HAKKARI - The delegation taking part in the "Great Freedom March" visits the Revolutionary Youth Bridge established by Deniz Gezmiş and his friends on the Zap River in Hakkari.

 

The Wan branch of the "Great Freedom March", which was launched for the freedom of PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan and the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue, was sent off to Hakkari (Colomêrg) with applause and slogans from Gever (Yüksekova) district. Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Keskin Bayındır, Med Detainee and Convict Families Legal Solidarity Associations Federation Co-chair Emine Kaya, People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) deputies as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations, marching group, DEM Party Gever District They came together in front of the organization building. The freedom marchers greeted the people and tradesmen one by one in front of the party building and were sent off with applause and the slogan "Bijî berxwedana zindanan (Long live resistance of dungeons)".

 

The marchers were welcomed by the public with great enthusiasm, morale and victory signs and were frequently greeted with slogans. The walking branch was built on the Zap River by Deniz Gezmiş and his friends in 1969.

 

‘REVOLUTIONARY BRIDGE’

 

Marchers crossed to the other side of the bridge, chanting the slogan "No to isolation, peace right now" and making a victory sign. Passing drivers also greeted the freedom marchers by honking their horns.

Speaking there, DEM Party Deputy Çiçek Otlu said: “Our dear people, today we are on a historical bridge. When Deniz Gezmiş, one of the leaders of the Turkish revolutionary movement, and his friends came here, they wanted to build a bridge for the fellowship of the Turkish and Kurdish people. But this bridge fellowship built was blown up to bomb the peace. But in 2010, revolutionary young people from Turkey rebuilt this bridge and showed once again that it must be the bridge of peace and fellowship in these lands.”

 

OTLU: OUR MARCH IS FOR FELLOWSHIP BETWEEN PEOPLE

 

Reminding that Deniz Gezmiş and his friends chanted the slogan "Long live the fellowship of the Kurdish and Turkish people" while going to execution, Otlu said: "We are still continuing this legacy. We are trying to be the guide of the Mahir Cayans, İbrahim Kaypakkayas, Mazlum Dogans and as they say, we will continue to struggle until peace and fellowship come to these lands. This march is also a struggle to end the isolation and build a bridge of peace and fellowship with the people of Turkey. Long live our united struggle, long live the fellowship of peoples."

 

ABOUT THE REVOLUTIONARY YOUTH BRIDGE

 

In 1969, when the construction of a bridge to the Bosphorus was brought to the agenda by revolutionary young people, including Deniz Gezmis, Yusuf Aslan, Huseyin Inan, they started a campaign saying "A bridge to the Zap River, not the Bosphorus" and money was collected for the bridge to be built on the Zap River of Hakkari. The construction of the bridge was completed in 3 months with the materials carried by students from Istanbul and Ankara.

The bridge, which was known for years as "Revolutionary Youth Bridge", "Deniz Gezmis Bridge", "Bridge of the Seas", "Zap Suyu Bridge", was blown up in 1999. 10 years later, a new campaign was launched with the initiative of poet Cezmi Ersoz and it was rebuilt in 2010.