the speech, the festival program continued with songs by Sîpan Xelat, Mehmet Rustemov, Hasan Mamedov, Roj Azad and Davîd Odî.

RUSSIA - MICHURINSK

Another celebration on the occasion of 15 August was held in Saratov's Michurinsk town.

Many Kurdish people along with representatives of many Kurdish organisations and associations joined the celebration at the Cultural Center in Michurinsk.

After speeches on the meaning and importance of 15 August, a video was presented on the history of the Kurdistan Freedom Struggle.

Until the end of the event, the musicians Grîşa Amoyev and Ferman Patîyev gave concerts to the audience, and people joined the music with halay dances.