Tens of thousands in the Kurdish region as well as across Turkey took to the streets yesterday to remember Kemal Pir, Hayri Durmuş, Ali Çiçek and Akif Yılmaz who died in the mass death fast in Diyarbakır prison on 14 July 1982.

People staged torch march, visited cemeteries and organized events to remember the martyrs of the death fast. “We will not forget you, nor will allow you be forgotten”, was the slogan they chanted across the Kurdish region.

Hundreds of BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) Youth Assembly members in Mardin's Kızıltepe district, carrying torches, marched to Mehmet Sincar Park to join the events organized by BDP district organization. Among those joining the commemoration were also activists and members of Peace Mothers Initiative, KURDİ-DER, MEYA-DER, TUHAD-DER, HDK (Peoples' Democratic Congress) and MKM (Mesopotamia Cultural Center, as well as BDP Mardin provincial co-chair Reşat Kaymaz and Mayor Ferhan Türk. The park was covered with the photographs of PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) leader Abdullah Öcalan, Mazlum Doğan and Kemal Pir and flags of PKK and KCK (Kurdish Communities Union). The commemoration began with one minute's silence for all those who sacrificed their life in the Kurdish struggle for freedom and democracy. "Şehîd namirin" and "Bijî Serok Apo" were the main slogans chanted by thousands in the area. Speaking here, BDP Mardin provincial co-chair Reşat Kaymaz said that the 14 July spirit has managed to keep itself alive in the areas of Kurdistan where -he said- people are fighting to ensure the freedom of their leader Abdullah Öcalan.

The commemoration in Şırnak's İdil district, organized by BDP district organization and MEYA-DER, took place in Aşiti Park which was also covered with PKK and KCK flags, and posters of Öcalan, death fast martyrs and HPG (People's Defense Forces) guerrillas. The one minute's silence was followed by speeches and screening of documentaries telling about the life of Kemal Pir, M. Hayri Durmuş, Ali Çiçek and Akif Yılmaz. Hundreds staged a torch march to Adile Naşit Street, chanting the slogans "Şehit namırın", "Biji serok Apo".

The commemoration in Urfa's Viranşehir district took place in BDP district organization's office. A number of BDP officials and local people joined the commemoration which began with one minute's silence and continued with speeches, poem performances and documentary screening.

Hundreds in the district of Suruç also gathered in BDP district organization's building to remember the martyrs of the 1982 death fast. Speeches and documentary screenings were performed in commemoration of Kurdish revolutionaries.

A number of people in Dersim marched to the graveyard of PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) members buried in the city cemetery to remember Kurdish martyrs of the death fast. Among those joining the cemetery visit were also families of late Kurdish guerrillas. People left carnations and lighted candles around the graveyards of Kurdish militants buried in the cemetery. “PKK is the people and the people are here”, they said.

Thousands in Diyarbakır, Lice, Ergani, Şırnak, Silopi, Mardin, Nusaybin, Mazıdağı, Derik, Hakkari, Yüksekova, Van, Bahçesaray, Muradiye, Muş, Malazgirt, Bitlis, Tatvan, Siirt, Kurtalan, Elazığ, Ardahan, Urfa, Antep, Iğdır, Batman, Adana, Ceyhan, Mersin, Tarsus, Bursa, İzmir and Aydın also took to the streets in mass yesterday to remember the death fast martyrs. They promised to keep their spirit alive and to continue to fight for freedom and democracy.

The BDP demo in Istanbul was denied permission by police who surrounded demonstrators and attacked them with riot control vehicles as they started a march from the Tunnel to Taksim Square.

Speaking here, BDP Istanbul co-chair Asiye Kolçak condemned the arbitrary police blockade and said that the denial of the permission to the demo was a blow against the struggle for democracy.

Police used intense tear gas and pressure water against demonstrators who closed the Tarlabaşı Boulevard and Dolapdere Street to traffic. Clashes lasted till late evening.